Thanksgiving Thoughts

Do not wait for Thanksgiving!!

Give thanks right now for your spouse, children, family and friends. Give them a hug. Tell them you love them. Do not waste the opportunity.

A golfer tells the story of going to the driving range, and watching the other golfers. He was amazed how many shots they wasted, as long as their basket of balls was full. But then he could identify the ones who were getting low. He could see them taking their time, focusing on the reason they were there. He watched, and wondered why we take things for granted when we believe we have them in abundance. Too often we place no value on anything until we are about to run out. None of us knows how many balls are in our basket. No one knows have many days we have left on this earth. But I do know I have been given this day. What I can do is to make sure each day given me is not wasted. Live this day for a purpose. Do not waste it, or take it for granted.

As we move into the Thanksgiving week, please give thanks for your family. And please remember there are those who have lost theirs. And as you lay your head down each night this week, think about the day that is about to end. I remember the words to a song that Amy Grant used to sing:

"You can thank the Father for the things that He has done.

Thank Him for the things He's yet to do.

And if you've found a love that's faithful, if you've found a love that's true,

Thank the Lord; He's been doubly good to you."

"Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for it is the stuff life is made of." --Benjamin Franklin

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time." --Ephesians 5:15-16

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!!

Turkey Time

True/False Test

I received this test today in my email box. It's an encouraging perspective on things regarding our nation. It really has me looking at where my true faith and allegiances lie. It's not in a man or any government - but only in God alone!!

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order – (1) the Kingdom of God , (2) America, not vice-versa.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not
the government, will still be our salvation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

Amen, Hallelujah - This stuff will preach!!

Encouraging Post

Well, I'm about over my "pout" and ready to accept things regarding the election and the future of our country. I am a very black and white kind of person and it's so easy for me to get caught up in what I see as injustice and not be willing to immediately make the decision to "walk by faith and not by sight". But I am thankful for a God that loves me just the way I am and knows my heart.

I received this email today from a friend of mine who lives in Virginia. She has a relative that went to Evangel College in Springfield, MO (one of the Assemblies of God schools) and sat under Professor Holsinger.

He is the author of the email and I found it very encouraging and edifying:

"I was up at 6 this morning. And you know what, the Sun came up as usual. God is apparently still in charge of His World.

America, (unlike so many other countries), had Founding Fathers and Mothers who built into our "Constitutional form" what we call checks and balances to prevent ALL power from ever being given to any entity by an implosive moment.

The current ,and more conservative and thoughtful Supreme Cout (that was strengthened by Bush appointments), and the inability of the Senate to approve laws too quickly or make impulsive change because of its rules does show the wisdom of our Founders. They not only set up 'checks & balances', but wisely stressed that our Rights do not come from government and the words and laws of politicians, but rather they come from God. That means that Americans have been taught to believe that only God could take them away -- not the government. It is a good emphasis.

God has given all men Freedom of Choice. That is an awesome privilege and also responsibility. Imagine, God giving us the right to make choices that He does not approve of ! But the other side of that privilege is that we must then live with the consequences of such decisions -- whether they were wise or foolish. That is awesome and scary.

BUT, God, (being ever merciful and compassionate), has given us in His Holy Word instruction that He can keep us form the worst of the consequences of our foolish decisions.

We all know the words of St. Paul that we should pray for rulers and God will then bring blessing to our nation. [We must keep in mind that God was talking about an evil and wicked ruler, Nero, put into office by the people. And, incidentally, the same thing happened in Israel when they foolishly wanted a king.] But PRAYER, ( God has told us), can alter the evil consequences of poor political choices.

So this is OUR Christian opportunity and guidance in history.

In perplexing moments, I frequently find God's encouragement and instruction in the great hymns of our Protestant piety. I took time this morning to read and affirm the truth of Martin Luther's great hymn (A Mighty Fortress) and also the encouraging words of "This is My Father's World" (written in the confusing times of the late 1800's). I read them and affirmed with their writers that 'even though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed His Truth to triumph through us' ; and that 'this is My Father's World, and though the wrong is oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.'

It is joyous and comforting to affirm God's truth.

So this is NOT a time for despair. We affirm God's great Truth with the millions of Christians throughout the ages that "God is the Ruler yet" and we PRAY as He told us to do 'for rulers that we might live peaceful lives' and then we KNOW and CAN AFFIRM that God is going to turn difficulties into good.

May all of us Christians here in America do what God has told us to do in regard to our political situations. We should affirm once again His Rulership of our Lives and of His World. We know that if we do this, He is going to Bless our Land and protect and guide our lives and those of our friends and families.

Despair is not a word in the Christian vocabulary.

Blessings on you. And may God Bless America and help our nation to continue to fulfill His Purposes in His World."

AMEN!!

The Votes Are In and.....Where Have All the Christians Gone?

Wow, I really can't believe it, but it happened. The most liberal senator in our land has become our 44th president.
I'll get over my shock and there will come a day soon when I will obey scripture and begin to pray for this man but....
Where have all the Christians gone?
The exact exit polls aren't tabulated yet, but according to statistics that were recently taken and what is already known, some 45% to 55% of people who call themselves evangelical Christians voted for Barack Obama.
I find this mind-boggling.
I'm not against this man, per se, but I am against all that he stands for and wants to enact in our country.
For example: What's going to happen to the definition of traditional marriage? What's going to happen to laws and interest groups geared towards the homosexual community? And, probably the most important consequence, what's going to happen to all those precious unborn babies who will never be allowed the freedom to take their first gasp of air?
President Obama said the first bill he would pass would be the Freedom of Choice bill, which would set us back a good 15 to 20 years in the Pro-Life strides we have made.
That means:
Abortion on demand - doctors can be fined and lose their license if they don't perform abortions, even if their conscience won't let them. What about freedom of choice for doctors?
Abortion to under-age girls - young girls will not have to have parental consent to get abortions
Partial-Birth Abortion - this will be allowed up into the 9th month, regardless.
This election truly grieves my heart - but what grieves me most is that this is a true reflection of how our great land is eroding and the values and faith that have made this country the greatest country on earth are slowly but surely being stripped away.
It's no one's fault - but our own.

1 More B4 11 04