Friday, November 18, 2016

Spiritual Sacrifice

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November- The Month of Thankfulness and Praise.


“I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:17 (NIV)

            The psalmist tells his readers, even those of today, that he would give an offering and praise to God as a form of sacrifice. We think of a sacrifice as being something that causes a hardship. However, a Biblical understanding of sacrifice simply means something brought before God. In the Old Testament, the people brought as a tribute before or an offering to God.

            What do we praise God for in our present world? I find myself praising Him for the beautiful weather we have experienced this late in the year. As I sit in my living room initially composing this meditation, our back door is open, letting the late afternoon sunshine into our kitchen. The temperature was a bit nippy this morning for me to spend time on my front porch.

            Besides the weather, I am thankful that we were able to fix up more of our house this year.

            In addition, I give God praise I am better physically than I was one year ago. I was incapacitated. Now, we usually get out and go to the store or shopping. I get out to do visitation every other week and attend a prayer group on Wednesday mornings and attend midweek worship service and a second prayer group on Wednesday evenings. For the ability to do these activities, I am thankful.

What are some things you give praise or thanksgiving for?

UNPLUGGING

One special thing I am thankful for this year is that our son can be home to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. He was able to be with us last year but that was when I was incapacitated. This is a very special time for us, 

Because he will be here and stay overnight, on the weekend, I am going to unplug until Monday, November 28th. My prayer for all you is that you have a joyous Thanksgiving celebration with your loved ones,







Wednesday, November 16, 2016

God’s Will

November- The Month of Thankfulness and Praise.

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“Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
 for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Paul pens these words as part of final instructions to the believers at Thessalonica.
   
            “Be joyful always. . .” People who read these words for the first time might think, “What does Paul mean by this? Can we be joyful in times of sadness? Paul hasn’t been through some of the sad times we have seen in present times.” Our joy at that time is that we know God is there with us as we face the issues at hand.

            “. . . pray continually. . .” Again, babes in Christ wonder, “How can I always be in prayer? I have a family to raise. I work outside my home. I have hobbies I pursue.” I believe Paul asks us to be willing to go into a mode of prayer anytime we face hardships, ours or those of our friends. As we listen to our friend’s circumstance, Jesus may whisper into our ears that it is time to pray for this friend and his/her needs. 

“. . . give thanks in all circumstances. . .” One new to Christianity might voice some concern, “What, give thanks in ALL circumstances? What does Paul mean?” Let’s look at this phrase carefully. He says to give thanks in all circumstances.
When the house right across the street from us caught fire, I gave thanks for the firefighters who were on our street two minutes after I called. When my friend’s son-in-law was diagnosed with rare cancer, we were able to praise God every step of the way for the very attentive medical team that worked with him and his wife. We also gave thanks when he became cancer free.

            “. . . for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God, being our heavenly Father, teaches us to be appreciative, much like our earthly parents taught us to thank others when they do something for us. This is a small part of who God is.


Monday, November 14, 2016

Duty

November- The Month of Thankfulness and Praise.

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“But we all ought to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13

             Paul, Silas, and Timothy had ministered to the believers in Thessalonica. Paul felt it was their duty to lift them up to God in prayer and thank God for the work He had done beforehand in the hearts of the people. We should follow this pattern and pray for those whom God has given us.

            God had set them apart before their birth. This makes each of God’s children special in His eyes.

            What can we praise God for? We can praise Him for the basics of our very lives. Do we thank God for the kindnesses shown to us by others?

            Shouldn’t we develop this practice of giving praise on a regular basis? We have a lot of things to for which we should be grateful. Can you name three things for which you are thankful?
            I am thankful for my salvation. I am thankful that I live in the United States of America. I am thankful I have the freedom to worship God as I choose, that no government can tell me how and where to worship.


            I don’t usually get into the current news of our nation because that’s not what God usually wants me to write about. However, the events of this past week in response to the outcome of the election causes me to speak. Those who believe their choice was overlooked and that person lost the election need to realize that we are AMERICANS. We live in the UNITED states.  We all need to work TOGETHER and be patient and wait and see where we will go AS A NATION. Pray for our president elect as we are directed in the Bible to pray for our leaders.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...