Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you who I love and long for, my joy and crown,{ the Amplified Bible says wreath of victory here} stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! Philippians 4:1 NIV

Long Island escaped the snow yesterday! We had a few inches but I wouldn't call it snow. The trees are clear and the streets. I love when the snow covers everything so it looks as if it is new.

The great Apostle Paul probably never had to deal with snow. I imagine most of where he went was warm, but I wouldn't put it past him. He was intense about salvation and reaching as many people as possible. In this verse, we read Paul reminding his friends to stand firm, unwavering in their pursuit of Christ.

Paul tells them how to stand firm in the chapter we just finished, chapter 3. Verse one of chapter three he reminds his friends it is needful that he repeat himself about how to stand, because there are others trying to tear down their faith and foundation. There were some like Paul before his conversion who would kill Christians for their faith.

He calls them dogs. This is an insult because dogs were not regarded as good for anything since they were not domesticated. Paul writes about being reminded. I am glad for reminders all the time, as I seem to need them more often.

 We can learn something new even from scripture we memorize.
The Holy Spirit illuminates certain things we have never noticed. Have you ever read a verse a hundred times but failed to see a key component? It happens, I presume because we need to see it in a different light at the time it is shown to us. 

Maybe you need to see God's love like you never have before,  and so a verse like, 1John 1:5 can come alive! "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." What if you never realized  the "at all" part, and all of a sudden you see it! There is nothing dark,bad, evil or wrong in God. It could change your whole understanding of who He is to you.

God is always on our side because He is a good, good, Father.

One of the reasons I came to Jesus was because of my need for stability. I didn't know anyone who had it, but I wanted it badly. Standing firm is a way to become immovable, unchangeable, and centered on Christ. Believe God, know His promises are true. Read the Bible, and worship.

 I love how Paul lavishes his love for his church as if he or she were family. These people probably were the only" family" to him since he had turned to Christ. We don't know, but here is a man who is not afraid to express his emotions! Thank God for it!