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Not only does it seem summer can get carried away, fretted away, lost so quickly, the whole year is half gone. It’s like we just got started, but already planning back to school, fall festivities, Christmas. No, the reason for ‘Christmas in July’ is that it’s IN July, SUMMER. Enjoy summer because like Christmas it will come and go too too fast… !!!

My readings in the ‘Jesus Calling’ daily devotion book remind me not just that I’ve read through half of it, but that Jesus carried me through ALL of it. Just like the ribbon demarcation helps lift the pages to your place, let us remember Jesus and His Word carried us through all those done days. He carried us safe thus far, we’re still here aren’t we? Any peace we have now, Whom restored it? Jesus. Thank You Lord. 

My second book I noticed that without a ribbon, I use the book flap to cover the completed pages, folded over and tucked away. Jesus again, folded me in, tucked my past away, and proclaims me His. Not only that, the cover claims “His Name above all names” – which is all we need. Can’t wait to finish these pages of life WITH Him.

Remember for us in Heaven, there is no personal fame, nor more shame, ONLY His NAME. Jesus will Reign. All Glory will Proclaim and Exclaim His Name above all names.

Amen and thank You Jesus for claiming, covering and continuing my life. Let’s open the book to the next chapter. Remember to dig deep under His cover, get carried away in His Plan. He completes us and we complete Him in LOVE.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Amen 

—

Philippians 2:1-16 from Paul to the church (and us)

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.