Giving Thanks is Not Just for Thanksgiving

"...I will give thanks unto you, O Lord,...and I will sing praises unto your name" (2 Samuel 22:50)
Praise Him and give Him thanks for everday blessings:  hot water to take a shower, your children, food for your children, a job (even though it's not perfect--do not whine and complain about it; He might let you find out just how much  you will miss that job if it's gone), a car that works (I remember times of having car trouble and not having the money to repair the car), good health or even better health (I remember when I had cancer and God healed me through the process of surgery and radiation treatments), the ability to walk, to sleep when you're tired after a long day's work.  Give Him thanks for the "small things" in your life.

"Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, and make known his deeds among the people" (1  Chronicles 16:8)

When was the last time you told someone how good God was to you.  My pastor husband says the best way to witness to  anyone is to tell them how wonderful the Lord is to you in your life. 

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good for his mercy endures forever " (2 Chronicles 16:34)

When I do "mess up", I can always count on His forgiveness because His Mercy endures forever.  Another scripture says His mercy is renewed daily.  Thank you God for  your daily Mercy and forgiveness in my life.

"And say you,  Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us...that we may give thanks to thy holy name and glory in thy praise" (1 Chronicles 16:35)

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your  savior, you are saved but God saves us sometimes even on a daily basis.  I remember driving with my children and someone came over in my lane and I was accidentally run off the interstate.  I cried out to the Lord in that micro second  and the Lord helped me to hold the vehicle to prevent it from turning over, hitting another car, or hitting a tree.  God truly saved us all that day.  He has saved me from many situations that could have brought great tragedy.  Sometimes we have to face tragedies; we are not sure why God saves us from some but others we must go through.  I recently saw a friend at the grocery store and she had her grandson with her.  She has been going through tragedy after tragedy in her family during the past year.  I encouraged her in the Lord and told her I had been praying for her then I reminded her that the Lord saved her grandson from death by healing his little body from cancer several years ago.  God did this for her to bring her joy during these other tragic times.  Tears came into her eyes and she hugged her little grandson giving God  thanks for His goodness.

Give thanks to God on a  daily basis.  He is certainly worthy of our praise.

Mothers

Mary means wise woman or lady. It is a Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam.. The story of the wedding at Cana gives us an example of Mary’s assertiveness as she insists that Jesus help in a difficult situation. Mary watched her son during the three years he spent teaching and traveling around the country. She saw that the authorities viewed his actions and words with mounting apprehension. The situation became progressively worse. Mary saw the danger coming, but was unable to protect her son”(womeninthe bible.net).  According to John 19:25-27, Mary was present at her son’s crucifixion.  She was true to the calling of God on her life to the end of the life of Jesus and she was also present at the resurrection.  She was also in the upper room when the Holy Ghost empowered the early church believers (Acts 2:13-14). Mary was just a young girl probably 13 or so when the angel spoke to her and she birthed the Lord Jesus into this world.  Others may or may not have believed her; some made remarks and speculations as to the who the father of the baby was.  But Mary  knew; she knew who He was and that the Holy Spirit  had placed Him in her womb.  Jesus loved his mother; He respected His mother; and He provided for His mother at the cross by placing her in the household of John (John 19:26-27).  If Jesus treated His earthly mother with such honor and respect and also provided for her, we are obliged to do the same. 

Jesus is the "resurrection and the life"

I apologize for being out for so long.  Since I last blogged I lost my brother to cancer.  It was a long hard battle for him.  He lived much longer than doctors had projected through God's grace and mercy in his life.  My brother was a Christian and relyed on  God's help and grace daily.  Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life..."  This gives everyone such a great hope for this life and the life to come.  I have lost 4 siblings in the last 2 years to death.  Two had long term cancer and two deaths were unexpected heart attacks.  Their ages range 42 years old to 61 years old, not really old any of them.  The greatest peace and consolation that I have received is this promise from Jesus.  During this passion week, let us focus on the sacrifice of our Lord and on His victorious resurrection.  Jesus also said because he lives; we shall live also.  The Apostle Paul said to "be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord".  I know where my brothers and sisters are; they are not lost.  They are in my future and I will see them again one day.  So long for now Tammy, Rosie, Tippi, and Don; I will see you again one day.  God bless you as you worship the Saviour this week.  Go to church; get established in your church and keep your daily focus on Christ and keep your Daily Word Focus.  God bless and have a great, worshipful Easter week.

Loneliness...

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it...(Ephesians 5:25).  This is what dream marriages are made of...a husband who loves you as much as Christ loves the church.  This verse is a command to the husband to always love his wife, no matter what.  "Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them." (Col. 3:19).  Sometimes as married couples get older and all the kiddies have grown and gone, the husband tends to ignore the wife; he forgets the commitment he made to "love, honor, and cherish" and of course the "til death do us part" goes out the window.  Nevertheless, it is a command.  But what's a wife to do if he does not keep his end of the bargain.  Prayer is the only thing that will bring her through.  Pray and draw close to God and ask God to convict his heart and remind him of the promise and covenant he made with his wife of his youth.  If he fails to yield to what the Spirit and the Word are telling him to do, then she must always remember that God is her true solace.  Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."   During the lonliest times of life, it is wonderful to know that Jesus is with us and He will never forsake us.  He also says He is our provider, hope, peace, shelter, and love.  Trust in God; He will be the husband (wife) you need no matter what.

Honesty is the Best Policy

Communication is something we do all day long everyday.  It is very easy to get "caught up" in conversations we would rather not have at all.  It is also very easy to speak without thinking; the Bible warns us about this.  "...but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--" (Eph 4:15)  If we are to be mature, influential Christians, then we must be cautious about our conversation--not only the words we speak but also our actions and the company we keep.  "Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor (this means everyone you come in contact with), for we are members of one another." (Ephesians 4:25)  "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served ...Serve the Lord!" (Josh 24:14)  He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; ... (Ps 15:2) "The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips.  He walked with Me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity (Mal 2:6).  "I said, I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me" (Ps. 39:1).  Always speak the truth when asked a question; keep confidential matters confidential; think before you speak.  Followng these guidelines will help all of us to have less to repent of and build Godly character and influence those around us to live an honest life.