2 Weeks Away!

Your prayer letter this past week quoted Philippians, and I was reminded of this lovely song from Sing the Bible by Randall Goodgame (Katelyn- do you remember that kids album?!) called "Rejoice." It features Sally Lloyd Jones (author of The Jesus Storybook Bible) reading Philippians 4.  

Below are three translations of this passage (NIV, The Message, and First Nations) and following that is a blessing for you for this TWO WEEK COUNTDOWN (what in the world?!)  based on this passage.

NIV:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

The Message:

^4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

^6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

^8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

 

First Nations Translation:

DANCING FOR JOY AND WALKING IN PEACE

4 Always dance with joy before our Honored Chief! I will say it again: dance with joy! 5 Let everyone see how kind and thoughtful you are. Our Honored Chief is close at hand. 6 Do not let your hearts be weighed down with anything. Instead, with every step you take, send your voice to the Great Spirit, asking him for the things you need. And in all your prayers remember to give him thanks. 7 Then the peace and harmony of the Great Spirit, which goes far beyond our small and weak ways of thinking, will watch over your hearts and minds through the Chosen One, Creator Sets Free (Jesus).

8 Last of all, my sacred family members, if anything can be seen as good and honorable, think deeply about these things. Things that are true and noble, upright and pure, full of beauty and worthy of respect. 9 Follow the way of life you have seen in me, the things you have learned from me, heard from me, and received from me. Keep walking in the traditions I have passed on to you. Then the Great Spirit of Peace will continue to walk with you on this road.

 

A Wedding Blessing for Katelyn and Phillip (Inspired by Philippians 4)

Rejoice. (Even when the seating chart falls apart.)

Blessed are you, choosing joy—not just in the easy moments,
but in the stress, the questions, the late night "what-ifs."

You who let gentleness rise to the surface—
who speak kindly even when you're tired,
who remember love is not just a feeling, but a practice during all this wedding planning.

Blessed are you when you pause to pray,
when you lift your anxieties with shaky hands
and trust that God hears you, still.

You who breathe peace into each other’s chaos.
Who guard each other’s hearts—not with walls,
but with compassion, with grace, with steadiness and faithfulness.

Blessed are you who fix your eyes
on what is good and true and beautiful—
even when the dishes pile up or the plans unravel.

You, who choose again and again to love.
To forgive.
To stay.

And may the God of peace—the one who makes all things new—
be right there in the thick of it with you.
Always.
Amen.