Gratitude Produces Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving traces its origins to a 1621 harvest feast shared by Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag people, but it wasn't made a national holiday until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November a day of thanksgiving.  Congress officially established the fourth Thursday of November as the legal federal holiday in 1941. (AI Overview)

Every year on Thanksgiving, I reflect on Thanksgivings past.  Every year it was a huge celebration with grandparents, parents, sisters and my brother, aunts and uncles and cousins.  The house was not only full of people, but the tables held a plethora of assorted meats, vegetables, fruits and desserts and the edges of the plates touched, leaving no space for one more thing! Voices allowed no room for silence.  Games littered the living room floor. Picture albums were set out on the coffee tables. The smell of coffee almost covered the aroma of the turkey. My childhood was blessed.

Today there will be empty chairs at the table that represented loved ones who have gone on to meet the Lord.  My house will not be as full as times past, but the presence of some family and friends will make this day festive.  There will still be lots of food, laughter and conversations.  Smiles, hugs, and yes, even a little indigestion.  LOL

The Lord continues to bless.

During our midweek bible study, Pastor Josh Fryman reminded us of something.  It's based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

He also defined the difference between Gratitude and Thanksgiving.  Gratitude is being thankful, but Thanksgiving is the act of giving thanks.  It's our prayer expressing gratitude.  

If you want to be obedient to Christ, praise Him!

If you want to know the will of God concerning you, Praise Him!

If you want to have a happy heart, Praise Him!

Our Lord is worthy to be praised...

    Not just on one Thursday of the year...

        But every day!

               But that's just me!

"God doesn't want us to just feel gratitude, but for us to show it by giving thanks to God with our lives."

R.C. Sproul

Come On In!

"Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality." Romans 12:13

My husband and I had lived in Military Base Housing for twenty years when we decided it was time to buy our first home. We were so excited!  We began driving around our small town to look at houses that were up for sale and began to pray, asking the Lord which one He would want us to have. Every time we drove around town, we would drive by this one tiny house.  It was a neglected house; one used as a Rental property and had been on the market for over a year.  When a house is on the market for that length of time, it's easy to wonder, 'What is wrong with this house?'  But the more times we drove by this old house, we were beginning to wonder if this house had been on the market this long because it was the house the Lord had chosen for us.  We decided to contact the Realtor and take a look inside.  We were right.  It was old, damaged, outdated and needed a lot of work, but as we walked around from room to room, my husband and I just looked at each other and new:  The Lord wants us here!  

The day of signing, we promised God that we would repair and take care of this dilapidated house and use it for His honor and glory.

The other night we were privileged to host the Singles Bible Study group in our home.  As each young person walked into our home, my heart smiled.  We've kept that promise to the Lord, to use what He has given to us for others throughout the years. (It really belongs to Him anyway!)

There are many examples in the bible of those who have opened their homes for bible studies, for the ministering of the saints, or for just a simple refuge in a time of need.

There is the widow in Zarephath who ministered to Elijah in 1 Kings 17:9.

Lydia in Acts 16:15.

Priscilla and Aquila who expounded the word of God to Apollos in Acts 18:26.

Even the converted jailer brought Paul and Silas into his home in Acts 16:34, and this is just to name a few.

Hospitality can be misunderstood...

    it's not about elaborate meals, or a perfect home...

        It's about inviting someone inside, whose been left outside...

            And letting them know that you care...

                But that's just me!

            

The Worth of a Widow's Mite

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

Mark 12:41-44

I love this account of the widow woman.  It's a true story, not a parable. Jesus witnessed this widow give all she had, and he decided to share what He saw with His disciples to teach them a valuable lesson.

It's interesting to note that Jesus 'beheld how' the people had cast in their money into the treasury.  Jesus knows the motive behind our giving.  Is it mechanical? Exactly ten percent? Do I really sacrifice anything at all when I give monetarily?  Am I giving from a cheerful heart?

The rich gave much, there is no doubt about that.  Had it become routine for them? Was there prayer behind their giving? 

"This is for You, Lord."

Then along came a widow woman.  What a contrast in the amount that was put into the treasury and what a contrast between the hearts of those who gave.  The wealthy gave large amounts of gold, silver, copper and bronze coins, and this poor widow woman gave two lepta.  A lepton was the smallest bronze Jewish coin in circulation in Palestine. Two lepta were worth 1/64 of a Roman denarius, a day's wage for the laborer.  In other words, what the widow woman gave, was a fraction of a penny, and yet in the sight of Jesus it was worth more than all the gold and silver coins given by the rich.

The rich gave out of their material wealth at little cost to them, but this woman gave out of her poverty.

She gave all she had to live on, and by doing this she gave sacrificially to God knowing that He would provide for her every need. She knew the principle of 'give and it shall be given unto you.'

This widow woman not only gave what she had materially, but in faith, she gave her heart as well.

She gave...

    because she needed...

        But that's just me!

A Walk in the Park

"Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears." 2 Samuel 7:22

Because of the unseasonably warm Fall weather, my husband and I and our little dog, Grace, have been hiking the trails at our State Park.  Just the other day, as we were walking through the leaf-strewn paths, breathing the fresh, crisp, clean air, and watching wildlife busily scampering about preparing for the Winter, we stood in Awe of our Creator.  Seeing the beauty in Nature and watching God's Critters all throughout the wooded area of this park, we were simply amazed! In all of Creation, God has a purpose and a perfect plan.  He takes care of even the tiniest, minute detail.  Greenery, foliage, and even the empty beehive with its remaining decomposing honeycomb will serve a purpose to provide for the animals during the Winter. The fallen leaves, and the bark on the tree, will all serve a purpose to make this wooded area a masterpiece when Spring arrives. The berries left on the bushes, and the grubs within the branches and pines make delicious food for the remaining birds and woodpeckers. Our hearts were full just looking at the wonder all around us.

Our God is a Magnificent, Marvelous Creator.  Trying to come up with words to describe our God leaves me wordless.  Can anything really describe our God?  In church last night, we sang the hymn, How Great Thou Art by Carl Boberg.  As I sang the words, I began to see my Creator, My Saviour, God and LORD.

"Carl Boberg wrote this hymn in 1886.  He was a Swedish Pastor, and while visiting a beautiful country estate, he was caught in a sudden thunderstorm. The awesome and violent lightning and thunder quickly ended, leaving clear and brilliant sunshine and calm, sweet singing of the birds in the trees.  Falling on his knees in awe and adoration of Almighty God, He wrote How Great Thou Art." (Amazing Grace, Kenneth W. Osbeck) 

"O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy pow'r thruout the universe displayed!

When thru the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in-That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin!

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adorations and there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Chorus: Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee; how great Thou art, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee; how great thou art, how great Thou art!"

I encourage you to go and take a walk outside today...

    Take a good look around you...

        You will see your Creator God...

            Everywhere you look!

                But that's just me!

"I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." Psalm 145:1-3

The Jericho Road

 The Jericho Road.  A road connecting Jericho to Jerusalem.  It was known to be treacherous and known for crime and robbery to those who travelled that way.  It was a steep and winding road.  A road best taken during the daytime.  If one found themselves on that road at dusk and dark, they were often met by thieves. 

In Luke 10:29, a Lawyer asked Jesus this question: 'Who is my neighbor?' In the following verses Jesus answered this man's question by telling him about a man on a journey to Jericho. On his way, he fell among thieves who had stripped him, beat him, and had left him for dead. As this man laid wounded on the side of the road, two men who could have helped him, left him there. And then a Samaritan came upon him.  When he saw the state of the wounded man, he had compassion on him and his compassion turned into action.  He bound up this man's wounds, placed him upon his horse, took him to an inn, and paid for his care.  Not only did he pay for this man's present care, but he paid for any additional care.  After Jesus told this story to the Lawyer, Jesus in turn, asks him this question: "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?" The Lawyer answered Jesus correctly.  "He that shewed mercy unto him."  And once this man knew Truth, Jesus tells him to go and do likewise.

If you were to hear this account from the victim, he might say it this way:

"I left Jerusalem, last week for Jericho, in the afternoon, the sun was getting low. And then the bushes shook, and out they came at me, they were robbing me half-naked, while they beat me head to toe, and they left me on the road to Jericho.

Lying almost slain and wounded by the road, crying out in pain for a sympathetic soul. First a priest and then another of my kind, well, they were men I could have trusted but they acted deaf and blind, they were strangers on the road to Jericho.

Through the blood and tears I saw a worried face, he was from Samaria, my people hate his race! He bandaged up my wounds, and he laid me on his horse, although my memory is cloudy, I can still feel his friendly flow, such a kind man on the road to Jericho.

When I later asked the Innkeeper the man's name, he did not know.

Just a neighbor on the road to Jericho."  Keith Green

I've been on a Jericho road before.  Sometimes I was left for dead by those who I considered my friends, and sometimes, help came from those I least expected help from.  They came up beside me and bandaged up my wounds and set me on my way again.

I'm sure you've been on a Jericho road as well.

On the flip side, there were times when I've witnessed others on the Jericho road. Some I've left for dead and other's I cared for.

What is the deciding factor to turn from being a stranger into a neighbor?

When I look upon a hurting soul, bruised, beat up and wounded from the world, do I really see them there?  Enough to have compassion on, and to care for?

Or do I choose who I want to help and when I want to help?

Have I looked into the eyes of a wounded soul and turned away? Or when I look into the eyes of a wounded soul, do I really see them?  Help them?  Do I care?

"When we see innocent persons suffering as the result of the sin of others our pity should be excited!"  

Charles Spurgeon.

We all walk a Jericho Road...

    We all see others on the Jericho Road...

        Will we be a Stranger, or a Neighbor...?

            But that's just me!

Cherry On Top!

 

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:3,4

I love these verses! They are examples of the principle of Cause and Effect.  When we do something, God promises to do something in response to our obedience to Him.  "The promise, He will give you the desires of your heart, is based on this condition: that you 'delight yourself in the LORD.'"  Walvoord & Zuck

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will have righteous desires, and when we have righteous desires, our desires will match God's Will.

Strong's Concordance defines desires, as, 'requests, or petitions.'

When we pray and make requests and petitions that are pleasing to God, He will always give them to us.

When I read these verses, I couldn't help but think of how a parent will give their child something they ask for, because not only is the child 'doing good' but what they asked for made the parent happy!  It also made me examine the types of things I ask for in my prayers.  Do my requests please my Heavenly Father, or are my requests selfish?

Charles Spurgeon once wrote concerning Martin Luther, "There comes a man that can have anything of God he likes. You ask the reason of it? Because Luther delighted himself in his God."

These verses remind us that if we trust the LORD and do good, we shall dwell in the land and be fed.  Meaning, all of our needs will be provided by the Lord, but when we delight ourselves in the LORD, He blesses us above all we could ever ask for!

Trust in the LORD, do good, and dwell in the land and be fed...

    delight in Him also...

        And receive the cherry on top...!

            But that's just me!

    

    "Do not think first of the desires of thy heart but think first of delighting thyself in thy God. If thou hast accepted Him as thy Lord, He is thine; so, delight in Him, and then He will give thee the desires of thy heart." Charles Spurgeon

Delighting in God=blessings!

The Book Of Life

"When God writes our names in the Lamb's Book of Life, He doesn't do it with an eraser handy. He does it for eternity."

R.C. Sproul

"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."

Daniel 12:1

"And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life."

Philippians 4:3

I'm so excited!  Why am I excited?  I'm expecting Valerie M. Bodden's new book, Hearts of Hope in the mail today! What makes this new book so exciting?  (Besides the fact that VMB is a Christian Fiction Author who never disappoints her readers and always glorifies Christ in her books?)  

What makes her new book so exciting for me, personally?

My name will be listed in the Acknowledgments!  As an Advanced Reader for her recent work, I was chosen to Read and Review her new book before it was Published.  After exchanging emails with this Author, she asked if she could list my name in the Acknowledgements?  I was humbly honored by being one of many who will be listed in the back of her newest book. (Someday, Lord willing, my name will be on the front of a book!)

But in my excitement, God reminded me of something far greater than my name being listed on the Acknowledgments page for previewing a temporary, fictional novel.

My name is written eternally in the Lamb's Book of Life!  Not because I read and reviewed the Bible, no, but because I believe IN The Person of the Greatest Story Ever Told:  The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Revelation 21:27

On July 5, 1995, my name was eternally written down in the Lamb's Book of Life...

    Will your name be there...?"

        It can be...

            Turn from your sin and turn to Christ...

                But that's just me!

"Our ownership in Christ is documented in the Word of God, and our names are registered in the Lamb's Book of Life."  David Jeremiah

"but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." Words of Jesus,

Luke 10:20b

Face Time

 "...but then face to face..." 1 Corinthians 13:12b

I tend to have a love/hate relationship with technology.  I love it when it's working correctly, and I hate it when I'm not working it correctly. (LOL) But this past week when my son Facetimed us, I was again, thanking the Lord that we have the technology to be able to see family 'face to face' while living thousands of miles apart.

There is just something about 'seeing' the face of the person you are talking to.  You can truly see that they are doing as well as they say they are. There is an intimate connection when you can look into their eyes and look upon the face of the person you love.

After we disconnected, I couldn't help but think that one day, we will see our Lord face to face.  Not like Moses saw God face to face, while hidden in the cleft of the rock and looking at the backside of His Person, but face to face.  

According to David Guzik, Paul uses this term, 'face to face,' to describe complete, unhindered fellowship with God.  There will be no more barriers to our relationship with God.

Can you just imagine?  Looking upon the Face of Creator God.  Looking into the compassionate eyes of our Saviour Who died for our sins.  Looking into the eyes of our Resurrected Lord!  

Hope Realized!

"The streets of gold will have small attraction to us, the harps of angels will slightly enchant us, compared with the King in the midst of the throne. He it is Who shall rivet our gaze, absorb our thoughts, enchain our affection, and move all our sacred passions to their highest pitch of celestial ardour.  We shall see Jesus!" Charles Spurgeon

One day soon, we will come face to face with Jesus...

    Will you be ready?...

        But that's just me!

When We See Christ

Esther Kerr Rusthoi, Hymn, 1941

Oft-times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,

We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;

But Christ will soon appear, to catch His Bride away,

All tears forever over, in God's eternal day.

Sometimes the sky looks dark, with not a ray of light,

We're tossed and driven on, no human help in sight;

But there is one in Heav'n, Who knows our deepest card,

Let Jesus solve your problem, Just go to Him in Prayer.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,

We'll cross the great divide, to Glory, safe at last;

We'll share the joys of Heav'n a harp, a Home, a crown,

The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down!

Chorus:  It will be worth it all!

When we see Jesus!

Life's trials will seem so small, when we see Christ!

One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race, till we see Christ!