SET YOUR GOALS HIGH

Newsletter 120 December 28, 2008

Philippians 3:11-21 (King James Version)

At this particular time of the year, many people will be setting goals. Some, who have not been realistic in their enthusiasm, have set goals that they are not able to reach so they become discouraged and quit. Others of a more pessimistic nature will not bother saying, “I will just break them right away.“ I will just not bother, but the apostle Paul believed in setting goals, and in making every effort to reach them. Not making any effort, means certain failure. All Christians have a common goal. That goal is to enter Heaven where we will be with God. Paul used various analogies, but one we are very familiar with is that life is like a race. The finish line, the goal, is Heaven. Keeping that in the back of our minds, let us read our text from his letter to the Philippians.

He was writing to Christians. It would appear that some of them were contented to relax once they had made a good beginning. With phrases such as, “If by any means,” “As though I had already attained,” I count not myself to have apprehended,” “I press toward the mark,” it is clear that he considers that there is more to do after one has made the decision to follow Christ. Set a mark, a goal, and work toward the “prize.”

Since our ultimate goal is heaven, set intermediate goals that will lead us toward that. The Bible is our guide book, so set a goal to read it through again. We will find that we have missed many truths in previous readings.

Note that, Paul set himself up as an example, and perfection as the ultimate goal. Clearly none of us will reach that ultimate in this life, but to live means to grow. Stop growing, and die. That is a fact of life.

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
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GOD ♥ YOU
I PLEDGE TO READ MY BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2009

DECEMBER

28th. Sunday - Zechariah 5,6,7,8, Revelation 21:1-12, Psalm 148:9-14
29th. Monday - Zechariah 9,10,11, Revelation 21:13-27, Psalm 149
30th. Tuesday - Zechariah 12,13,14, Revelation 22:1-9 Proverbs 31:21-31
31st. - Esther 9,10, Revelation 22:10-21, Psalm 150

JANUARY

1st. Thursday - Genesia 1,2, Matthew 1, Psalm 1
2nd. Friday - Genesis 3,4, Matthew 2, Psalm 2
3rd. Saturday - Genesis 5,6, Matthew 3, Psalm 3

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PRAISE THE LORD !

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,"
Philippians 3:13
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WE ARE BLESSED WITH STARTING A NEW YEAR THIS WEEK

Let is praise God together for this gift to us all, and share the wondrous good news of salvation everywhere!

GOD ♥ YOU


A Christmas Pun

The remaining local ranchers headed by the cattle baroness Clare D Looney eventually monopolized the stock business to the point where the only competition( two Chinese immigrants - Lu Chim and Wu Ni) were forced to take drastic, but traditional action.

The stock kings were hung by Chim & Ni, with Clare.