I wrote this blog entry in 2018. I think it is more important this year than ever. 2020 has been a tough year but we can still be Thankful to God…
From 2018: It’s Thanksgiving time, a perfect time to reflect and be thankful for what God has given us, family, love, finances, forgiveness, salvation, so many things.
Take the time and think about it and pretty much everything you have can be credited to the Lord.
The blessings from God I have received are endless, from my family, the good times and bad, He is always there to provide for my wife and I.
Thank you God.
Have a blessed week, Chris
Here is a link to some Bible verses that are great for Thanksgiving.
While we debate Holidays and are heretic hunting in the church arguing over petty things like Halloween in October and in December it will be Christmas trees the sick are not being healed, the hungry are not being feed, the cold won’t be clothed, the needy wait for their needs, the widowed are not being comforted, justice is not being fought for and the unsaved wait to hear the Gospel.
How often do we see discussions on politics, theology and other things turn toxic and become an obsession by the Body of Christ?
People end up behaving the opposite of the manner God has taught them.
I am not saying certain topics aren’t important, what I am saying is prioritize what you’re doing and use discernment to see if what you’re doing bares fruit.
I’ll give an example.
If you come home and notice the house is dirty but then see your children are hungry and without food, your brother is cold and without coat, your sister is sick and without medicine, you look outside and your neighbor is drowning in a nearby lake screaming for someone to save them what do you do?
Do you clean the house to make everything appear well while everyone suffers?
What is your priority?
Save your neighbor, give medicine to your sister, warm your brother, feed your children and then you can focus on cleaning the mess which truly when you think about it was a much smaller mess than you realized at first.
With all that has gone on this past week and really this past year we have seen a lot of anger, sadness and strife. I think it is safe to say a lot of people are hurt.
I think in a time like this the perfect thing to do is to turn to scripture. If you truly feel that someone is your enemy or an enemy of God, what does Jesus say to do?
This is what He says…
Matthew 5:43-48English Standard Version
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 6:27-36English Standard Version
Love Your Enemies
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[a] either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
How powerful is that?
How hard is that?
Some may think it’s easy but truly it can be one of the hardest things to do.
To pray for someone and love someone who you feel is your enemy.
I pray that we can have the strength to do exactly what Jesus told us to do.
Thank you Jesus for setting such a wonderful example for us all.
Today is All Saint’s Day. It’s a day we remember the believers who died and are now with Christ.
Whether a believer in Christ died this year or in years past today is the perfect day to think of them and thank God for the effect they have had on our lives and in the church as a whole.
I found this wonderful prayer that I would like to share with you…
“Dear God, thank you for the example of the Saints. I desire to join in their company, worshiping you forever in Heaven. Please help me follow their footsteps, and yours, Jesus Christ. Please help me to conform myself to Your image, seeking Your will in all things, as the Saints did. Please help me to devote myself, and all that I do, to Your glory, and to the service of my neighbors. Amen.”
The Good Word 