Misha and I are in a small group, and we are reading the Philippians. Here are my favorite verses: (I’ll apologize now for the typos, I’m going to type them in, not copy them from somewhere.)

 

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill….but what does it matter? the important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I will rejoice.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him…

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…

Do everything without complaining or arguing.

For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their God is in their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But out citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power the enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. and the peace of God, which transcends understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, 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.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.