Christ With Coffee On Ice - the secret to being okay (even when you're not)

Episode Date: April 10, 2026

Hey y'all ! Welcome to another Friday with CWCOI ! In this week's episode, our host, Ally Yost reads through the entire book of Philippians. We read Philippians together back in November but the Word ...of God is alive and it is always relevant. Whether you have already read it or maybe you have been meaning to, we encourage you to sit with God as we open His word together. "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." Philippians 3:20 _____________________________________________ ☆ Find your purpose at Grand Canyon University ➤ GCU.edu ☆ Use code COFFEE for 15% off at ➤ oneskin.co ☆ Download the FREE Upside app now to find out how much money you could earn. Use code 'ONICE' to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas ➤ https://www.upside.com ☆ Head to ➤ AirDoctorPro.com and use code 'COFFEE' to get up to $300 off today! ☆ For up to 65% off your order, head to ➤ VeracityHealth.co and use code COFFEE ☆ REP CWCOI MERCH ➤ https://allyyost.com  ☆ MY BIBLE (code 'ALLYYOST' at checkout) ➤ hhttps://hosannarevival.com/collections/beautiful-bibles/products/nlt-notetaking-bible-belfast-theme ☆ TUMBLER LINK ➤ https://allyyost.com/products/travel-tumbler _____________________________________________ Connect further with us ! TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@christwithcoffeeonice  Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/christwithcoffeeonice  _____________________________________________ Connect further with Ally ! TikTok (2M) ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@ally_yost  Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/ally_yost/  ShopMy ➤ https://shopmy.us/allyyost  Pinterest ➤ https://www.pinterest.com/ally_yost1/_created/

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Christ with coffee on ice. I am your host, Ali Yost. It is a joy and honor to be here with you guys today. Happy Friday, everybody! Happy Friday! What did I miss? How was everybody's Easter? What have you guys been up to? These really are the moments where I wish that I could physically hear you guys responding. I have to wait a while to read the comment section by the time this episode goes live. So anyway, but comment below what you have been up to since the last time that we touched face. How is everybody doing? I hope that we are all in really great spirits today. And if you're not, that's okay. I'm glad that you came here. And I hope that this episode can do that for you.
Starting point is 00:00:49 And so as I always say, I just pray joy of the Lord on you today, regardless of our circumstances, regardless of just the trials that we are going through. And just like unfortunate things, it could even just be simple inconveniences in our days. I pray joy of the Lord over you. That regardless of those things, you can still find joy in your day today. And joy in Jesus. Like, thank you, Jesus for another day. God, thank you that there is breath in our lungs. Lord, I thank you for today. And also, I pray that
Starting point is 00:01:25 our hearts are just overwhelmed with gratitude today. I believe that is our portion. Like, we should be filled with gratitude. Um, I think I've seen it on, sorry, I am also a little nasly because I'm getting over a head cold. I feel like this happens at least every quarter for me on the podcast at this point. Like every couple months, I just sound like this. And I, and I end up getting a silly little head cold. But what was I going to say? Oh, I'm sure I've seen this on the internet, but there's like a legitimate quote of some sort and it actually also might literally be biblical. I think there is a verse in the Bible that says something like this where like bitterness and sorrow can't be present and in our hearts at the same time as gratitude. Like if we have a heart filled
Starting point is 00:02:11 with gratitude, there's nothing else that can actually fill that space. Okay, so one piece of scripture that comes very close to this statement is Philippians 4, 6 through 7, which encourages us to present everything to God with Thanksgiving and then the peace of God will guard our hearts and our minds, which emphasizes that with gratitude, we're filled with the peace that surpasses understanding. So that means that nothing else is actually needed in that space. So when we are filled with gratitude and we come to the Lord in all things with Thanksgiving, that means that nothing else is needed. Because in that gratitude, the whole Holy Spirit gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding. And so when we've received that piece
Starting point is 00:02:51 that surpasses all understanding, meaning when we receive that piece, that honestly doesn't make sense. Like, I don't know how I have this kind of peace right now. Nothing else is needed in our hearts. So it's a gift, actually. It's genuinely a gift from the Holy Spirit. But gratitude and Thanksgiving is the one way to kick out anything else that could be squatting in your heart you know what i mean like i even think about like bitterness and resentment sometimes when my heart is overwhelmed with those things i have to force myself to actually have gratitude and thanksgiving about that particular situation person place thing whatever it is right like and the minute that i genuinely am like no actually lord i'm i'm i'm grateful for this i'm
Starting point is 00:03:42 grateful for this experience and I bless whoever that person is um if there is like a stirring in your heart of bitterness towards an individual just as an example and genuinely like blessing that person and praying for them and thanking god for them i know it's wild but it's a little bit of an uno reverse on the devil and it really like purifies your heart coming to the lord with thanksgiving in all circumstances like it's a renewal of our mind and it really like refreshes my soul when I do it. So you don't have to, but I think you should. I think you should.
Starting point is 00:04:23 I think we should all come to the Lord with Thanksgiving today. So with that being said, we do have our coffee today. Guys, we have our coffee on ice. We have our Christ. And we do have our coffee on ice. I have my Bible back today, as we always do, though. I don't know why I said that like it's a, hello, of course we do. Guys, this is actually really cool.
Starting point is 00:04:48 So I've been sharing Hosanna Revival with you guys, which you're not familiar, or if you've just tuned in for the first time ever, hi, welcome. I'm so glad that you're here. But Hosanna Revival is the company of which I read all my Bibles from. Every Bible I own, except for the very first one that I bought, which was from Barnes & Noble, she's the OG. My first Bible that I bought all by myself three years ago, she's the OG. But any other Bible I've owned has been Hosanna Revival, and they are incredible.
Starting point is 00:05:22 Their Bibles are beautiful. Like, so stunning, thoughtful, gorgeous, from the inside and out. The designs are just so cute and feminine. And pretty much every Bible I have, there's a verse on the back too, which is so beautiful. On the back of this one, it has Psalm 4016, which is may all who search for you. you be filled with joy and gladness in you joy and gladness thank you jesus they're the best but okay what i was going to say is it's so cool i had no idea honestly i had no idea how much you guys were actually responding to just me being like you guys should really shop hosanna like they're the best and used my code
Starting point is 00:06:02 but they reached out the other day and they told me how many bibles have been bought with my code and you know i did some math and i'm like doing things and it's about like anywhere from four to six thousand bibles what so anyway that's just really cool that that many people had to either maybe bought themselves a new bible or i'd like to think it's their first bible ever that would be like the coolest thing but i'm sure there's a lot of people where it's like actually their first bible so thank you god for the word of god Like that just makes me so happy. So anyway, and it's so great that Hosanna is also being blessed by this because they put out really beautiful work.
Starting point is 00:06:52 And what they do is very important. And so anyway, if you are curious, they also have other really cool, like studying tools like journals and things. And they have planners and all sorts of cute stuff. So you can use my code for that. It's just my first and last name, Allie Yost. And it'll save, you'll be able to save some money. at checkout with that. But yeah, so that's the Bible I have. I read the NLT translation, which is the new living translation. Do you get stressed? If you don't, I'd be honestly concerned. If you've
Starting point is 00:07:28 spent even five minutes on social media lately, you've heard more bad news than your brain ever asked for. And that's where cortisol calming from veracity comes in. Running a podcast, deadlines, personal relationships, side hustles, it's easy for my brain to turn into mush. But I take cortisol calming so I can stay sharp and keep my stress under control even when everything else feels crazy. With veracity's drug-free, clinically proven, and doctor-formulated solutions, you can support your body's needs to live your healthiest life. Within 30 minutes, you'll start to feel a reduction in stress and feel more relaxed. Within three weeks, get your sleep back in sync and start to feel less fatigue. That's a big deal. And I love when something is scientifically legit, but doesn't come with a warning
Starting point is 00:08:08 label that makes me panic like side effects are hospitalization. I'm all about clean products and Veracity is made in the USA in an FDA reviewed facility where all ingredients are validated for purity, stress, and composition through third party testing. So calm your stress the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.com and use code coffee for up to 65% off your order. Once again, that's V-E-R-A-C-I-T-Y Health.co for up to 65% off. And make sure you use my promo code coffee so they know that I sent you. Here at Christ with Coffee and Ice, we obviously talk a lot about purpose here, about finding the path God has set for us. And when it comes to education, that path should lead to a future that matters. That's why when I heard about Grand Canyon University, I was so impressed because
Starting point is 00:08:53 they are a private, non-profit, Christian university in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona that believes education shouldn't be a privilege, but an affordable path forward for everyone. GCU is grounded in Christian Truth. They are working to empower the next generation to lead with integrity and serve with purpose. And they make it accessible. Did you know GCU has kept tuition at the same rate on its traditional campus for 17 years? Plus, in 2025 alone, they awarded over $404 million in institutional scholarships. Whether you're looking for a degree on campus or online, find your purpose at GCU.
Starting point is 00:09:29 private Christian affordable nonprofit visit gc u.edu to learn more i would really like to read some scripture today but before we get into scripture can i actually give you guys just like a little story time like life update because this was just the coolest thing ever so yesterday that i sometimes i get invites okay in my inbox from brands and whatever for like events and things right and a lot of times if i say yes i'm like this just sounds like it's fun and I really am not the kind of person like this is I think that this makes me more type B than type A I've never even come anywhere near type A in my life and you just tell me like where to be what time and like like minor details and I'm there like I don't need to really even know the ins and outs just
Starting point is 00:10:19 let me know when to be there what day obviously time maybe what what should I wear and that's it like I don't know anything else right so American Idol invites me. I get an inbox. From American Idol, I get an invite in my inbox. And they were like live recording and it was like a faith themed night. Like faith songs. And in my mind, like first off, that's like pretty much all I knew is they were like you're invited to a live recording and it's all like the songs are going to be like it's like faith songs. I'm like cool. I don't know. I did not think. I mean it crossed my mind for a but I was like surely this isn't like a live recording of the actual show because I've also never heard in my life of American Idol doing anything like this before or like any TV show for that matter like like mainstream like major I mean American Idol is like American Idol we've grown up watching this show okay so I was like surely this has got to be like some kind of like and they thought to invite me because obviously like I love Jesus
Starting point is 00:11:29 and it's no secret that like faith is very much my life and so i was like it's probably just like a really cool thing like it's american idol though so i'm so going and so yesterday i drove to l a and i get there and they give me like a cool little lanyard and it says that i'm a part of the crew i was like period i'm crew and it's a group of like me and four other people like four other influencers and i'm like that's crazy like very small And so they're like, they're like, okay, come on, come on. We've got to go this way. It was kind of like, it wasn't chaotic.
Starting point is 00:12:04 Actually, I was very impressed with how much organ is it. Like, American Idol, they got some extra points for me in my mind. I'm going to be honest, I haven't watched the show in a while. And, fun fact, I actually auditioned for American Idol when I was 16 years old. But they have you go through all these like pre auditions before you actually get to the real judges. And I didn't even make it past my first round of pre-auditions because, Well, who, I mean, who knows? I think the Lord's, whatever.
Starting point is 00:12:32 The Lord didn't allow it for a reason, and I really trust that. But I had woken up the morning of my audition. We drove to, do we drive or did we fly? I think we flew to Texas. My family and I, we flew to Texas. Anyway, I woke up that morning with a head cold and my voice was all scratchy and cracky, and I didn't sing very well. So I was devastated.
Starting point is 00:12:54 Sweet little 16-year-old, Allie was devastated. But I think that, I mean, I was really. really impressed by the way that they ran everything super organized very professional makes sense they've been doing it for so long but anyway they like pull us they like take us in and I'm like I realize this is actually a live recording of the literal show oh oh I'm here a live recording of American Idol the stage that I've watched since I was a little little bean oh my gosh I used to have we like we used to have watch parties as kids like middle school middle school. And I'm like, this is nuts. And it's not as big as you guys would think. I think on TV,
Starting point is 00:13:35 like everything just looks bigger, like the space and the stage and the audience. It really wasn't that big of a space. But it was literally so fun. It was so cool. And my point to this, okay, really cool experience. Everyone was lovely. I felt like it was actually a very healthy environment, if I'm going to be so honest. Like a genuine, like everyone was being treated with care. It was gorgeous. I loved it. All the contestants on live television, this is American Idol, we're singing songs about faith. And like, I felt like more than half of them were, like, genuinely, like, hardcore believers, like, singing about the blood of Jesus,
Starting point is 00:14:13 how it covers us of our sins and washes us clean. Like, we're not talking, like, believe in something. It was, like, believe in the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you. Those were the kinds of songs people were singing. I was beyond. I was like, I'm at church. I'm literally at church. Never in a million years would I have thought that one day I would be at a live recording of American Idol, period.
Starting point is 00:14:38 That's the end of the sentence. But then apparently it keeps going. And it's a faith-themed night where everyone is singing about Jesus. Almost everybody's singing about Jesus. I nearly lost. I was up out of my seat praising Jesus. It was so cool, you guys. I genuinely was like, Lord, I'm obsessed with whatever you're doing in the world right now.
Starting point is 00:15:02 He's doing it, guys. I need you to know. I'm sure you do. Because the body, I mean, he's talking to all of us, right? He's doing it. Now, do I know exactly what it means? No, I think I have an idea, but I'm pretty sure I don't, I don't know. What he's doing?
Starting point is 00:15:18 But he's doing it. Okay, I do know what it is. It is his way. He's doing it. He's having his way right now. the Lord is literally moving everywhere. You know it's God when it doesn't make sense. Like, American Idol is owned by Disney.
Starting point is 00:15:37 I'm just like, and this has never been a thing. What do you mean? Carrie Underwood is like, I felt the Holy Spirit in here. And I'm like, yes, sister. Like, what do you mean we're on American Idol right now talking about the Holy Ghost? Yeah, it was crazy. And here's the thing, okay? Because then my discernment, or like my skepticism, I guess, I don't know if it's discernment.
Starting point is 00:16:02 There is a part of me that goes, are we just doing this, though, because faith is becoming a little bit trendier? Because that's kind of the truth, right? I think that our generation specifically has gotten fed up with all the fake stuff, and we want the real thing, and we're finding it. This generation is finding the real thing, and it's Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. That's who he's always been. That's who he is today. And that's who he is forever.
Starting point is 00:16:28 The alpha and omega. Okay? He's always been the truth. This isn't new news. But it is becoming a little trendy. And so maybe there's like a business perspective from American Idol where they're like, I don't know. I mean, this Jesus stuff is really taken off.
Starting point is 00:16:50 People really love faith right now. Let's do it. I can be so wrong. I can be so wrong. But even that, guys, let's say that is why. Oh, but they're just doing it because, okay, fine. But we'll take it, right? But we'll take it because it's still the name of Jesus being proclaimed on a stage like American Idol for millions of people to see nationwide.
Starting point is 00:17:13 There's that verse. We've talked about it. I think I've brought it up plenty of times on the podcast. Guys, this verse is also in Philippians. I think that's what we need to read from today. because what are the odds that both of these verses that came to my mind are from Philippians. This is Paul talking to the church. It says Paul's joy that Christ is preached.
Starting point is 00:17:34 This is Philippians 112. We're going to start in 112. And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the good news. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, Most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.
Starting point is 00:17:57 It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry, but others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the good news. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn't matter. whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way. So I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. So what Paul is saying in the scripture, well, first off, he's acknowledging that some people preach Christ out of envy or selfish motives. Okay. So Paul is saying, yeah, guys, I know that not every person who's out here preaching the gospel. Or being like, yeah, I love Jesus.
Starting point is 00:18:52 Oh, no. Jesus is great. Yes, Jesus is my everything. And they don't actually have pure hearts. That's not a mystery. It was a thing then. It's a thing now. It's unfortunate.
Starting point is 00:19:04 And it's actually kind of scary for that person, you know? Like whenever I feel or witness that, a fear of the Lord really falls on me, like, for that person. And it honestly is an opportunity for us to intercede and pray for that person to realize, like, what they're saying or what they're doing. But Paul's conclusion is that regardless of the motives, if Christ is proclaimed, he rejoices. In other words, he's saying even if their hearts aren't perfect, what matters is that Jesus is preached. Amen? So that's where I'm at is I'm like, you know what? I don't know what their motives are with it. It could be totally pure. Honestly,
Starting point is 00:19:44 the hearts of American Idol, who's leading American Idol, could be like, you know what? Yeah, we do need more of this in the world. It could be genuine, but it also could not be. It could be a money grab. It could be an opportunity where it's like, oh yeah, well, you know, faith and Christianity and, like, hope and Jesus is trending. So let's do it. Doesn't matter. The gospel's being proclaimed all over the world. And the Lord will use it. That's the thing. It's like, the Lord will use the pure of hearts, but also if he has to use people who have impure hearts, he's going to use that too. He's in charge. Okay, he's the one that's sovereign. So I, it was beautiful.
Starting point is 00:20:22 I thought it was amazing and it was a really good experience. And it also kind of made me go, I don't know, do I, do I audition for American Idol again? I literally, I was sitting there and I was just like daydreaming. I was like, what if I just tried again, like 16 years later? Is it 16? No. It's 15 years later. 15 years later, it's kind of nuts.
Starting point is 00:20:50 Okay. That was my little life update. And I will say that my faith was a boosted. My faith was like genuinely boosted after that. I'm like, I kind of felt like I was at church. Also, another wild part, I'll just say this, is, and I didn't know. Again, guys, I didn't even know that this was actually like a live recording. So I just showed up like any old day.
Starting point is 00:21:10 I looked like it was just any old day. And I showed up and they're like, by the way, like, we're going to, you guys are going to go up there and meet the judges and take a quick picture with them. There it is. It's freaking Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan. And Lionel Richie. What's going on? I couldn't really look at Lionel and say hi to him. He was like all the way over there.
Starting point is 00:21:35 I said hi to Carrie and Luke. And I was like, hey guys, I'm Allie. I've seen you both live. It's crazy. Anyway, guys, thanks for letting me yap. So cool thing about today's sponsorship is I have already been using this product. Unfortunately, though, it was introduced into my life when the fires broke out in L.A. And the air was heavily polluted at that time. And so air purifiers were heavily encouraged.
Starting point is 00:22:04 And so the air doctor is the only air purifier that I trust. It is made such a difference, not only in the experience of me living in my home, but literally the quality of my life. I'm sleeping better. I'm breathing through my nose again. There's no lingering smells of dog in my house. Like the air doctor actually has powerful three-stage filtration that captures extremely small particles about 100 times smaller than what typical air purifiers can remove. It captures airborne contaminants that you don't want to be breathing in. Things like dust, pollen, mold spores, pet dander, wildfire smoke, bacteria, viruses, odors, smoke, ozone, and VOCs. And what's nice about the air doctor is it's not really loud and obnoxious like others on the market.
Starting point is 00:22:46 It also has an auto mode feature, which is personally the one that I always. have mine on because it ensures optimal air 24-7 and it has a change filter reminder so no more guesswork. Air Doctor also won Newskeeper's Reader's Choice Award for Best Air Purifier. Head to Air Doctor Pro com and use promo code coffee to get up to $300 off today. Air Doctor comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee plus a three-year warranty which is an $84 value for free. Get this exclusive podcast-only offer now at airdopterpro.com. That's A-I-R-D-O-C-T-O-R-P-O-R-O-D-C-O-C-R-O-C-O-C-O-C-O, using promo code coffee. Our favorite necessities, guys, gas, groceries, eating out, maybe not totally a necessity, but it's fine. And even on the tightest budget, there's no escaping them. But here's what you can control.
Starting point is 00:23:33 Getting cash back every single time you fill up, hit the grocery store, or go out to eat with the upside app. And this is how it works. So you just open the app, you claim an offer, pay with your card like normal, and get paid. And yes, it is actually cash back and not points that you'll never use. Independent studies confirm upside users earn significantly more than traditional reward programs. There's over 100,000 participating locations, which means once you start checking the app, you realize how often there's an offer right where you're already going. And I will say that these kinds of things I've always been super skeptical about on whether they actually
Starting point is 00:24:05 like save you money or not. But now with checking the upside app before filling up, eating out, or going grocery shopping, it kind of just becomes an automatic habit, especially when you do see the results of how much money you're actually saving. It adds up. Upsight is given back $1 billion to its users. To find out how much you could earn, download the free Upsight app and use promo code coffee
Starting point is 00:24:25 to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas. That's an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas using promo code coffee. Let's talk more about Jesus. Okay, but the other thing that I want to say, The other thing that I want to encourage you guys in is the Lord is doing something. He's moving. He's having his way in more ways than one.
Starting point is 00:24:50 He's doing it all over the world. Like he's encountering people all over the world. The Bible sales have never been higher. People are desperate for the truth. And so I think as the body of Christ, like genuinely all, this is the Lord inviting us into it. to help him. I believe that there is something happening in this generation, in this decade, and the Lord is inviting us into it. And he's saying, do you, do you want to come with me? Do you want to help me? And so I say, we all say yes. I don't know what it is, but I'm in. And so I also
Starting point is 00:25:28 think it'd be really cool if you guys were like, yeah, I'm in too, God, whatever that looks like, whatever that means. But I'm so excited to continue to watch whatever he does. But also he has. But also, has to have our yes. Like he has to have willing vessels. And so that's us, right? Okay. Let's read in Philippians. Why not?
Starting point is 00:25:56 Let's do it. If you guys are near your Bibles, I know you guys never really know what to predict from me, considering sometimes we read straight from the Bible, sometimes we just be yapping. But today I think we should read a little bit. I mean, Philippians isn't even that long, actually. Like I said, I'm reading NLT.
Starting point is 00:26:20 But if you guys, yeah, if you're near your Bibles, open them. Let's read it together. I think that that would be really good. Obviously, if you're not in a place to read your Bible, that's totally okay. I'm happy to read it to you. But if you can, I would suggest it. I don't know. At least for me, like having the physical word of God in front of me, tangible, like my hands are on it.
Starting point is 00:26:41 And I'm reading it and I'm highlighting and I'm saying. scanning is just a lot more powerful that way. So Philippians one, we'll start right from the top. I just realized too that we just read the book of Philippians like, well, like four months ago, maybe almost five. So it's been a long time. For a second, I was like, do we read the book of Philippians again? Like we've technically already done that on the podcast already. But I also recognize that maybe there's a lot of new listeners who haven't been listening that long, but also like the word of God is always relevant. So even if we did four months ago, y'all, we need to read it again and again and again.
Starting point is 00:27:19 So we're going to start from the top. Like I mentioned, I am reading the new Living Translation, and we're going to start right at the beginning of Philippians. So chapter 1, verse 1. This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of God's holy people in Philippi, who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. This is Paul's Thanksgiving and prayer.
Starting point is 00:27:51 So this is Paul speaking right now. Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy. For you have been my partners in spreading the good news about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart.
Starting point is 00:28:22 You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the good news. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge, and understanding, for I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation, the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ, for this will bring much glory and praise to God. And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the good news. For everyone here, including the whole palace
Starting point is 00:29:07 guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ, and because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear. It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry, but others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the good news. Those others do not have pure motive, as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, this message about Christ is being preached either way. So I rejoice, and I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ
Starting point is 00:29:52 helps me, this will lead me to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ, so I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires. I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me, but for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convicted that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because
Starting point is 00:30:41 of what he is doing through me. Now we are on verse 27. Live as citizens of heaven. Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the good news about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together in one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the good news. Don't be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be assigned to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting Christ, but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together.
Starting point is 00:31:29 You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it. Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish.
Starting point is 00:31:54 Don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest power and gave him the name above all other names.
Starting point is 00:32:38 That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Now we are in chapter 2 verse 12, just so you guys are caught up. Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I'm away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear, for God is working in you,
Starting point is 00:33:10 giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children. of God shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life. Then on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God. Just like your faithful service is an offering to God.
Starting point is 00:33:46 And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should. You should. should rejoice and I will share your joy. If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit, then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. I have no one else like Timothy who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the good news. I hope to send him to you just. as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here, and I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
Starting point is 00:34:28 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, and he was your messenger to help me in my need. I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill, and he certainly was ill. In fact, he almost died, but God had mercy on him, and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
Starting point is 00:34:53 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. Welcome him in with the Lord's love, and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve, for he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn't do from far away.
Starting point is 00:35:15 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Jesus Christ has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more. I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel
Starting point is 00:35:54 and a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a real Hebrew, if there ever was one. I was a member of the Pharisees who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I were so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law. Rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right
Starting point is 00:36:43 with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead. So I will say that my skin journey has been pretty interesting lately, and I have shared a little bit of that with you guys. I've had to be a lot more particular and picky about the skin care that I put on my skin because she's just gotten very sensitive.
Starting point is 00:37:13 What initially caught my attention with one skin is that it is founded by a female PhD scientist and is rooted in rigorous science and research. And what was interesting to me is that at the core is their patented OS1 peptide, the first ingredient proven to target senescent cells, which is a key driver of wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of elasticity. And most importantly to me is they are certified, safe for sensitive skin. Their products are also free from over 1,500 harsh or irritating ingredients. its dermatologist tested, and have been awarded the National Exema Association seal of acceptance
Starting point is 00:37:49 by the NEA, delivering powerful results without the harsh side effects. And what's really special about One Skin's products is they are designed to layer seamlessly or replace multiple steps in your routine, making skin health easier and smarter at every age. I think after knowing all of those things about One Skin, it's hard to not want to try their products. For a limited time, try One Skin with 15% off using Code Coffee at OnSkin.com. coffee. That's 15% off Oneskin.co with code coffee. After your purchase, they'll ask where you heard about them.
Starting point is 00:38:19 Please support our show and tell them that we sent you. And just for reference, we are in chapter 3 and now this is verse 12. I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess
Starting point is 00:38:35 that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it. But I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and to receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.
Starting point is 00:39:08 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made. Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conducts show they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their God is their appetite, and they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven.
Starting point is 00:39:42 where the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work. Now I appeal to Iodia and Sintiki. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the good news.
Starting point is 00:40:23 They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. Always be full with joy in the Lord. I say it again. Rejoice. Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything.
Starting point is 00:40:45 Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and write. and pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you've learned and received from me everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again.
Starting point is 00:41:29 I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn't have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with. whatever I have, I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little, for I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians, were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the good news and then traveled on to Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent help more than once.
Starting point is 00:42:18 I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. At the most, I have all I need, and more. I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epiphraditis. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and, and and pleasing to God. And this same God, who takes care of me, will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever.
Starting point is 00:42:49 Amen. And then this is Paul's final greeting at the end of Philippians. It's not a very long book, but he says, give my greetings to each of God's holy people, all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. and all the rest of God's people send you greetings too, especially those in Caesar's household.
Starting point is 00:43:12 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. I think what is so special about the book of Philippians, and honestly what makes it so powerful, is that it actually teaches us and is such a reminder of how to have deep joy, peace, and purpose, even when life isn't going how we expect it to. And it's so sweet. Like you can genuinely feel the tenderness like throughout the entire book. Like it's, it's a whole letter, right, that Paul is writing to this church. But you can feel like the tenderness and the love and the encouragement and just like the pride that Paul has for the people of Philippine. Hopefully I'm saying that right. But like the Philippians. But I think a big theme in this book is that joy is not big.
Starting point is 00:44:05 based off of circumstances. And honestly, that could be exactly why the Lord led us to this book today, because that's like what that was what we were talking about. Like it wasn't even prompted at the beginning of this episode, that little like tangent I went on in the beginning. But it's true. Like joy isn't based on our circumstances. It's actually about like having joy regardless of our circumstances.
Starting point is 00:44:27 Our circumstances don't determine whether we have access to joy or gladness. I mean, it's said in Philippians. for four specifically it said rejoice in the lord always so joy isn't about what's happening around you it's about who you're anchored to what are you anchored to so if we're allowing circumstances to be the anchor of our joy you're never going to know how you're going to wake up that day that feels like a very unstable unpredictable thing to be anchored to because circumstances are like unpredictable right but you know who is predictable who we can't count on no matter what you know what you're getting every day from jesus you're getting his mercies
Starting point is 00:45:10 that are new every morning you're getting his joy you're getting his peace that surpasses understanding you're getting his steadfast his his faithfulness he is the same every day you know what you're getting when you are anchored in him another thing that was really standing out to me um in those scriptures too was how paul was speaking about like what we should keep our mind focused on right there was that part in philippian four eight where he said what like for us to keep our minds on like whatever is true noble right think about such things like think about those things versus whatever the opposite is of that right so i think it's also like paul is reminding us that what we dwell on will form us i think that this can come down to like anxiety comparison or a
Starting point is 00:46:05 looking back at the past, right? Like, don't focus on the things that honestly, none of that is actually productive, but what is productive is keeping our mind set on the things that please God, that are holy, that are righteous, right? Things that are noble, right, true, which honestly is him. It's just Jesus. Another thing that's talked about is humility. So when Paul was talking about how Jesus humbled himself and,
Starting point is 00:46:35 became a slave, aka like he came down and became in human form and humbled himself, became human, and then died on the cross, speaks to how Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. And that is something I will be learning from him for the rest of my life. And we honestly all will be, is how to be humble like Jesus. His humility is something I will probably never be able to fully understand. But But he is the example. Like that, that is the humility that we are called to walk in. True strength in God's kingdom looks like humility, not self-promotion. I think another cool moment, too, was when Paul was talking about, like right there at the end,
Starting point is 00:47:21 when he was thanking them for just their generosity and the gifts that they had given him. And also he speaks on how they were the only church who, like, supported him financially. but I think what was really powerful and what he said was that he's he's like and I'm not saying this because I want like any more gifts from you guys I'm not like thanks so much for the gifts guys and hopes that you'll like give me more because he's like because honestly I'm content and I've learned to be content in all circumstances I just thought that was really cool that even Paul had to learn that he had to learn how to be content no matter what he was like I've learned how to be content when I have everything and I've learned to be content when I have nothing at all
Starting point is 00:48:02 I've learned to be content in the Lord when I have an empty stomach and I don't know when my next meal is coming. And I've also learned to be content in the Lord when I have a full satisfied stomach. In Philippians 411 through 13, he said, I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances. And so contentment is actually learned. It's not automatic. And I think sometimes like we can kind of beat ourselves up and be like, God, why can't I just be content? You know, like I know I'm supposed to be. but it really is like it's something to be learned through God.
Starting point is 00:48:34 Like as a father, he'll guide us and he'll teach us. And even Paul, he had to go through the same process of learning how to be content with Jesus and Jesus alone and the strength of God. Like being content with the Lord only and nothing else was something that he had to learn. So a few things that I'd love for us to take away and we should write these down. If you're in your pen and paper, write these down. I think they're very powerful. Number one, this is our first takeaway from reading these scriptures, is joy is not the absence of hard things.
Starting point is 00:49:11 It's the presence of God in them. Number two, what you constantly think about will eventually shape how you live. Number three, God isn't asking you to perform. He's inviting you to abide. There also was that major, major part, actually. Okay, we just got to read this book again and again and again. It's filled with so much wisdom. There was that other part where Paul was saying that it's not by his works anymore.
Starting point is 00:49:39 And he said also to be careful about false teachers. He was talking about people who say that, like, you have to be circumcised to be saved, which is like how things used to be before Jesus. New Covenant. Okay, we don't have to do those things anymore. It's not by our works. it's not about abiding by the law anymore it's about what jesus did for us and so paul was talking all about that where he was like i'm not a fool like i'm not going to live like he's like trust me i should know
Starting point is 00:50:08 of all people he's like i i was that i was a pharisee like i lived i was like the guy to the stereotype that was me he's like but now i i put my trust in jesus and i know that he's he's already taken he is the new covenant he's taking care of all of it, I don't have to go off of my own strength and performance anymore, right? Which honestly, we could have never achieved anyway. So God isn't asking you to perform. He's inviting you to abide. Just abide in him and have faith in him.
Starting point is 00:50:45 It's not by your works, but it's that we can do all things through Christ. That's what Paul said. He said, no, it's actually, now I know that I can do all things through Jesus, that I get my strength from him. Okay, number four, peace doesn't come from control. It comes from surrender.
Starting point is 00:51:05 And lastly, number five, you don't have to go back to what broke you. God is doing something new. Yeah, that's good. You don't need to earn God's love. It's not about religious performance or having it all together. It's about grace and relationship, not striving. That's good.
Starting point is 00:51:22 That's really good. Okay, guys, well, I loved today. What a great little reminder. And again, sometimes it's like, okay, sure, we've heard these things before. But also, Lord, I thank you that each time we hear scripture, it is as if we have heard it for the first time again. And so I pray that this episode blessed you. And it was exactly what you needed to hear from the Lord.
Starting point is 00:51:47 And it encouraged you in ways that you needed encouragement. And I just bless you guys. I pray for your weekend. I hope that it's so lovely. Happy Friday. I hope you have a beautiful Sunday. I hope that you find rest in your weekend. Please prioritize rest.
Starting point is 00:52:03 Please. If you haven't done it in a long time, I totally get it. Life is busy. If you're a parent, I have no idea what that's like. But try to find rest somewhere. And I pray that you will.
Starting point is 00:52:15 Okay, I love you guys. I'll see you next time. I'll see you at the same place, same time, same day, one week from today. And also, can we do something cool today? Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is? Can we walk more like him, talk more like him, be more like Jesus today? Let's be his hands and feet, y'all.
Starting point is 00:52:34 I'm so proud of you. And I will see you next week. Bye.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.