• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Connect
    • Tuesday Together
  • Encourage
    • Rule of Life
    • Lectio Divina
    • Personal Year-end Examen
    • Reading Recommendations
  • Prepare
    • Leadership Training
    • LSM Facilitator Resources
  • Formation Zoé
Lifesprings International Ministries

Lifesprings International Ministries

Encouraging, preparing, and connecting women to impact their communities with the love of God.

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Give
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Philippians 4:2

May 11, 2021 by Ezers Leave a Comment

Philippians 4:1-13. Our reflections for the following 13 weeks will be based on this passage from Philippians. We invite you to weekly read all 13 verses as a way of soaking in scripture.

Listen:

  “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord”. (Philippians 4:2)

Reflect:

Confession is good for the soul, so here’s mine! I chose this verse out of curiosity: how do you pronounce these two names? What do they mean? Names are important in many cultures, and in the bible too.

Fragrance and Fortunate.
Lovely names, names given in love.

In his letter, Paul took time to name them, he knows them by their first names. Others do too, apparently. These women were leaders, co-laborer’s of the apostle, well known and respected. Yet, leaders can disagree with each other. Is that surprising? Even for His kingdom’s sake! Interestingly, what they disagreed on was never mentioned, now forgotten. Instead, we remember their names, and how Paul urged them to be of the same mind in the Lord. Indeed, instead of judging them, Paul encouraged them.

How can leaders be of the same mind? By abiding in the Lord. We cannot see clearly, unless we look through God’s eyes.

Another confession, I have a tic. I often say to my children, Look! Look at the sunset! Look at that bird! Look at the (color) green! (Of spring grass, which makes my heart burst). Perhaps one day, they will look at something, remember the way I see it, and see the same for themselves. When we choose to look through God’s eyes, we too will see what is good, what is important, what love means. And that makes it easier to agree. And to keep on working. For His kingdom’s sake. 

Prayer of Response:

Father, You see clearly, and You are love. Forgive us when we lose sight of your vision, help us forgive one another, and seek always to work together in unity and harmony, for your Kingdom’s sake. That we too may be called Fragrance, Fortunate, faithful, friend. Amen.

Questions to Ponder:

  • Are you struggling to find agreement with a fellow laborer recently (and if it’s me, I do apologize!)?
  • Is there something you can agree upon together, if you look together through God’s eyes? 
  • If it is troubling and difficult, is there someone who can help urge you both along a path of healing and forgiveness?  

—Submitted by Kae Ting Trouilloud
Kae lives in Lyon, France, and is so so grateful that she does not work alone. She is constantly amazed at God’s vision, ever thankful for her long-suffering family (“Look at the green!”) and looks forward to the day when she can safely hug the amazing faithful team and community working towards the bilingual Lifesprings School of Ministry LSM-Formation Zoé, starting November 6, 2021.

Category iconUncategorized

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise

Archives

  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Give
Give via Check in the U.S.

 

Make check out to:
 Faith and Learning International

IMPORTANT, please write:
LIFESPRINGS GENERAL FUND in the MEMO line

Mail to:
Faith and Learning International
PO Box 480
Wheaton, IL 60187-0480

To give by bank transfer in Euros:

 

IBAN: FR76 1009 6180 4100 0576 2590 144
Account: 00057625901
Bank: CIC FERNEY VOLTAIRE 10096
BIC: CMCIFRPP

Association name: Lifesprings France
Bank: CIC FERNEY VOLTAIRE
Address: 1 Avenue Voltaire
01210 Ferney Voltaire, FRANCE

Phone: +33 8 20 30 05 83