Several months ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. My mind was racing, and I went from one thought to the next.

I hate that.

But this particular time was really good instead of really bad.

For some reason I began reading Paul’s epistle to the church at Philippi. It’s only four chapters, but it is filled with gems about life and particularly about life with God.

In a few minutes time, I outlined a whole series of sermons from Philippians.

Philippians is all about joy. From the midst of prison, Paul wrote to this church (I really believe it was Paul’s favorite church) about joy. He encouraged them to live in joy and to choose joy.

More than anything else, Paul gave them the example of how to live joyfully in the worst of circumstances. No one would want to live in a Roman jail. Even if Paul were under house arrest, it certainly wasn’t what he wanted.

Please join with me this fall (starting in August) as we get ready to fully occupy our new buildings by examining Paul’s counsel to the church.

Life with God is life with joy.

Let us learn from God and His servant Paul how to live joyfully in spite of the circumstances.