Day 3 - December 15, 2005

Reading through Philippians through this trip, has brought new meaning to many of the words stated in here. The whole book seems to be a letter to people like us serving Christ in a foreign and difficult place. Specifically, today we read through Chapter 1:15-30. Paul says in a very familiar verse “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” I feel so short of this calling. To live a totally God centered life is such a huge calling. Paul also highlights in verse 29 that we are also called to suffer with Christ. This calling is not isolated to one-week missions projects, but should be a daily act of picking up your cross to follow him. Again, inadequacy overwhelms me. But the beautiful thing about Christ is that he can use me anyway. He will also continue to work on my heart and life to be molded into one more like himself. There is something so encouraging about that.

~Tony