GIVE THANKS

...in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in

Christ Jesus concerning you.

I Thessalonians 5:18

This week, I received the most beautiful card from Carol, a dear friend. It looked to be the designer type of card and on the front along with some beautiful touches, were the words that caught my attention: GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THINGS. It's a card I already adapted for use in my Bible as a bigger-than-usual bookmark.

Tis the season of thanksgiving and gratitude. We usually decide at this holiday time that we won't just confine our gratitude during this one season. Sometimes, that thought and hope gets lost somewhere in the rest of the year.

The hard part sometimes is giving thanks in ALL things. ALL THINGS may refer to those happy times that are ours, but ALL THINGS means just that... ALL. I've found perhaps later that it's in those negative times I learn the most about my Heavenly Father and His expectations. It's in those things when I think I learn the most. They are a real part of that ALL.

I also noticed that the above verse is only the latter part of a bigger sentence. The beginning of the verse tells us that we are to rejoice always and pray without ceasing. There's just comma's after those phrases. The period comes at the end of the above part of the verse.

Notice those three words...always, ceasing, and everything. It all works together to create in us a consistent spirit of giving thanks. It won't be just in November we are to rejoice, pray and give thanks. It's supposed to be our lives, every day we live and breathe.

Have a wonderful time this week of gratitude but also that all of us would do the same the other 51 weeks of the year. Blessings, my friends.

Somehow, Father, our thanksgiving for all You mean to us seems rather watered down because we just can't fully express it. Everything we have has come from You, even Your precious Son Jesus. Thank You for Him and for Your sweet Holy Spirit Who guides and teaches us. In everything You are so faithful. May we be found faithful but only for your honor and glory. We love you. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

PRECIOUS HANDS

Fear not, for I am with you; Be

not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, yes, I will

help you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Recently, I was looking carefully at my hands recalling what I remember of them from time past. Now they are wrinkled, some fingers swollen or twisted from arthritis. No matter the time, past or present, I don't know what I would do without them. I can't imagine how folks manage who have lost use of their hands through accident or physical conditions.

It's interesting when a baby comes into the world, it's usually with a shrill cry, legs kicking and tight-fisted hands boxing the air. You can force your finger into those those two little fists but it can be difficult. There is an unbelievable strength there. In fact, if you can get your index fingers worked into those little fists, with little effort, you can raise that baby in an almost standing position without it falling. If you try this, another adult should be near with open hands. I've done this several times in various settings and it was the same every time.

The hands I'm most grateful for are the precious hands of God. There are several verses in Scripture that speak of the strong functioning of God's hands on our behalf that are worth looking up. I've always loved the fact that God holds me in the palm of His hand. I don't know how He does it for us all, but He can manage it. Pity the thought that we might allow our hands to be fisted, resisting the precious guiding of God's hands in our lives.

With gratitude, on our part, one of the greatest ways to show that gratitude for all His special care for us .is to more often fold our hands in prayer.

Father, You provide the greatest tender, care for us as You lead us with your hand as a loving parent would. Better yet, You keep us close to Yourself in the palm of Your hand. Help us to relax more in those facts as we face a culture in turmoil. You are our only true security and we thank You. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

 

 

IMPORTANCE OF NAMES

...that at the name of Jesus every knee

should bow, of those in heaven, and

of those on earth, and of those

under the earth.

Philippians 2:10

Names are of such importance to us. They don't just identify people, but names bring to recall things to be remembered or to be forgotten. There are names we all could call out that would immediately register with us in some way. They might be names of foods, products, criminals, pastors, vacation spots, car names, known tragedies, etc. We mostly think of the names of family members and friends.

I often wondered when going through my school years, why my parents named me what they did. My first name has caused more problems for me especially in those beginning years. People who didn't know me or my family pronounced my name in every which way you can imagine and at times, it was embarrassing.

There is a name we don't speak as often as we should and that name is JESUS. It's a name quickly recognized and a name with meaning like no other. Unlike most names, His name encourages, blesses, comforts, is full of love and calls to mind our Savior. Some people in time past have tried to erase that name from our attention but it will never happen. JESUS is the name above all names past, present and on into eternity.

Father, there is such comfort and assurance when we speak the powerful name of Jesus. Thank You for His precious presence in our lives, knowing His name holds power beyond any other name. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

A BLESSED NATION

Blessed is the nation whose

God is the Lord., and the

people He hath chosen for

his own inheritance.

Psalm 33:12

There are a lot of concerns for our nation these days. We're looking at a major election to be held this week. I've heard some folks speak with great concern, fear, questions and WORRY in all caps. There is room for concern because our nation isn't what it was for some of us who lived through the “happy days.”

We've come far away from those times. Drastic changes as in a nation don't just happen overnight. They happen gradually so we can get used to what seems like little negative things that at the time don't mean much. Satan loves to work that way and as it has happened, we now look in our nation's mirror wondering how we got to where we are.

Who ever thought our children would be caught up in an educational mire that teaches Satan's ways above anything academic. Somewhere along the line, there weren't folks to ask questions. The events we see on newscasts these days are mind blowing as we see school shootings, demonstrations on school/university campuses and behaviors that often seem beyond evil. The problem is that those young ones grow up to be leaders in schools, politics, legal areas and every other place in our society. The evil they learned, they are now passing along to today's youth.

We know in the end times that things are going to get worse and worse. Meantime, we Christians can't just fold our hands and wave white flags of surrender. We still have the responsibility to be people of prayer and yes, people with a voice. Christians often feel it ungodly to express concerns to ungodly leaders. It can be done when bathed with Scripture and prayer.

Let's be praying in these days like never before for our country. There are so many who need Jesus in their lives. He's really the only One who can make a difference in lives but we can do our part in living out the Gospel and leading godly lives that are pleasing to Jesus. We are told in these days to really be praying. It's unfortunate that we haven't been consistently praying for our nation through months and years, but it's never too late.

Father, I pray for ways to make things right in our country and that fellow Christians will stand for what is right like never before. Give us the wisdom and courage to take our stands, to be the best Christian citizens we know how to be. Bless our elections and keep them clean and legal. Help us to do our part in working to make our nation a Godly place. In Jesus' precious name....Amen