Thanksgiving 30

Today is the last official post for Thanksgiving.  I have been reflecting back on many days gone by.  We have endured some really tough days.  There have been days of sickness.  There have been days where our son’s autism nearly killed us.  There have been days that friends turned against us.  There have been days of all kinds.

Thankfully there have been days of victory.  There have been days of joy.  There have been days that put a smile on your face as well as deep into your heart.  Yet, the Word of God tells us to be thankful no matter what kind of day it is.  This is easier said than done some days.  I know you understand.  The fact remains that we have been commanded.

Look at I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  Please notice that this verse of Scripture does not tell us to be thankful for every thing.  The Word of God tells us, “In every thing give thanks:”.  It is like one man said after he was robbed.  He thanked God that he had something to be taken from him and he was thankful that it was not he who was doing the robbing.  No matter what your circumstance give thanks “in” in no matter if you cannot give thanks for it.

So, how are you doing?

Thanksgiving 29

My wife came into the home office and told me that she has been reading all of my Thanksgiving posts and she did not read one time that I said that I am thankful for her.  We don’t fight.  We do have some moments of intense fellowship though. I honestly thought that one of my previous posts mentioned her and my love for her.  Maybe I dreamed it and thought it really happened.

We have been through a lot together over the past nineteen years.  It will soon be twenty.  We have seen many good times.  We have seen many bad times for sure.  Yet through it all we have stayed together.  She is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  She does bring much joy and sunlight into our lives.  I am thankful for that.  We both have our days for sure.

I have ministered to many me over the years that purposely stayed away from home because the climate of their home matched that of our current Indiana weather (14′ I believe).  This is so sad.  I am sure there is blame on both sides; but, we need to be adults and work through our problems.

Yes, I am thankful for my wife!  I love you Tara!

So, how are you doing?

Thanksgiving 28

Happy Thanksgiving!  I am sharing an article from “The Legal Alert” November 2013 issue Written by David C. Gibbs Jr., which is a publication of the Christian Law Association.  It goes as follows:

“God’s Provision and the First Thanksgiving”

“God was obviously helping the Pilgrims in many ways, but one of the most surprising forms of assistance was a man – an Indian who spoke perfect English.  In the spring of 1621, after barely surviving their first long and severe winter, God sent the weary settlers an Indian named Squanto who could speak their own language.  Squanto offered to teach the Pilgrims how to survive in this strange land.  God had perfectly prepared this Indiana to be a helper for the settlers.

As a young man, Squanto, a native of the area, had been captured and taken to England.  While there as a slave, he had mastered the English language. He had been freed shortly before the Pilgrims’ voyage and had returned to America to find virtually all of his tribe wiped out by the plague.  Despite his former treatment at the hands of the Europeans, Squanto was willing to help the Pilgrims learn to survive in the New World, teaching them where and how to fish and stalk game and which berries were safe to eat.  While these skills were important, probably the most important thing Squanto taught the Pilgrims was ‘how to plant the Indians’ winter staple, corn, which Europeans had known nothing about.’

The Pilgrims knew the value of Squanto’s assistance and were careful to give God the glory for sending him to help them.  William Bradford writes:  ‘Squanto continued with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.’  The Pilgrims, in turn, shared with Squanto the most valueable treasure they had brought with them from England – the Gospel.  Cotton Mather reports that Squanto died within a year or two after to the aid of the Pilgrims, ‘but before his death, desired them to pray for him.  That he might go to the Englishman’s God in Heaven.’

Mather tells us that other Indians who assisted the Pilgrims were also impressed with their God.  During the summer of 1621, when it appeared the year’s corn harvest would not survive a severe drought, the Pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer.  By the end of the day, it was raining.  The  rain saved the corn, which miraculously sprang back to life.  One of the Indians who observed this miracle remarked:

Now I see that the Englishman’s God is a good God; for he hath heard you, and sent you rain, and that without such tempest and thunder as we used to have with our rain; which after our Powawing for it, breaks down the corn; whereas your corn stands whole and good still; surely, your God is a good God.

That miraculous corn harvest provided the basis for the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving, a tradition Americans continue to celebrate.  Today, however, our public schools sometimes teach that Thanksgiving signifies the thanks the Pilgrims offered to their Indian neighbors who had helped them; but history demonstrates that, on that first Thanksgiving Day, the thanks of both Pilgrims and Indians went to God for His great goodness toward them.”

So, how are you doing?

Thanksgiving 27

Tomorrow we will celebrate Thanksgiving 2013.  I love Thanksgiving.  I find myself very frustrated at people who are already turning on their Christmas lights.  It is not Thanksgiving yet, so why are you passing over it?  The retailers are so desperate for your money that they are now going to be open on Thanksgiving day to try to get your business.  I hope you are not so foolish as to go Christmas shopping on Thanksgiving day.  Is it really worth saving a few dollars to blow off the family and forget the true meaning of the day we celebrate and reflect on the goodness and provision of our Heavenly Father.

Well, if you want to be absolutely truthful about Thanksgiving then you must admit that it should never be limited to just one day each year.  For the Christian every day of every year should be a day of Thanksgiving.

As I am thinking about Thanksgiving I remember my family gathering at my Grandparents house the evening before to help Grandma Ruth begin to prepare the Thanksgiving meal.  We even had a special meal that night too.  We always had Spanish Hamburgers, smashed potatoes and creamed peas.  I can see Grandma stuffing the turkey and making pecan and pumpkin pies.  This brings such joy and sadness to my heart.  We all miss Grandma so much; but, we would not wish her back to this vale of tears for nothing.  She lives in the memories of her family.

This reminds me of Proverbs 10:7, “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.”  This year as you gather with your family I wish you memories that will last a lifetime.

So, how are you doing?

Thanksgiving 26

Last night I had the opportunity of going to the mission and preaching their chapel service.  I do this on the forth Friday of each month.  It is such a pleasure.  These men are so appreciative of the snacks and that we take time to go and minister to them.  I normally do not pick out songs prior to going because I let them request their favorite songs.  They sing at the top of their lungs.  Some sing off key; but, I don’t care.  They are singing from their heart.

We go each month because we are motivated by love.  Look at I Peter 4:8, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”  The word “charity” is the Greek word agape which means love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast (Taken from the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).

Charity is basically love in work clothes.  If I love the men at the shelter then I will do my best to teach them God’s Word and to win them to Christ.  What a privilege!  I can honestly say that I love those men and they respond in love to us.  I am so thankful that God has put His Love in me in so many different ways.  I am thankful for the love of Christ which constrains me to go each month and share with these men.

So, how are you doing?

Thanksgiving 25

The other evening I had the pleasure of preaching at the mission again this month.  I love it so much.  My wife bakes two pans of brownies and puts frosting on them.  She also bakes three different kinds of cookies, a couple dozen each.  This is a labor of love for our family.  We love these men and it is our pleasure to bake these snacks and share them with the men.  They appreciate it so much.

I was moved nearly to tears as I told one of the men that the 600 count package of napkins would be left for them to use.  He responded, “Praise the LORD!  Thank you.”  It was a package of napkins.  To you and I this is a simple thing that we take for granted; but, to this man it was a luxury.  It was such a small thing to us; but, to him it meant that someone cared enough to share what they had with them.  It humbled me for sure.

This man’s response to a package of napkins brought to my mind I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  I have come to learn that I have no idea what life is like for these people.  One thing I believe is that if Jesus were here today walking on earth as He did in His day that He would have gone to the men, women, boys and girls at the mission.  He ministered to the down and out more than the up and up crowd.  After tonight, I am thankful for napkins.

So, how are you doing?

 

Thanksgiving 24

I am sometimes amazed at the number of people that really do not believe the truth of the Word of God.  There are religious groups out there that call themselves “Christian” who are no more Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car.

One Bible doctrine that such groups deny is the doctrine of eternal security.  Some people call it “once saved, always saved”.  I am thankful that we can know that we are saved and that this salvation is full, free and forever.

The writer of the book of Hebrews makes a great point in support of eternal security.  Look at Hebrews 6:4-6, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”  I like that word “impossible”.  You cannot again enlighten someone that has already been enlightened.  Once someone has received Christ as their Saviour, that is it.  They cannot receive Him again as Saviour.  If you could it would be like crucifying Him all over again.  We know He died once, for all.  Thank You Jesus!  Have you received Him as your Saviour?  Do it now before it is too late.

So, how are you doing?

Look at this article from Channel 6 in Indianapolis about 12 foster children finding their “forever famiilies” here.  There is a picture of salvation here.

 

Thanksgiving 23

As I am writing this I am reminded of a missions trip I would like to take next year.  Due to several financial disasters that trip will be out of the question for me.  I am heartbroken.  I am thankful for all those who will be able to go on the trip.  They will be a part of a powerful ministry team that will take the Word of God to an area that needs it desperately.  That place is Washington, D.C.  They will have some great opportunities, no doubt.  Yet, God has not allowed me to be able to go.  This does not make me angry at all.

My responsibility now is to pray for those who are going to a place that I cannot go.  I have a dear friend, Pastor Jim Kilgore (www.jimkilgoreministries.com) is a missionary and was in the Philippines when the worst typhoon in history made landfall.  Here is a man that has gone where I cannot go.  I thank God for such a committed friend who loves the LORD Jesus and seeks to serve Him faithfully.  A true missionary will do that.

We support missionaries because they go in our place.  They go places where we cannot go or will never be able to go.  Yet, as we give money and the needed supplies we make it possible for them to go in our place.  It is vital that you and I get on board with missionaries like Pastor Jim Kilgore and other fundamental missionaries to help them reach the world.  I am deeply grateful for missionaries! Look at Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

So, how are you doing?

Thanksgiving 22

When you were growing up did anyone ever stand behind you and ask you to fall backwards into their awaiting arms?  I don’t remember anyone ever asking me to do that.  I have done that for others, as I remember.  I would not do that today for nothing.  I don’t have the physical strength to catch someone and it would take Sampson of old to catch me like that.

I was thinking about the fourteen year old boy who asked Jesus to save him recently.  I thought about how this boy had been in Church before and heard sermon after sermon.  Why this particular Sunday?  I came to me that he had come to the place where he saw that Jesus could be trusted.  We say that he “trusted Christ as his Saviour”.  Well, there you go.

We live in a day that it is hard to find people who you can trust.  Listen to what the Scripture says in II Samuel 22:31, “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.”  Then again it is repeated nearly word for word in Psalm 18:30, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”  The important question is have you trusted Jesus Christ to be your Saviour?  Make that decision today before it is too late.

So, how are you doing?

Thanksgiving 21

We live in a day of fragmentation.  No, I am not referring to computers.  We see advertisements for our military that tell us we can be an “Army of one” and the like.  Families no longer sit down and eat dinner together.  The kids have sports, this and that activity and we just don’t have time for such an old-fashioned idea. Wrong!

We make time for whatever we really want to do in life.  If we truly wanted to spend time with our families we would move mountains to spend time with them.  The problem is that we are so self focused and so apathetic (which makes us pathetic!) that we just blow it off as we are too busy.

If you are too busy to spend time at your kitchen table with your family having a meal together you are too busy.  I enjoy spending time with my family.  I even go and visit other members of my family to see how they are doing and what they are up to.

The best part of my family is that most of them are part of my Heavenly family also.  Just the other night I sat with my cousin and we talked about many things; but, every conversation led right back to something about Jesus Christ.  I love it!  I love my family too!  Look at Ephesians 3:14-15, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”

So, how are you doing?