Those Who Take From the Innocent Are Being Watched

Tis the season for ill-begotten gain. We are constantly warned to lock our homes and our cars, don't leave purses and purchases where they can be seen, watch your credit cards, don't go into the mall alone, etc. etc. Here we are trying to prepare for our season to celebrate the birth of the Christ who came to bring us salvation and peace and there are those who ruin it by their selfishness and stupidity. Have you ever considered the thought they will get their just due or they will pay for what they have done? Ill-begotten gain is a NO,NO, whether it is money or stealing the joy of our celebrations. Even though their actions are still so painful to their victims, remember "God is watching."
" my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it." Proverbs 1:15-19

Like

How Will You Spend Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving looms in front of us. I's a day our country sets aside to thank our founding fathers for discovering us and going thru the hardships they faced in their first year in this new country. How do you celebrate the holiday? Most folks I know spend it with family and friends, sharing their bounty of great food recipes. Or some will spend time at a shelter, bringing hope to those who are down on their luck. What about those who are incarcerated or those who are in the service. This is our American holiday. Our economy may still be down, but we are still considered a land of plenty. There is more to celebrate than the stores being open at the mall after lunch.

Don't forget to thank the Lord for his blessings that we can always depended on and don't have to wait for him to open.

"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High" PSALM 9:1-2.
3 ``````````````````

Generosity is a Blessing.

This is the season of thanksgiving and generosity, sharing our blessings. There are so many opportunities for us to give. As the year ends often we are needing tax write offs, so charities are requesting your help. Some churches have pledge drives during this time. Then there is the family Christmas list that must be fulfilled. Gifts for co-workers and friends have their list as well. It can become overwhelming and maybe even lead to depression when there just isn't enough to go around. Yet, we know that our generosity is usually appreciated. Generosity doesn't just refer to monitory giving, but what about our time and special gifts that can encourage and support others? What we give usually does come back to us. So lets give those good gifts with Thanksgiving. Our gifts come from God's love and generosity so we can spread his love around to others.

" The same One who has put seed into the hands of the sower and brought bread to fill our stomachs will provide and multiply the resources you invest and produce an abundant harvest from your righteous actions.  You will be made rich in everything so that your generosity will spill over in every direction. Through us your generosity is at work inspiring praise and thanksgiving to God."2 Corinthians 9:10-11.

Who Do You Worship?

How do you choose your heroes? What sets them apart and makes you want to follow them? Is it what they say? Is it what they do? Is it the way they look? How do you defend them when they make a mistake or get bad publicity?  Why do you believe their message?

Think about the Apostles who were sharing the gospel. They were the leaders of the church and may have become heroes of the gospel to some. They were common men who worshipped a man called Jesus and were spreading the word about what he had done. People began to favor one or the other and started arguing who was best. They forgot that these men were only servants, carrying the message of Jesus.

Do we sometimes forget that and begin worshipping the messenger instead of the one who is the message? Do you go to church to worship God or to hear the speaker? Do you attend so and so's church or do you attend God's church. Who is your hero?

" For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task."
i Corinthians 1:4-5

Reviewing Thanksgiving

Wow, Thanksgiving is almost here. How many folks celebrate the day gorging on fantastic food? Are you already planning the menu, reviewing your favorite recipes?  How many are reviewing what they are thankful for but forget to give thanks except on that day. What does Thanksgiving mean to you? What are you thankful for? Who do you praise?

"Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. " Pssalm 28:2-3

Let's do  thanksgiving every day and joyfully praise the Lord.  

Inheriting Hope

When you think of inheritance, what comes to mind? Money, property, trust funds, family treasures, grandmother's wedding ring, grandpa's treasured gun collection? Why would anyone add "hope" to the list? Look around. We are celebrating our military heritage. A heritage that has brought hope to us that we have shared with others who had no hope. What does that mean to us? I believe "hope" through freedom is a huge inheritance they have left us that leads to Hope for the future of our country and peace. And with that we must include the hope we share in our savior...hope for our future through redemption. Hope keeps us achieving and learning. Wisdom to use what we are learning is something we must cherish as well as the hope. Wisdom comes from God.

" God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance." Eph 1:12-13 (Voice)

Our Election

Yesterday was a huge election deciding who will serve this country and the will of the people. We chose those who we felt represented our beliefs and would best lead our local communities, states and nation as our constitutions outlined.
But, think about this. We are God's elect, chosen to do his will and support the development of his kingdom here on earth. Do we expect the same from ourselves as we expect from those we elected? Is our goal to unite us in him? What does God expect from his elect?
"even as heichose us in himjbefore the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love  he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." Ephesians 1:4-10

The Slightest Touch

Are you timid? Afraid to ask for what your really want? Do you have this attitude with God? Remember the woman with the bleedng problem? She knew what she wanted and how to get it. She may have been timid, but she took the risk anyway. She touched the hem of Jesus robe and was healed. She didn't demand an audience with him. She didn't shout his name and push others out of the way. She merely touched his robe. Imagine stooping over and reaching where he was walking. She could have been knocked over and trampled by the crowd. But she didn't think about that. Her focus was on touching the hem because she had that kind of faith and belief. When we can go to him in the safety of our own home, in our comfortable chair, why do we hesitate to believe he is our healer? It doesn't take a lot of dramatics to get his attention. Just reaching out in faith and belief.

" And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”  And He looked around to see the woman who had done this.  But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:31-34