Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

Somewhere in time, today, America celebrates Thanksgiving.  It’s a day set aside to thank God for his goodness to us and His provision for us.  The first thanksgiving was celebrated with a feast and the tradition continues.  This week I have also been thinking of a song.  I thought it was the perfect song for celebrating Thanksgiving.

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks, because he’s give Jesus Christ his son

Give thanks, with a grateful heart

Give thanks, to the holy one

Give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ his son

 

And now, let the week say I am strong

Let the poor say I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us

Give thanks

Thankfulness can be hard at times, but if we look closely, we always have something to be thankful for.  If we are breathing and alive, give thanks.  If we are full and not hungry, give thanks. If we are clothed and not naked, give thanks.

1Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) “Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 

Miracles

 

 

Somewhere in time, this week, I have been thinking of miracles.  I believe in miracles, but it’s not something you see every day.  This week I have been looking for a way to do something.  Every avenue I pursued led to a dead end and every door I knocked on wouldn’t open.  I then decided that I needed a miracle.  What I was trying to do may be possible, but it’s not highly probably, so I need divine intervention. 

I tried to think of the miracles in the Bible.  Is there some common denominator - well yes, only God can make a miracle, but what about the people that receive them. 

There was a woman in the Bible that had been sick for a while.  She had exhausted all of her funds seeking cures from doctors. Out of money and out of funds, she was searching for hope.  She heard Jesus was going to pass through her town, she found hope.  She determined if she could just touch the hem of his garment, she would be made well.  Even though he was thronged by the crowds, she pressed on and pushed through and reached out with all her strength and touched his garment.  It worked, she was well.

Mark 5:34 (NIV) He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Her faith led her to her miracle.

Abraham had a promise.  God promised him he would be the father of nations, yet he and his wife had no children.  When God gave them the promise, they were well along in years, but they still believed.  After they received the promise, they waited and waited. Day after day, year after year Abraham clung to his promise and waited.  About the time hope was starting to wan, they conceived a son and Isaac was born.  He was the son of the promise, a miracle. 

Romans 4:19 (NIV) “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him.”

With Abraham, he needed to couple his faith with patience.  His miracle didn’t happen right away, but it did happen.

Paul came to know Christ through miraculous circumstances, but his ministry was a hard one.  He was beaten and imprisoned multiple times.  We know that he had faith, he was able to pray for others and God healed them.  We know he had patience. Sitting in prison, writing letters to the churches, he was waiting for release.  Paul had one problem, he had a thorn in his flesh.  There are speculations that he struggled with his eyes, but I don’t know for sure.  I do know he prayed three times for the Lord to deliver him, but the deliverance never came.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NIV) “Three time I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Paul had faith to be made well and the patience to wait. He trusted God even when the answer was no.  Even when no miracle would happen. He trusted the Lords purposes overrode any of his own desires.

The miracle is that God is there to guide us to the good miraculous times and God is there to see us through the hard and challenging times.  In every situation, God is there.  To me that is miracle enough.

 

Third Day - I Need a Miracle (Official Music Video) from third-day on GodTube.

Pilgrims

 

 

Somewhere in time, November 11th 1620, the Mayflower Compact was signed onboard the Mayflower, off the coast of Massachusetts. This was America’s first written form of government.  This week, we had elections.  For me, this is work. I have to research the candidates and where they stand on critical issues and sometimes it’s hard to find out that information. At the same time, this song by Toby Mac, “City on our Knees” has been running through my mind. The chorus says, if we have to start somewhere, why not here, if we have to start sometime why not now. It made me think of the Pilgrims.

The Puritans knew things needed to change for them. They had to leave England because they were experiencing religious persecution.  The first stop was the Netherlands, but they were worried that they would lose their British language and customs.  When they heard about a boat seeking passengers for a trip to the New World, they decided to go.  They wanted things to change now and this was their best way to make that happen.

They were heading to Virginia to join a group that had originally landed in Jamestown.  The plan was to be in Northern Virginia.  I don’t think they realized how far north they were. 

Heading to a place they had only heard of, they didn’t know exactly what they would find when they arrived.  They were determined to create a place where all would flourish. When they arrived, they knew they had to do something, why not now. Gathering all the people on the boat together, a simple plan of government was created. They wanted to establish a government where people of faith were free to worship as they pleased and the laws were fair to all.  

This week, with elections, reading all the propositions and state constitutional amendments. It amazes me these two groups of people were able to work out a plan they all agreed to.  The entire compact is not overly long, there were no written arguments for and against presented alongside.  It was created by a group of people that agreed they would need to work together to survive. 

The Mayflower Compact acknowledged King and Country, but it also acknowledged the sovereignty of God. Every male on the boat signed the agreement. Not every person on the boat was there for religious freedom, but as a group they agreed what was important. This allowed the group to survive an extremely hard winter. Many died and many others became sick, but in the end the new colony grew and prospered.    

Sometimes I think we need to start over and simplify thing.  Let’s acknowledge the sovereignty of whatever Nation we live in but let’s give honor to the God who is over all our first priority. Perhaps then, we can survive the storms of life and work together to make our country great once again.

Psalm 33:12 (NIV) “Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

Reformation Day – October 31st

 

 

Somewhere in time, October 31^st, people celebrate Halloween. I don’t understand the fascination with Halloween. Sure I understand a kid’s love of candy and even I like to dress up at times, but Halloween?  Why celebrate a holiday with dubious origins which focuses on witches, ghosts and ghouls. 

October 31^st, should be celebrated as Reformation Day.

On October 31^st, 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses of contention to the door of the Wittenburg chuch.  He was not the first person to attempt reform of the Christian church, but he is still considered the father of the reformation. 

Reformation was needed because the church had fallen into corruption.  At times the leadership of the church loved power more than God.  Couple that with the fact that most people could not read the Bible for themselves.  So the church had many practices not found in scripture and no one knew the differences.

Martin Luther did extensive studies on the scriptures and he realized the error the church was making.  He wrote his 95 disagreements on paper and nailed them to the church door for everyone to read.  People copied the notes by hand and handed them out to everyone they knew.  

He had good points and most people agreed with him.  The church however did not care for being publically challenged, so they called Martin in to answer the charge of heresy.  At the meeting, he was given the chance to recant.  His response was:

                                Unless I am convinced by proofs from scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not recant, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience.  Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.

Luther’s life was in danger, disagreeing with the church at that time was not a safe thing to do.  Fortunately for him, he was able to hide out with a Prince for a year and he remained under his protection for a while. Luther used this time to change things for the better.  He began working on a translation of the Bible from the original Greek into the German language most people could read.  He translated the New Testament by 1520 and the entire Bible by 1534. 

Despite the persecution he stood strong and followed his faith.

James 1:12 (NIV) “Blessed is the man who preservers under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

When I think of Holidays, I think it would be nice to celebrate something pure, holy or lovely.  If the Bible tells us to think on these things, it makes sense that we should celebrate them also.

Reformation day could be a day to stand up for what is right even against overpowering odds. Next October 31^st let’s celebrate the reformers who took a stand for righteousness.  This is something to remember and celebrate.