Monday Musings: The Giving Thanks Edition

Dear Pastor:

That was pretty slick!  I liked how you preached the “In Everything Give Thanks” sermon, and then tell us you’re leaving!   There’ll never be another Doc, and I am so thankful that I have had the pleasure these many years to hear you speak.   (See, I was listening.)

Dear Self:

Really…the toaster oven is not the best place to rest your cell phone as it charges...even if the only reason you put it there was to keep the heat from the dishwasher from affecting it.   I assure you, 25 minutes of toaster oven heat is much worse.   I’m thankful that my phone still seems to work fine, including my camera.

Dear Carbs:

Why did you sneak in that half of Logan’s roll I ate?   Had it not been for you, I may have eaten two…or three of those rolls...I’m thankful I only hate half. 

Dear Logan’s Roll:

You really aren’t as good as I remembered you were from the last time I partook of your refined white flour and yeast baked blend.   I am thankful that you will not tempt me too much anymore.

Dear Pittsburgh Steelers:

Seriously?   But then again, if I were getting paid as much as you, I’d wear some silly looking Honey Nut Cheerios Bee-looking uniform, too, if it were demanded of me.   I’m thankful it’s not demanded of me.

Dear Hustle Bustle:

I can hardly believe that by the end of this week, you will be in full force.  I wish people understood that they don’t have to go far into debt, stressing and straining their budgets to give more than they can afford, because this season is not at all about making retailers rich.  It’s about Christ, and His gift to us.   I am very thankful for Jesus, who stepped out of eternity to give His life for me, so that I could be redeemed.   Forever, I am grateful.

We Are Not Afraid

I ought never forget who I am in Christ, and I do not have to worry about my future, it’s already secured.   In fact, I am instructed to not worry about tomorrow:  “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”  (Matthew 6:25)

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

I woke up this morning dismayed and fearful, but I have God who has promised to never leave or forsake me.  (Hebrews 13:5)

   

Never.   

That’s a long, long time.  

For all of us who love God, we know that all things work together for good because we are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)   That’s ALL things…an ungodly man in the presidential office is included.

We are not to be afraid:

The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

God is in control:

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.’ (Isaiah 46:9-10)

…I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.  I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me.  I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’   (Isaiah 45:4-7)

Do you hear what I'm saying?
Our God is in control.
He's even in control of those who don't give Him control,

or even realize that He is, indeed, in control.

Yes, it rains on the just and the unjust, and America will reap what we sow.   But He is a great and mighty God, sitting on a throne that is balanced on justice and righteousness.   We are to do exactly what the Bible instructs, we are to pray for our leaders, and continue to walk with Him, renewing our minds daily and serving Him.

We may not always like what happens to us from the reaping, but God will not forget us...He will never leave us nor turn His back on those who serve him.

Rain down, you heavens, from above,
And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,
And let righteousness spring up together.
I, the Lord, have created it.

Isaiah 45:8

I wanted to see the elephant win the tug of war, but that didn't happen.  Sometimes it helps just remembering that God did use a donkey for a very important purpose... (Numbers 22:28)

God bless our broken America