BLESSINGS IN LACK AND BLESSINGS IN PLENTY

BLESSINGS IN LACK AND IN PLENTY
My Dear Precious Child,
   In Paul's letter to the Philippians he wrote as a man who was imprisoned in chains in his own house so he was unable to continue to work to support himself, as he had proclaimed in his letter to the Thessalonica church.  He was, at the time of imprisonment, dependent upon the body of Christians to make sure that he needs were met.  He wrote to the Philippians that he was happy that they showed interest in his welfare since it had been so long since he had seen them.  He wrote that he had found that he was happy whether he was provided for lavishly or meagerly, whether he had lots to eat or little to eat.  He proclaimed that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him. (Philippians 4:10-13)  He told them that it was right and noble of them to contribute to his needs.  He reminded them that when he left Macedonia that the Philippians were the only people who had an account for giving and receiving and they had twice sent contributions for his needs while he was in Thessalonica.  (Philippians 4:14-17) 
    Paul wrote that he never sought help from their giving, but he was always excited about the harvest of blessings that were coming to them because of their giving.  He assured them that at the present time he was not in need of anything, that he had received what they had sent to him, an offering in which I was delighted.  He assured the people in the church at Philippi that because of their generous giving that I would liberally supply every need they had, according to My riches in glory by Christ Jesus, which was followed in the letter by his command to give glory to Me forever and ever. 
    As a closer to his letter, Paul asked to be remembered to all of the born again believers in Philippi and he sent the same salutations to them from the believers in Caesarea, especially those who were of the household of Caesar.  Because of Paul's background he had a natural ability to mix graciously with royalty.  It benefited his ministry because he was even able to minister to Caesar's household while he was in chains.
    Paul's calling from Me was to minister to the Gentiles but he also ministered to the Jews, especially the Pharisees because he had once been a highly ranked Pharisee.  The transformation in him had been visible and believable.  His only complaint in his writings to the people in the church at Philippi related to the two women previously in ministry with him there who had obviously experienced some disharmony among them. (Philippians 4:2-3)  Other than mentioning that previous disharmony, his letter was upbeat and filled with love for the people in the church.
    He was blessed abundantly by the Philippians Christians because of their love, their joy and their steadfastness in spreading the Gospel.
    Your Father of Perpetual Steadfastness