Philippians 3

I realize I've been posting really long posts every day. But, there are only 4 chapters in Philippians, so bear with me. :) I just love this book, and want to share with you guys what pops in my head as I read! Plus, it really helps me to organize my thoughts to write about them afterwords.
Philippians 3:1a "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." I think that period should be an exclamation point. Just my opinion. That is not a sedate, boring thing to say. Here's how I read it: "REJOICE IN THE LORD!!!"
Philippians 3:3b "Rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." This verse just expounds on the first on I put up I think. Why should we rejoice in the Lord? Because our flesh is weak and He can help us to continually walk in the Spirit and in a way that the first two chapters teach us.
Philippians 3:7-14 "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the  knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Do you count loss for Christ the things that are important to the world? Your family, how much money you make, what kind of car you have, etc.... Counting as loss means that even if you had the newest, shiniest Corvette in banana yellow with a convertible top, you wouldn't care if you totaled it because you have Christ, and that is the most important thing. Do you count all your stuff, that will eventually burn up, as rubbish? As trash? As something filthy? Or are you attached to your stuff? Does your stuff matter more, or does your relationship with Christ and your ability to be a light in the world matter more? I'll be honest and say that most of the time my life proves that I would rather have the world that Christ. Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching to things ahead.... Are we living in the past or are we living in the present constantly reevaluating where we are NOW and trying to conform ourselves more and more to the image of Christ and His death? Are we living a sacrificial life unto Christ and others? Lay hold of of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me: eternal life! At least that's what I think. Christ Jesus laid hold of eternal life for us by dying on the cross and raising from the dead the third day. We should also be laying hold of this gift! Living life with an eternal, more heavenly perspective. I jumped around a little bit in that last passage, I hope you guys got the gist of it.
There are so many more things to learn from these chapters! I sincerely hope you guys read Philippians on your own and see how many amazing things are in this book.