Thankstobegiven

Praise be to … God … he has given us new birth … through the resurrection of Jesus Christ …

1 Peter 1:3

It was in the cold predawn of Thanksgiving Day that found Jack poised to forget about the festivities scheduled for later that day. This must have been what Ebenezer Scrooge felt like.

Jack had been up all night. The routine was always the same: cough violently for two to three hours, spitting up blood several times during the coughing fits. He’d been dealing pretty well with these episodes up until last night. This one had lasted almost five hours; he was exhausted. It’s only been two weeks since the last episode. Why so soon? he wondered. And why on Thanksgiving? Are You testing my thank-o-meter? he asked God.

Actually, the episodes had been pretty regular, one every three or four months. So, to have another one so soon brought concern as he contemplated the possibilities. Several reasons came to mind, but the one that prevailed was it’s getting worse. His doctors had told him that at some point symptoms would accelerate and then things would happen pretty fast. Give me grace for today, Lord. Give me a heart of gladness instead of gloom.

If this was to be his last Thanksgiving, Jack was determined to make it one of the most thank-filled days of his life.

†

There are enough negative things to focus on in the world to allow us to live in despair, cursing the day. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can choose to live a life of victory, reminded that this is not our home. He took care of all our tomorrows, and someday soon we will be with Him in heaven.

This world is a temporal place; it is not our home. And we have the promise of life beyond our pain. What we deal with today is real, and sometimes it stinks. But we can maintain a thankful heart in the midst of our struggles if we lay claim to a permanent life in Christ.

The greatest reason for our Thankstobegiven is Salvation unto eternal life. Once received, nothing can take it away!

Prayer

“I don’t want to whine, Lord. Keep me focused on things to be thankful for. May I always be filled with thanks because of the gift of Your Son! In His Name, amen.”

 Where’s Your Heart Set?

Set your hearts on things above …

Colossians 3:2

The story goes that an old man was sitting at the edge of town, whittling, when a traveler appeared. “I’m a stranger hereabouts, just kinda passin’ through.” Then the traveler asked, “What are the people like here in this town?”

The old whittler paused a moment, looked up, and asked, “What were they like where you came from?”

Taken aback, he answered, “They were kinda mean and nasty. Wouldn’t lift a finger ta help you.”

The old whittler gave him a long look, shook his head sadly, and said, “Well, you’ll find that’s what they’re like here.”

The traveler responded cynically, “Kinda what I figured!” and walked on into town.

As the man disappeared, a second traveler walked up to the old whittler and said, “I’m looking for a place to settle down. This looks like a nice town. What are the people like?”

Once again the old whittler asked, “What were they like where you came from?”

The traveler responded, “Oh, they were wonderful. People went out of their way to be kind. If there was a need, someone was always ready to lend a hand.”

The old whittler nodded and said, “Well, you’ll find that’s exactly what they’re like here!”

“Wonderful!” the traveler responded and headed into town.

†

Two travelers with the very same question regarding the very same people in the very same town received two very different answers. Why? Because the old whittler knew they would find what they were used to looking for.

Our outlook on life sets the tone for our expectations. What we come to expect, we will experience. If we project these expectations long enough, they will become the rule of thumb by which we judge everything.

When we look for the good in people, we will find it. Likewise, when we look for their faults, they will become evident.

Christ died to fill our hearts with hope, not irritability. We can choose what we experience. It is a matter of disciplining our hearts to look for the right things. Where is your heart set?

Prayer

“Lord, give me eyes to see the good in others, not only the bad. Develop in me a right attitude so I might be a blessing to this world. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Arch the Angel

And do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Luke 18:16

They’d been practicing for the school’s Christmas play for a week, and Mrs. Doty still hadn’t made a decision regarding the lead character. “Lord, I know whoever I choose will do a wonderful job, but I feel like Arch is supposed to be someone specific. Help me choose the right child.”

Putting it out of her mind long enough to read this morning’s entries in her students’ daily journals, she smiled, marveling at nine-year-olds’ perspectives on what was important. She could hear each little voice as she read their entry. How precious each child was to her. She spent her life nurturing little hearts and minds because of her love for children and teaching.

Finally, she came to Pete’s journal. “I love God. He is my Lord,” this morning’s entry read. A preordained moment—she had asked, and here was the answer!

Three weeks later, Mrs. Doty’s third-grade class took the stage in what was to be one of the most memorable performances of her tenure. Arch stole the show. The smallest boy in the class, Pete was wonderfully animated as he glided across the stage singing, “I can zoom, and I can hover when I’m workin’ under cover, and folks never seem to see the likes of me.”

†

Children are approximately forty percent of our population—and one hundred percent of our future. The generation we are raising up for tomorrow should be the focus of today.

A child’s heart is a rough gem in need of polishing. Many of us have been blessed by the strong hand of a father, the attentive love of a mother, and the extra polishing by the Mrs. Dotys in life.

Sadly, others have never known the dedication of someone devoted to cultivating their spirit. Instead, they heard they were no good and would never amount to anything.

Innocence yields to direction. It learns to treat in keeping with how it is treated.

“Do not hinder them” is a directive.

Prayer

“Help me polish my kids correctly, Lord. Give me the wisdom and patience to bring a precious gemstone from these rough-cut stones You have entrusted to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

 Are We Compelled?

For Christ’s love compels us.

2 Corinthians 5:14

It was hard to miss the man perched eight feet above the ground, standing on the highest level of the fountain. A sizeable crowd had gathered to listen. His voice was rich and strong and could be heard over quite a distance.

He spoke a message of love and commitment to God, to family, and to each other.

And the longer he spoke, the more impassioned he became.

He hoped they were listening, hearing his words of counsel. “God loves us unconditionally! But if we continue to disregard His decrees and continue living without moral restrictions, He cannot ignore our rebellion!”

Many stopped just long enough to hear the message. Some shook their heads in disgust; some offered harsh comments; each went their own way.

Others, constrained by the message, were held captive by its unblemished truth. This nondescript street preacher was speaking to any and all who would listen. And unmindful of their response, he spoke from his heart.

“We are trampling on God’s love! We rebel and dare Him to show us His judgment!” He held nothing back, yet his manner was nonjudgmental. It was as if you could hear his soul crying out, “Please, listen! The Lord cannot allow us to go unpunished! His holiness cannot abide our sin. His love will not let us go!”

It was as if Christ Himself were speaking to the masses. And just like in Jesus’ day, the people were divided.

†

Paul brought a message of reconciliation to Corinth. His message, much like this street preacher’s, fell on both fertile and barren soil alike. Yet he could not remain silent. Christ’s love so compelled him that he cared nothing of what they thought of him, only the message.

I have known a few who were compelled to this level of devotion; gripped so desperately by the truth of what awaits those who refuse to accept the cross of Calvary and the One Who paid the price for their salvation that they throw all caution to the wind to bring this message.

We are compelled by Christ, and in light of the truth, we should refuse to remain silent.

Prayer

“Give me words to speak, Lord. Compel me to tell others of Your great love. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Wait Right Here

But they that wait upon the Lord …

Isaiah 40:31 (kjv)

Slipping off his shoes, Joel reflected on the day’s events, one delay after another. But what an awesome conclusion!

He’d taken the morning off for a dental appointment. The appointment had run an hour late. Leaving the dentist, he’d climbed into his car to discover a dead battery, costing him an additional hour waiting for AAA.

Needing to eat, Joel went to a local restaurant. After eating a soft, dentist-approved lunch, he’d walked out of the restaurant to find his right front tire flat! Fighting the urge to scream, Joel prayed instead. “Lord, I can’t take anymore of this. I’m all out of patience.” In his spirit, he heard God say, “Wait right here.”

As he was sorting out God’s nudge, a young man came walking up. He glanced at the tire, looked at Joel, and offered, “I’ll change that tire if you buy me lunch.”

God said, “This is what you’ve been waiting for. Take the deal.”

With the flat changed, Joel sat and watched while Brice ravenously devoured his lunch. As they talked, Brice’s story emerged. He’d been trying to get home from college to see his ailing father. With no money, he’d had to hitchhike. It had been two days thus far with two hundred miles to go.

Nudged once again, Joel took the young man to the bus station, bought him a ticket home, and saw him off.

Just ten minutes ago he’d received a call from Brice’s mother, thanking him through tears of gratitude for his compassion and generosity.

†

In this fast-paced world, most delays feel like obstacles to be vaulted over on our way to our next engagement. But what if it actually is God asking permission to meddle in our lives? And what if we’re moving too fast to listen and we miss His call? It’s hard to hear at ninety miles per hour.

It may not be a life-changing moment like Joel’s. It may just be God’s attempt to slow us down a bit. But wouldn’t it be great to know? Wait right here and listen.

Prayer

“Lord, I give You permission to slow me down when I refuse to do it on my own. Help me listen closely so I don’t miss my purpose for each day. Amen.”

 Pieces of Hope

For I know the plans I have for you … plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Merrill had stopped looking in mirrors several months ago. He couldn’t deal with the pain of even the slightest glance. Morbidly overweight, he began isolating himself, limiting all social activities. He quit his job, alleging he was too sick to work. He did his grocery shopping in the middle of the night when everyone else was asleep. He eventually stopped going out in public altogether. And when his health really did begin to deteriorate, Merrill couldn’t compel himself to seek medical attention.

Merrill languished between shame and self-loathing, constantly thinking of himself as a loser with no hope of ever returning to a life of joy and happiness.

Fortunately, Merrill’s pastor wasn’t the kind to let someone disappear off the grid without finding out why.

Merrill was horrified the day his pastor showed up at his front door. But a momentary sense of hope outranked his shame, and Merrill allowed him in. One visit turned into many. With each opportunity, the pastor spoke to Merrill of God’s love for him and assured him that if he would trust God, God would change his life. But first he had to allow God to change his heart, change how he thought God saw him and how he should perceive himself.

Over time, Merrill responded, dealing with the issues that clouded his self-perception. He rediscovered God’s love and returned to life among the living.

†

Our lives begin as an unassembled puzzle. As children, we never hesitate asking our parents for help in putting the pieces together. But as we age, pieces of us can get torn or even lost. Sometimes the puzzle falls apart completely.

Many times, in secret, we attempt to fix things on our own, denying ourselves beneficial assistance.

God wants to help us fit the pieces of our lives together correctly. He knows where each piece is and where it fits.

We cannot hope to change our lives unless we first give God the ability to change our heart. And for Him to do so, we must give Him all the pieces.

Prayer

“Loving Father, I bring to You every piece there is of me. Take my life and make it whole. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Upside Down

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were … the clay!

Isaiah 29:16

Driving home from a business trip, Kathy noticed that some of the billboards and bumper stickers she saw shared a common theme. As the theme sank in, its message disturbed her: “Save Our Planet. Stop Off-Shore Drilling!” and “Save A Tree—Kill A Lumberjack!” one proudly proclaimed. “Animals Have Rights—Spay or Neuter Your Vet!” They were all geared toward elevating the earth and its creatures to the top of the world’s to-do list. These special interest groups were out to save everything but humans.

Kathy decided to document as many of these “counter-humanity messages” as she could during the remainder of her trip. In all, she compiled over one hundred and fifty pro-planet billboard and bumper sticker slogans.

Upon returning home, she decided to do an Internet search. Typing in the words “Save the Earth,” she was astonished to find over sixty-two million listings!

Investigating further, she found that many groups received some form of government funding while their Web sites listed numerous ways one could contribute to their efforts. Millions, if not billions, of taxpayer dollars were being used to fund the efforts of their “planet above people” campaigns.

With startling clarity, Kathy realized Creation had been turned upside down in light of God’s commission to Adam: “Fill the earth and subdue it … rule over every living creature.”

†

While I believe ravaging our planet and cruel disregard for animal welfare is not what God intended, He left no doubt as to which has dominion and is meant to survive.

Since the fall in the garden of Eden, Satan has done his best to deceive us. Special interest groups are one form of deceit that is gaining popularity in today’s worldview market. They are more concerned with our use of resources and animal rights than with genocide, tyranny, or starvation. They elevate the earth and its creatures above God and the needs of humanity. This is exactly opposite the commission given in the garden.

In a world where many no longer consider God our Creator, it is reprehensible, yet no surprise, to find creation being elevated above the Creator.

Prayer

“Creator of all things, forgive our ignorant pride that causes us to disregard Your commands. Cause us to repent and once again worship the Creator instead of creation. Amen.”