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Cultivating a Gratitude Attitude

Gratitude Attitude 2017 #22

54 years ago today my future was being shaped. I was sitting in a 7th-grade study hall. At that time our new high school was almost finished – but not quite. So a mixture of 7th through 12th graders was spread throughout an auditorium.

A rustling of papers. A note being slid onto a desk as someone went to the restroom. A brave soul walking up on stage to ask the study hall teacher a question.

“A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality.” ~ JFK, 1957, Profiles in Courage

The ticking of the wall clock. The big hand loudly clicking into place. Marking time in our lives until we could talk in the hallways on our way to the next class. I know it was loud because I had spent lots of time in that auditorium – boy scout meetings with the active dad and brother, minstrel practices every winter I can remember in this life, a joint Easter sunrise services, dance recitals, choir concerts, band concerts, fair activities”¦”¦ That auditorium was one of the hubs of our community.

But on this particular day, the clock stopped. The everyday noise that a group of people makes while going about their business, stopped as well. Where I sat, the color of the wall, the dark curtains that hung on the windows, the utter silence of the room frozen in place. An announcement. A voice that cracked as it spoke.

“In whatever area in life one may meet the challenges of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces, if he follows his conscience – the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men – each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of past courage can define that ingredient – they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul.”  ~ JFK, Profiles in Courage

l don’t remember the words our principal used that day. I remember the import. And somehow – in that 7th-grade developing brain – I realized life would be changed forever. When you grow up in Camelot and see a hole shot through the garden wall, the ground shakes beneath the feet – the sun dims – the birds stop their song – the world holds its breath.

It is a strange thing to write a Gratitude Attitude about a tragedy on the Thanksgiving Eve, and yet – every year as this date rolls around, I remember that 7th-grade study hall. I remember reading the president’s books after this day. Listening to his speeches. Starting a new questing path.

Seventeen days before he died, President Kennedy issued his Thanksgiving proclamation. He wrote,

“Today we give our thanks [to Providence], most of all, for the ideals of honor and faith we inherit from our forefathers–for the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they possessed and which we must seek every day to emulate.”

Gratitude Attitude is not always for the easy things, the common things. Sometimes it is being thankful for the hard things – the scary things – the things that make us sit in front of a small TV black-and-white screen to watch a riderless horse with the stirrups turned backwards – a small girl kneeling in front of a casket – a smaller boy saluting a casket – the pictorial book as the torch was passed.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them. Let us therefore proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessings–let us be humbly thankful for inherited ideals–and let us resolve to share those blessings and those ideals with our fellow human beings throughout the world.” ~ Nov 5, 1963, JFK,Thanksgiving Proclamation.

Let me ask you a question. Do you have difficulty with bitterness, selfishness, self-pity, negativism, or pride? An attitude of gratitude can change those things and literally transform your life.

Gratitude is “the dance of being in the moment,” of appreciating during even the stormiest moments, the simple act of taking a life-affirming breath. Michael Bowyer Community pastor, Compass Point Bible Church

Tomorrow is a day for family, parades, football and card games, but most of all, it is time to give thanks to God – to Providence – to the God of Nature – to the Great Spirit for all these blessings. Remembering the past, enjoying the present and walking forward into the future.

“I thank Him who has given me strength, Christus Yeshua. our LORD”¦”~1 Tim 1:12  

 

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Why Is the Bible So Important?

Why Is the Bible So Important?

The Bible is the single most important book ever written and is essential for knowing God and His will for our lives.

It is impossible for any human mind to exhaust one truth or promise of the Bible. One catches the glory from one point of view, another from another point; yet we can discern only gleamings.

#1: THE BIBLE HAS TRANSFORMED THE WORLD

It is not too much to say that the events recorded in this book are claimed by a significant percentage of people who have ever lived on this earth to be the most important events ever recorded in the history of the world.

The full radiance is beyond our vision. As we contemplate the great things of God’s Word, we look into a fountain that broadens and deepens beneath our gaze. Its breadth and depth pass our knowledge. As we gaze, the vision widens; stretched out before us, we behold a boundless, shoreless sea. Such study has vivifying power. The mind and heart acquire new strength and new life.  

Most of the Bible was written in what is modern-day Israel (Asia). But some passages of Jeremiah were written in Egypt (Africa) and several New Testament epistles were written from cities in Europe.

#2:  PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DIE FOR THIS BOOK

This experience is the highest evidence of the divine authorship of the Bible. We receive God’s Word as food for the soul through the same evidence by which we receive bread as food for the body. Bread supplies the need of our nature; we know by experience that it produces blood, bone, and brain.

Apply the same test to the Bible; when its principles have actually become the elements of character, what has been the result? What changes have been made in the life?

“Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

 #3: IT CONTAINS A LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE OF FREEDOM

In its power men and women have broken the chains of sinful habit. They have renounced selfishness. The profane have become reverent, the drunken sober, the profligate pure. Souls that have borne the likeness of Satan have been transformed into the image of God.

4: IT CONNECTS YOU TO HISTORY’S MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE

The change is itself the miracle of miracles. A change wrought by the Word, it is one of the deepest mysteries of the Word. We cannot understand it; we can only believe, that, as declared by the Scriptures, it is

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

A knowledge of this mystery furnishes a key to every other. It opens to the soul the treasures of the universe, the possibilities of infinite development.  

Keep turning the pages of this remarkable book.  Read it with an open mind and open heart. It contains pure truth about God, about life, the nature of mankind and our own hearts as human beings.

Then Christian Bible is described: made up of 66 books, two ‘Testaments’ (39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament). It’s been translated into over 500 languages and over 5 billion copies have been sold; the best selling non-fiction book ever. For Christians, it is God’s word, full of guidance and wisdom, containing everything you need to know about salvation, about being right with God. The Bible is a complicated book; its many stories need applying to the modern world.

 

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Through Hope, In Faith and By Prayer

I think that sometimes when we don’t see results we can sometimes feel that we are praying in vain. That our prayers are not always heard. It’s a human response to feeling that you are praying your last prayer, due to sheer exhaustion, because of what is happening in your life or the situation you are praying for. I have been told many times to give up and almost as many times I have been told that there is always hope.

I don’t know if I even have the ability to give up hope. I’m not sure it is part of who I am or ever will be. For me to give up hope would be like giving up on my faith, admitting that there is nothing to become, to look forward to nothing to love. Hope is never giving up on what you love, to not believe the impossible can happen when you are surrounded by everything that someone once told you was impossible.

In this life I have had to learn so many difficult lessons and I don’t think that learning and growing will ever end for me. Some of those lessons came easily while others were, each time I went through something, I thought was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Forgiveness took me over 40 years to learn and it was a struggle every time I had to do it but now it comes easier through hope, my faith and a lot of prayers while kicking and screaming all the way.

“If you try and lose then it isn’t your fault. But if you don’t try and we lose, then it’s all your fault.” ’- Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game

I’ve had to learn to take responsibility for my actions and for my inaction. I had to look at myself, be honest and move forward without answers. Then I think the hardest was having to go back to revisit forgiveness of everyone, everything and myself. I had to see that I wasn’t perfect, people aren’t perfect and situations and decisions have consequences. I learned to be ok with all of that through hope and faith that I could do better and be praying for help and strength.

My oldest son has problems and I don’t know if they will change. I don’t know if he will change. I see the issues, I know the solution and there is nothing I can do to change any of it. All I can do is have hope that there is a piece of the boy I used to know deep inside, have faith that he will be the man he has been raised to be and pray that one day he will feel the love and compassion that God has for him. That what seems impossible is possible because he has been forgiven and anything that is wrong can be made right through hope, in faith, and by prayer.

August 3, 2017 8:17am ~ Heavenly Father, thank you for this beautiful day and the chance to do your will and read your scriptures. Thank you for having the blessing of another day to do your will and worship you.

Today more than ever bless and watch over Ja.G. as he is released form jail entering into evil temptations. May he find his way to you to find peace and salvation. May he find the desire to be forgiven by you Lord Jesus, to desire your blessing of the Holy Spirit.

Give his family the ability to forgive him and to find your love and desire to worship you and receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

Bless us as we go through our day. AMEN!

John 5:5-9 ~  One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”    “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”    Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”    At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Be well and get up, always.

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Pride

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.  Pride will kill you, forever, and is the sin most likely to keep you from crying out to God in times of need.

As dangerous as pride is, it’s equally hard to spot. Satan fell because of his ambition to be equal with God. He desired to enter into the divine counsels and purposes, from which he was excluded by his own inability, as a created being, to comprehend the wisdom of the Infinite One. It was this ambition  that led to his rebellion in heaven, and by the same means he seeks to cause the ruin of man.

“Too Many People Spend Money They Earned..to Buy Things They Don’t Want..to Impress People That They Don’t Like.” ’- Will Rogers

Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be the leader in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from God, and to win their homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God, attributing to Him the desire for self-exaltation. With his own evil characteristics he sought to dethrone the loving Creator.

“Through Pride We Are Ever Deceiving Ourselves. But Deep down Below the Surface of the Average Conscience a Still, Small Voice Says to Us, something Is out of Tune. ” ’- C.G. Jung

Had Lucifer really desired to be like the Most High, he would never have deserted his appointed place in heaven; for the spirit of the Most High is manifested in unselfish ministry. Lucifer desired God’s power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same.

“Proud People Breed Sad Sorrows for Themselves.” ’- Emily Brontë

We can’t conclude that we don’t struggle with pride because we don’t see pride in ourselves. Whenever pride and ambition are indulged, the life is marred; for pride, feeling no need, closes the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven.

“It Is Better to Lose Your Pride with Someone You Love Rather Than to Lose That Someone You Love with Your Useless Pride.” ’- John Ruskin

Pride of heart is a fearful trait of character. “Pride goeth before destruction.” This is true in the family, the church, and the nation.

“All Men Make Mistakes, but a Good Man Yields When He Knows His Course Is Wrong, and Repairs the Evil. The Only Crime Is Pride.” ’- Sophocles, Antigone

Removing the Chains of Pride

How does one move from the chains of pride and self-obsession to the freedom of humble self-service?
  • A Harsh Spirit –  Those who have the sickness of pride in their hearts speak of others’ sins with contempt, irritation, frustration, or judgment.
  • Superficiality –  When pride lives in our hearts, we’re far more concerned with others’ perceptions of us than the reality of our hearts.
  • Defensiveness –  Those who stand in the strength of Christ’s righteousness alone find a confident hiding place from the attacks of men and Satan alike.  
  • Presumption Before God –  Humility approaches God with humble assurance in Christ Jesus. If either the “humble” or the “assurance” are missing in that equation, our hearts very well might be infected with pride.  
  • Desperation for Attention –  Pride is hungry for attention, respect, and worship in all its forms.
  • Neglecting Others -Pride prefers some people over others. It honors those who the world deems worthy of honor, giving more weight to their words, their wants, and their needs.    

Think of these as three facets as the jewel of genuine Christian humility

  • Who is the focus of your service?
  • Whose sin are you focused upon?
  • What is the focus of your joy, security, and contentment?

God’s people should be subject one to another. They should counsel with each other, that the lack of one be supplied by the sufficiency of the other.  

“Learn of Me,” Said Christ; “For I Am Meek and Lowly in Heart: And Ye Shall Find Rest unto Your Souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

Maybe more of us struggle with pride than we thought.  There’s good news for the prideful. Confession of pride signals the beginning of the end for pride.  

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart! Try Me and Know My Thoughts! And See If There Be Any Grievous Way in Me, and Lead Me in the Way Everlasting! (Psalm 139:23–24)

In the end pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.

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Thanksgiving Day – Relearning and Reliving That Day in History

In the year 1620 A.D, 102 English settlers, called the Pilgrims, and their crew of about 30 men, arrived at Plymouth Rock, what is now Plymouth, Massachusettes, on their ship, the Mayflower.   These people had a deep faith in God, and believed that they were on a mission from God.   In spite of the cold weather and the lack of food, they gave thanks to God for the safe journey across the Atlantic Ocean. and for the freedom from an unjust government. It was a very harsh winter, and by Spring only 52 Pilgrims were still alive.

The Mayflower Was an English Ship That Famously Transported the First English Puritans, Known Today as the Pilgrims, from Plymouth, England to the New World in 1620

The Native American Indian chief, Squanto, had pity on these settlers and befriended them.   He and his tribe taught them what things to grow, gave them seeds and told them when to plant them.   By Fall they had a bountiful harvest.   In gratefulness to God, they had a worship service, and then they had a feast and invited their Indian friends to join them.   Five of the remaining women made the meal, and there was joyful celebration of friendship. Two hundred and fifty years later President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

The Word “Thanksgiving” Comes from the Old Anglo-saxon Term That Meant “Thinkfulness”.

If you can’t think of anything to be thankful for, you have a very poor memory!   Psalm 103:2 says,

“Bless the Lord, O My Soul, and Forget Not All His Benefits.”

The psalmist is saying:

“God Has Given Me So Many Benefits That I May Forget Some of Them, But Don’t Let Me Forget All of Them.”

A story is told of a gifted preacher who suffered a nervous breakdown.   A friend told him that, by God’s enabling, he could overcome his depression. The key was to practice thanksgiving, in obedience to God’s Word.   He suggested that the minister think of all the people who had a special influence on his life over the years. Then he asked, “Did you ever thank any of them?”   The down-hearted man confessed that he couldn’t ever recall doing so. His friend challenged him to think of one person and write to him, expressing his appreciation.   The pastor took his advice, and when he learned that his letter had greatly encouraged the person, his heart was lightened. So he jotted down a list of all who had helped him, a list of over 500 names, and he wrote a letter of appreciation to each one. As he counted his blessings, the depression left him. Realizing that God had been showering him with encouragement through these individuals, he began thanking God daily for His love and goodness.  Let’s take the advice of hymn writer, Johnson Oatman, Jr.

“Count Your Blessings, Name Them One-by-one: Count Your Many Blessings, See What God Hath Done.”

Psalm 92:1-2 says,

“It Is Good to Give Thanks to the Lord, And to Sing Praises to Thy Name, O Most High; To Declare Thy Lovingkindness in the Morning, And Thy Faithfulness by Night.”  

Thankfulness is good for us because it leads to a deeper fellowship with God, to growth in godliness, and to wholeheartedness in daily living.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says,

“Rejoice Always, Pray Without Ceasing,  in Everything Give Thanks,  for This Is God’s Will for You in Christ Jesus.”  

Remember, God never gives a command without providing the desire and the power to obey it.   His grace is always sufficient if we humbly depend upon Him completely, and confidently ask Him to supply it.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!   May every day of your life be Thanksgiving Day!

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The Benefits of Adding Gratitude to Your Attitude

Tuesdays are usually an easy day for a Gratitude Attitude.  I get to see the Grands. How easy is that for Gratitude? I get to listen to the Grands babble all the way home about the wonders of the day. I get to teach the Grands piano. Every good boy does find  face! I get to be torn a half-a-dozen different ways as the Grands want me to see new favorite things or the new favorite power ranger on a poster or favorite American Girl doll (and accessories) in the Christmas catalog or the new chicken coop or the new addition to the clubhouse (that they made all by themselves).

Phew!

After piano lessons (and an impromptu composition by the Grandson that made this Grandma’s heart glad), while the Grandson was busy getting ready to go to the first practice of a new basketball team with Coach Dada and Sis, Granddaughter snuck me away to show off the new excitement outside. Chicken coop – check. Addition of a second floor to their stylin’ clubhouse – check. Conversation on the narrow, leaf-strewn, stump-laden path – priceless.

“Grandma, you sure do walk slow.”

“Yep. Old creaky, knees slow me down a bit.”

“Wow, I’m waiting and you still are behind me.”

“Don’t get smart, kid. I can only go as fast as the shovel.”

The shovel was my makeshift walking stick. It actually worked pretty well. But the best thing was Granddaughter turning around – waiting for me. At least three times on our short walk, she turned back to look at me with her smile in her eyes, her legs sticking through the giant holes in the knees of her pants – leaving her pant legs flapping in the wind at the back of her legs as she ran ahead of me in her polka-dotted rain boots.

“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” ~ Isaiah 45:3

It is the way of the best memories in this life. A simple day. A simple walk. A simple expression of love. A simple priceless treasure chest memory.

It is good on days like these to do a little  “pondering”. To think about those riches we store away in our treasure chest. It is part of the Gratitude Attitude. Ponder. Wonder. Walk forward on that crazy path with a shovel as your staff and laughing in joy with the  “Child”  who is truly leading you.

Gratitude is like that. It is all about the Attitude. Can you see Him? The lamb and the lion by His side? It is knowing He is there. Knowing that He is waiting for your slower steps to catch up. Joy in His eyes. Prayer shawl around His shoulders. Ready to take the shovel when it isn’t needed any more and that smile that smile in His eyes just for you.

Praise God: It’s Good for You!

It is all in the One leading the way down that path. The riches we gather on our way that have been stored in secret places just waiting for us to arrive  – a gift from Him to all who choose to follow. Hearing Him call our name. Now that truly is the Gratitude Attitude that governs my life. Blessings! Be!

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”  ~ Romans 8:14

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No Greater Love

LOS ANGELES – Nov. 2017 – NO GREATER LOVE—the first theatrical documentary filmed and directed by an active-duty soldier—brings to vivid life the battles of the “No Slack” Battalion (of the famed 101st Airborne Division) in Afghanistan . . . and back home.

Friday, Nov. 10, for Veterans Day weekend, the multiple-award-winning NO GREATER LOVE premieres in select cities nationwide. (For current theaters and to request local showings, check the website.) NO GREATER LOVE, after one round of cuts, is still a contender for Documentary Feature in the 2017 Academy Award ®.

REQUEST THEATERS TO SHOW NO GREATER LOVE IN YOUR AREA

“NO GREATER LOVE shows No Slack’s most intense firefights since Vietnam,” said former Army Chaplain Justin Roberts, who directed and filmed in Afghanistan for more than three years. “But it’s the stories behind the video that changed my life. How can soldiers who know this kind of danger, hardship and loss, transition back to civilian life? Home becomes a whole new battleground.”

Consider that:

Most Americans are unaware that U.S. military chaplains carry no weapons, even in battle—and it’s true that while deployed in Afghanistan, Roberts initially had no plans to make a film. The courage around him, however, spurred him to ask: “What drives men to commit acts of valor and sacrifice?” (As “No Slack” won decisive, strategic victories in intense battles, it also suffered multiple fatalities, returning home with more than 200 purple hearts.) Roberts also interviews Gold Star family members.

“The only way a person can really come back from war is with love,” Roberts said. “And it has to come from friends. It has to come from family members, neighbors and the people you were fighting for, and from each other. That is the only way we can fully come home.”

NO GREATER LOVE producers want the film to motivate theatergoers to get involved and support veterans in their local area.

GIVE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING VETERANS

Distributed by Atlas Distribution Company, NO GREATER LOVE has won 11 awards to date, including Best Documentary at the Boston Film Festival and the Louisiana Film Festival.  

 

Awards

  • No Greater Love has won 11 awards including:
  • Best Military Filmmaker, GI Film Festival
  • Santini Patriot Spirit Award, Beaufort Film Festival
  • Best of Fest, Bentonville Film Festival
  • Best Military Film, San Diego Film Festival
  • Impact Award, Boston Film Festival
  • Best Documentary, Boston Film Festival
  • Audience Choice Award, Phoenix Film Festival
  • Best Documentary, Foyle Film Festival (UK)
  • Best Documentary, Louisiana Film Festival
  • Best of Festival, Lake Charles Film Festival
  • Best Documentary, Lake Charles Film Festival

Quotes

“No Greater Love cuts to the heart of why our warriors serve and needs to be seen by every American.” – General Stanley McCrystal

“The brotherly love of soldiers on the battlefield needs to be a part of their arsenal for the battles to come, far from the combat zone.” – The Leaf Chronicle

“The only solution lies in being able to connect veterans at the local community level.” – Army Times

“No Greater Love is a documentary composed of real footage captured by Roberts in Afghanistan that shows what it is truly like to be at war.” – Stephenville Empire Tribune

“When it seemed the traumatized battalion should be at a low point, the unit began to bond looking out for and talking to each other.” – The Leaf Chronicle

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The First Lesson – Don’t Talk about ‘Obs-Tackles’ Put in Your Path by the Evil One

Only a couple of things rummaging around in this crazy brain, and both of them throwing me into a stumbling, humbling Gratitude Attitude. Gratitude because lessons make me think. Gratitude because all things work to the glory of the LORD when we get out of the way and let Him carry the heavy lifting. Attitude – because I have to choose it.

The first lesson – don’t talk about ‘obs-tackles’ put in your path by the evil one, (and yes, I do believe in principalities) because ‘obs-tackles’ are bound to appear – almost immediately. By the time I went to bed last night, my “good” knee – formally the “bad” knee back in high school – was aching – A LOT. Aching enough to wake me up every time I moved – all night long. Giving up on sleep, I found that sitting, getting up – walking – trying to get anything done – the knee continued to hurt. It seriously put an ‘obs-tackle’ in my way today.

That said, it was a very long day. Long days often lead to self-pity, dragging butt, and eventually, not getting anything accomplished. However, if I get out of my own way and let God get me through it, long days also leads to introspection.

Hence – the second lesson of the day. Devotions destroy strongholds.  If  one is smart enough to load them into the finite brain that does all that mechanical stuff in our lives. Over the decades I have  finally learned to stop wallowing in myself, shut my mouth and turn off my brain long enough so that I can feel the Spirit’s nudge. When – a choice made, and the day didn’t look or feel so long or painful any longer.

“For those who are led by The Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”  ~ Rm 8:14

After accepting that Christ is LORD of my life, it has been the Spirit’s nudges that have kept me sane and reminded me that I’m not in this battle alone. Even when I get off track. Even when I fall on my knees and feel like I can’t get up ever again. Even when I think I am the smartest person ever. Even when the knee hurts because of my own stupidity”¦

Even when”¦

And there, my friends are my true Gratitude Attitude today. Jehovah-Shammah [The LORD who is there] loves me. Yeshua Christus loves me. Whether I am a mess and ugly as the sin that springs up daily, They – love – me. They love me enough to send a Helper – The Holy Spirit – to be with me always.

 

“If you love me, keep my commandments. I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always. He is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. But you recognize him because he lives with you and will be in you.”  ~ Jn 15-17

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Come Ye Thankful People, Come

“Come, ye thankful people, come;  Raise the song of harvest home.  All is safely gathered in  Ere the winter storms begin.”

If there is one hymn that I associate with Thanksgiving, it is “Come Ye Thankful People, Come”. The poem was written in 1810 by Henry Alford. Six years later, it was set to music by George Elvey.

I guess I should mention that this hymn has been singing in my head off and on during this month of Gratitude to Our Lord of Harvest. Growing up, we sang hymns, and this one was one that was requested often.  You see, in our church, we had Sundays when people would be invited to shout out the page numbers of their favorite hymns. Sometimes we sang Joy to the World on him hottest day of the summer.  Sometimes, we sang the spirituals that were not in the “official” hymn book like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.  Sometimes, we sang older hymns that weren’t played often, like Sweet Hour of Prayer.  It was a song fest, and boy did I loved those Sundays.

If Mom wasn’t in the choir loft and Dad wasn’t fishing in his favorite “church”, I got to feel how it felt to sing in a small choir. Altos. Sopranos. Tenors. Basses. The voices of families and people who would see me grow up surrounding me as the voices of those melodious words buried themselves in my heart.

“God, our Maker, doth provide  For our wants to be supplied.  Come to God’s own temple, come;  Raise the song of harvest home.”

Our minister mentioned this week that everyone is pretty good about calling out their thankfulness. I agree. I’ve seen it everywhere – even on storefronts. From sportscasters to social media to schools to – gasp – politicians, but – – as our preacher reminded us – – in all this thankfulness there is something missing.

While people, in general, mention how thankful they are, these same people seldom mention  TO WHOM they are expressing thanks for all these blessings.  They may thank the people close to them or thank their lucky stars  or thank heavens  or thank goodness, but somehow – the name behind all these phrases is ignored.

“All the world is God’s own field,  Fruit unto his praise to yield,  Wheat and tares together sown,  Unto joy or sorrow grown.”

I think that is one of the reasons those old hymns still sing through my soul. Sometimes singing me to sleep. Sometimes waking me up. Sometimes comforting me. Sometimes dancing in joy with me. They leave no doubt TO WHOM all thankfulness should be given, and they remind me OF WHOM I need to express my thankfulness.

No cliches. No lies of omission. No slight of hand or should I say…..mouth.

It is not enough to be thankful just because it is November. The Native American and the Pilgrims did sit down to eat together. How it came to happen and what existed in the hearts of both groups of people, we can never know.

Today’s “truth” in man’s wisdom is ever fluctuating.

What we do know, from Wampanoag and Pilgrim traditions, is that there was a 3-day feast. A 3 day period of time when two very different groups of people were able to set aside their differences and break bread together. 3 days. Amazing things have been accomplished in 3 days. It all depends on the sower of seeds.

“First the blade, and then the ear,  Then the full corn shall appear.  LORD OF THE HARVEST, grant that we  Wholesome grain and pure may be.”

My hope is that as we enter these last few days before Thanksgiving 2017, more and more people – different groups of people – will find a way to lay aside their differences and offer their thankfulness. Thankfulness not just directed to impress or influence the people around them, but as a gift – a hymn/a psalm of praise – to the One who is the source of all blessings. A true Gratitude Attitude.

A song to the LORD who provided the seed – the LORD who provides the living water and dust of the earth in which the seed grows – the LORD who multiples the seed many times over for the one who sowed it – the LORD of the Harvest who was and is and is to come. Amen.

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Let’s Be Fruity for God!

There’s no better stuff than the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Let’s go out on a spiritual limb where the fruit of the Holy Spirit is so we can be fruity for God!

“But the Fruit of the Spirit Is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Suffering Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control . . .” — Galatians 5:22-23

“Most Christians, after accepting Jesus Christ, spend a lot of effort trying to behave according to what is portrayed in the Bible. They focus on overcoming their sins and failures, and they do their best to be holy in order to have a ‘good’ testimony. Though these efforts seem admirable, they can become a distraction from doing the things that will actually help them grow spiritually. And if they are not growing, then trying to live the Christian life becomes a very frustrating endeavour.”  –  ONE: Unfolding God’s Eternal Purpose From House To House” by Henry Hon.

Fruitlessness Is a Sign That Our Hearts Are Not Right with God.  

“Consider the fruit of the Spirit, that is what the Christian life should be. Fruit is just the product of life and growth, not self-effort and work. If believers will focus on the four essentials for life and growth then the outcome, fruit, includes all the things that make a believer become a duplicate of Jesus Christ. A believer with the fruit of the Spirit, is certainly one with all believers in the body, and a joy for all people to be around.” –  ONE: Unfolding God’s Eternal Purpose From House To House” by Henry Hon.

We are saved by grace alone but we are people who are saved to bear fruit which comes from being connected to the vine (John 15:4).

So, the question is, are you a fruity Christian?

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The Great “I AM”

The Great "I AM"

In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer’s assurance of eternal life.

All the communion between heaven and the fallen race has been through Christ. It was the Son of God that gave to our first parents the promise of redemption. It was He who revealed Himself to the patriarchs. Adam understood the gospel.

Jesus was the light of His people—the light of the world—before He came to earth in the form of humanity. The first gleam of light that pierced the gloom in which sin had wrapped the world, came from Christ. And from Him has come every ray of heaven’s brightness that has fallen upon the inhabitants of the earth.

In the Plan of Redemption, Christ Is the Alpha and the Omega—the First and the Last

It was Christ who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, “I AM THAT I AM: Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” This was the pledge of Israel’s deliverance. So when He came “in the likeness of men,” He declared Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour, is God “manifest in the flesh.” 1 Timothy 3:16.

This unconscious babe was the promised seed, to whom the first altar at the gate of Eden pointed. This was Shiloh, the peace giver. This was He whom seers had long foretold. He was the Desire of all nations, the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.

And to us He says: “I AM the good shepherd.” “I AM the living bread.” “I AM the way, the truth, and the life.” I AM the assurance of every promise. I AM; be not afraid. “God with us” is the surety of our deliverance from sin.

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Can I Be A ‘Part-Time Christian’ and Keep My Sinful Lifestyle?

Are you a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ or are you a Part-Time Christian?  Does your faith in Jesus go beyond a weekend service? Do you live a double life?

“The Decline Christianity Has Become Precipitous in Recent Years”

For the first time in recorded history, those declaring themselves to have no religious affiliation have outnumbered Christians in Britain.  Some 44 per cent of us regard ourselves as Christian, 8  per cent follow another religion and 48 per cent follow none. The decline of Christianity is perhaps the biggest single change in Britain over the past century. For some time, it has been a stretch to describe Britain as a Christian country. We can more accurately be categorised now as a secular nation with fading Christian institutions.  More than ever before, we have an obligation to act in a Christ-like manner. Not just in church, but everywhere.

“Don’t Be A Part-Time Christian Who Demands A Full-Time God”

As Christian we can’t put our faith on a part-time schedule; as being Christian is a full-time occupation.  If we don’t open our hearts to the Holy Spirit to purify and enlighten us, then our faith in God will be superficial.

“Sorry Christians, We Can’t Blame the Media Any More”

Do you know why Christians have a bad reputation today? It’s not because of CNN. It’s because of our own Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and YouTube videos! Every day, we confirm people’s worst suspicions about us. The gatekeepers are gone. With social media there’s no one filtering the information and there’s no one left to blame but ourselves.

“Jesus Has No Part-Time Disciples”

Jesus is the living word and truth that “came among us so that we could know it.  Jesus’ said it all. Deny self, take up the cross and follow him. Moreover, only in losing one’s life — the primary meaning of apollymi is to destroy — one may save it. And Jesus means it. Judgment, he says, involves “repaying” people according to what they have done. At this moment we are hearing Matthew’s voice: Salvation comes not to those who call Jesus “Lord,” but to those who do what he says.  It’s a matter of life and death.

“If I’m Wrong about God Then I Have Wasted My Life, But If Your Wrong about God Then You’ve Wasted Your Eternity”

So we face the chasm between Jesus’ call to discipleship and our own lives as part-time volunteers for the Gospel. Few Christians abandon everything for the Christ sake. Most of us simply fit our Christianity into the open slots on our calendars. But Jesus links the life of discipleship with his own path.

“Some Readers Hardly Need to Hear This News. Moment by Moment, Many of Us Are Constantly Mindful That We Fall Far Short of Jesus’ Standard”

Sadly exhaustion, burnout, tiredness, even breakdown are conditions that are all too common these days, not least among those involved in some kind of Christian ministry, whether full-time, part-time or voluntary.

Sometimes in striving to do our utmost for God, we can easily forget that there were many times when Jesus himself was willing to rest, to do nothing except wait for the Spirit’s prompting, so that he demonstrated the vital principle of ‘working from a place of rest’.

“Knowing and Doing What God Wants Is Simply Not Possible with Mere Human Effort — It Takes Divine Intervention and a Transformative Action of the Holy Spirit”

Take some time out to reflect on how you are living and working. Watch Jesus and see how he does it. Listen to what the Spirit may be saying to you deep within, at the centre of your being; and maybe, just maybe, God will give you some insights that will change your life and sustain your ministry over the long haul.’

If every Christian truly had faith in who they are in Christ, we would move mountains together.  The longer I live on this earth, the more I long for the new one.

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Mix Attitude with a Dose of Gratitude

Long ago on Saturday nights, I was allowed one bowl of Corell’s potato chips and a glass of coke. Needless to say, that bowl of potato chips disappeared way too quickly. In time, I figured out how to stretch those delicious morsels. I would suck on them until they were on the verge of soft. Prolonging the sensation made them taste all the better as they slid down my throat.

Going to sound a little trivial, but I really do have a Gratitude Attitude tonight for that bowl of  potato chips.  But mostly, for all the things that surround’s the memory of eating those tasty crunch-ables.

Even 67 year into this journey, I find myself savoring as slowly as possible those small (and I do mean small) bowls of chips – even though they won’t ever be as good as the chips that were once made just down the street from my house. That chip house where we all tried to make multiple stops on Halloween (it never worked since they could see right through those disguises and call us by name).

“But now, this is what the LORD says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”  ~ Isaiah 43:1

Potato chips are a form of tasty food though my food conscious kids would probably not agree that it should be classified as food. Then again, it isn’t really the food I treasure – even though its salty taste does seem to balance me out occasionally. It is rather the memories that slide out of my brain every time I bite down on those crispy chips that really catch in my throat.

Sitting with Mom and Dad. Sometimes curled into my dad’s side sharing a bowl of chips as we watched the Saturday night shows. Sometimes standing on Dad’s toes as he taught me to dance. Sometimes watching Mom and Dad dance. Mom and Dad singing along with songs on the turntable like Della Reese or Nat King Cole or Perry Como or Judy Garland. Sometimes all of us singing at the top of our lungs with The Mitch Miller Sing Along Show.

Yupper.

The Gratitude Attitude is real for that small bowl of chips in my hand tonight. Yeah – it isn’t Saturday. Yeah, the parents are dancing in Heaven these days. But – the God who watches Israel continues to watch over me. He sends a tiny Godwink reminding me that He knows me and calls me by name. He put me just where I am supposed to be – at just the right time – with just the right people.

“Close your eyes. Focus on a blessing in your life”¦ something you are thankful for. See an image of this blessing in your mind’s eye. Offer a silent “thank you” to God for your blessing.”

I am overwhelmed with thankfulness tonight and humbled once again.  What are you grateful for today?

 

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China Asks Christians to Replace Images of Christ with Communist President

China Tells Christians to Replace Images of Jesus with Communist President
Jesus  Christ won’t drag you out of poverty or cure your illnesses, but the Chinese Communist Party will
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports that Communist Party of China (CPC) officials visited Christian’ homes in Yugan county of Jiangxi province—where about 10 percent of the population is Christian. They told residents to replace personal religious displays with posters of President Xi Jinping; more than 600 replaced Christian artefacts with portraits of the Communist leader, according to SCMP.

Located on the Edge of Poyang, China’s Largest Freshwater Lake, the Impoverished County in the Jiangxi Province Is Known Equally for Its Poverty and Its Large Christian Community

The visits were part of a government campaign to alleviate poverty in the region, as some CPC members believe Christianity is to blame for their financial woes, according to SCMP.

Want to Escape Poverty? Replace Pictures of Jesus with Xi Jinping, Christian Villagers Urged

This move represents the party’s desire for residents look to their leaders, rather than their a Savior, for assistance. The head of the government campaign told SCMP that “many poor households have plunged into poverty because of illness in the family. Some resorted to believing in Jesus to cure their illnesses,”

Thousands of Christians in Yugan County in Rural South East China Have Been Told by Local Officials That Jesus Christ Wouldn’t Drag Them out of Poverty or Cure Their Illnesses, but the Chinese Communist Party Will. Hence, They Should Take down Those Pictures of Christ and Put up a Nice Photograph of President Xi Jinping.

According to reports, some Christians in Yugan county say they were told they would not be eligible for government assistance unless their posters were removed, though the party denies the claim,

Xi continues a longstanding tradition by Chinese leaders to assert state power to reign in social movements that threaten it, according to Brent Fulton, president of ChinaSource.

The Yugan Church Removed Its Cross to Comply With Government Regulations

In September2017 , China passed legislation to further restrict religious gatherings, teachings, and buildings to go into effect until February 2018. Christians in some areas have already noticed a crackdown on their activity.

China Tells Christians to Replace Images of Jesus with Communist President
China Tells Christians to Replace Images of Jesus with Communist President

Chinese House Church Leaders and Toddler Arrested After Singing in Public Park

A Chinese church pastor, her daughter, and her young grandson have been arrested, for overstepping the country’s newly tightened religious restrictions. Chinese officials warned Xu Shizhen in August 2017 that publicly sharing her faith is now a violation of the government policy.

In an August 2017 op-ed for The New York Times, Chinese student Derek Lam called out“perverse” efforts to co-opt Christianity to endorse Xi’s political agenda.

China is officially an atheist country but the Communist Party-run government recognises five religions – Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Protestantism and Catholicism. Under the Chinese constitution, citizens have the liberty to follow a religion of choice but in reality, freedom of religion is severely curtailed.

“Judging by recent events, the party is very close to completing its mission of bringing Christianity under its thumb,” he wrote. “Although there is nothing I would love more than to become a pastor and preach the gospel in Hong Kong, I will never do so if it means making Jesus subservient to Xi Jinping.”

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30 Powerful Bible Verses About Children Being A Blessing

Do you know that God loves children? The first command God gave to mankind was to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28).

The Bible tells us repeatedly in His Word how all children are a gift from God. Every single life, every single child is a reward and a blessing. Whether they’re bringing parents pride and joy, or whether they are teaching us how to be more patient and forgiving, children are a gift from God and a great source for the growth of His Kingdom here on Earth!

These wonderful little ones are beautiful, full of happiness, and are a radiant bright light in this world of darkness.  No matter where you are in the world, or what your background is, children are a gift from God.

God knows that children can bring us closer to Him and help grow our Christian character. Be encouraged by the following Bible verses about children and how our Lord sees them!

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