Thanksgiving Reflections

“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God” Eph 5:20 “For from him and through him and to him are all things.To him be glory forever. Amen” Rom 11:36

We as a people have much to be grateful, and thankful for. Yet we neglect and overlook the One responsible for that which we have.

Looking for civil and religious liberty pilgrims set sail on a 2 month journey for the New World. Under extreme conditions they found land in late November, but prayer was a staple in their daily lives, and it was by prayer that they perservered.

“Edward Winslow one of the pilgrim settlers described their thanksgiving this way… Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling so that we might, after a special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as served the company almost a week. Many of the Indians amongst us and, their king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted; and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us yet By the goodness of God we are far from want“

It is this mindset that we ought to have in our daily lives, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father. 1 Thess 5:18 tells us in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. However we are warned in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 , that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. You see this in the Americas and the world around us. Change your focus! We were saved to serve our Creator and there is so, so much to thank Him for even as we all go through our individual trials. Just keep in mind that the trials we go through are part of the purification process see Ezekiel 36:22-32.

In closing this prayer is taken from “The Valley of Vision” titled God All- Sufficeient

“O Lord of grace, 

The world is before me this day,

 and I am weak and fearful,

 but I look to thee for strength;

If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,

 but on the beloved’s arms I am firm as the eternal hills;

If left to the treachery of my heart I shall shame thy name,

 but if enlightened, guided, upheld by thy Spirit,

 I shall bring thee glory.

Be thou my arm to support,

 my strength to stand, my light to see,

 my feet to run, my shield to protect,

 my sword to repel, my sun to warm.

to enrich me will not diminish thy fullness;

all thy lovingkindness is in thy Son,

I bring him to thee in the arms of faith,

I urge his saving name as the one who died for me.

I plead his blood to pay my debts of wrong.

Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness,

 his sinlessness for my transgressions,

 his purity for my uncleanness,

 his sincerity for my guile,

 his truth for my deceits,

 his meekness for my pride,

 his constancy for my backsliding,

 his love for my enmity,

 his fullness for my emptiness,

 his faithfulness for my treachery,

 his obedience for my lawlessness,

 his glory for my shame,

 his devotedness for my waywardness,

 his holy life for my unchaste ways,

 his righteousness for my dead works,

 his death for my life.” 

Lets not wait until the celebrated Thanksgiving day to be thankful, lets give God thanks each and every day share with someone that you work with, go to school with, work out with, or even live with the reason for your joy and why you are thankful for we have a gracious God!

Is your suitcase packed?

 

 

When a woman is expectant and close to delivery one thing she keeps at the forefront of her mind is to make sure that her overnight bag is packed. She has a list of things that must go into it like: a nursing bra if she plans to breast feed, robe and slippers, insurance card, shampoo, brush, and makeup. She’ll also include things for the baby: a going home outfit, shirt, hat, blanket and car seat.

She never knows the hour, nor day so it has to have all of her essentials. The car seat will be set in the car and the suitcase may be in the trunk or by the front door as it can be easily accessed on the way to the hospital.

FOUNDATION

Our readiness for the coming of the Lord has to be the same way. Mat 7:24 ” Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Our work for the Lord is to be carefully done, we should be hard working and persevering in our tasks. With our eyes fixed on Christ as we pray for guidance.

Expectancy & Preparation

Mat 25:1-13   “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. ” 

The mother knows she’s due to deliver at any moment to not have her bag packed and ready would be foolish. In our preparation, we are also preparing others, and free ourselves from any form of anxiety and we need to stay alert. 1The 5:1-10 .. you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, There is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant women, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him.

1 Thes 5:14 .. Brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

D John