The Feast of Famine

Philippians 4:12  -"I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."

Some days it seems we have a little surplus; enough to share with others and a little left over to bank away. Then other times we are ordering from the dollar menu and not super-sizing a thing. Our journey is full of days of plenty and nights of insufficiency; but through it all the secret of enduring is to do as Paul prescribes.  There are three things he shared in his epistle to the church at Philippi.  

1) He acknowledged that abasement is where we are "brought". Usually we do not venture to go to the minimum.  We are often brought into situations where we may be depleted or used up.  Whether it is our money, our time, our resources or our energy, we can be drained if we are taken out of our element and operate in unfamiliar dimensions. Therefore a remedy is to get back to the familiar and operate in your strong suit.

2) He tells that there is a 'know-how' associated with levels of existence so we must be cognizant of where we are, how we got there and then be open to shift between one and the other without it effecting who we are.  The old adage states that "clothes do not make the man"; character is what defines him. So whether your shoe bottoms are red or full of patchwork, carry yourself with dignity and keep your head and countenance up.

3) Paul stated that he learned to 'face' any situation. No matter what station you find yourself in life, do not be ashamed of where God has placed you.  Whether in the High Court or in the prison; Paul never lowered his standards or lost his inner self worth.  He knew and always proclaimed that it was not him but the Christ that lived within him that made all the difference in the world.  As long as we have the King of kings, the Lord of Lords and the purveyor of everything in us, why should we care whether we are being escorted to our private table at 'McCormick and Schmick's' or standing in a soup line.  Keep your head up. Nothing lasts forever but God!  So if you are 'up' right now, be kind to those who are not.  If your train has entered a dark tunnel, rest assured soon there will be the light of Jesus to illuminate your way and get you back on prosperity's track. Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn