'Tis the Season

I do not think it was a mistake for Thanksgiving Day, in our country, to be placed so close to Christmas. We come right out of a period where our focus has been on being people who are thankful for blessings and gifts and families. Then we are primed to go into the season in which we traditionally give gifts to those we care about. 

While I will agree with those who claim Christmas is over commercialized, I also know that Christians who are filled with gratitude also want to be givers.  Some people seem to be motivated to  giving needful things and gifts all the time, and they will be the first to let you know that God has blessed them so they want to pass some of that blessing on to others. 

It is a biblical truth that those who are good stewards over the blessings they have received from God, will be blessed even more.  It only stands to reason that a huge part of that stewardship includes helping the poor, the sick, the imprisoned......anything we can do to help those in need.

So we enter the season of giving and receiving gifts. Our lists are filled with the names of family members and close friends.  It is natural for us to make plans to visit with family, to celebrate the season with friends, and in some instances to exchange gifts. We even celebrate this as the season of God's perfect gift to us; the gift of his Son and his miraculous entrance into the world. Everything points to gifts and giving. 

Now with this thought on our minds, let's pause as Christians and examine our commanded obligations to be a blessing to the poor and less fortunate.  Read these verses closely:

 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:34-40

I am so thankful to be a part of the Body of Christ, recipients of God's gift, who look not only to celebrating the Jesus child by exchanging gifts, but reaching beyond that to see the blessing they can become to those in need. Sharing the gift, and sharing the blessings, will bring us into the spirit of the Christmas season, and will bring glory to our Heavenly Father. 

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The Gratitude Attitude

It's been 49 years this week. All of us who were alive then can remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news. The President of our nation, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was dead. In an act spurred by political differences, he was killed by a sniper's bullet. The planned workings of our country were immediately called into action. Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson was sworn in as President of the United States. 

Six days later, President Johnson spoke to the assembled Congress as the new President. The following day would be Thanksgiving, and that evening Johnson spoke to the citizens of America. He spoke as a man still saddened by the death of his friend and comrade. His courage was seen as well, as he told us he needed our help.  These are his words:

"Tonight, on this Thanksgiving, I come before you to ask your help, to ask your strength, to ask your prayers that God may guard this Republic and guide my every labor."

While space does not permit me to share his entire speech, I want to point you to several characteristics of his message. In addition to honoring the fallen President , recently buried just across the Potomac River, Johnson encouraged Americans to move toward an attitude of thanksgiving. He cited the good things that had made our country strong, the influence of spirituality which kept our direction pure, and the quality of our people who were dedicated to be strong and faithful. Johnson then asked, "What better conveys what is best for America than this?

Of everything Johnson said that Thanksgiving evening, the part that stirs my heart more than the others was when he encouraged us to focus on the good things and continually express our gratitude.  He suggested our direction should be one of peace and harmony, especially among ourselves, instead of "pouring out the venom and the hate that stalemate us in progress.”

 

I hope all Christians are getting the power of his message. In a time when it was easy to look outward and place blame, our leader was encouraging us to look inward, to see the "stuff" we are made of, and be grateful for those ideals which have made us great.

Numerous verses in the Bible deal with thanksgiving. It is associated with the event of praise to our God. I want you to see this praise and thanksgiving is much more than named events we go to this time of year, it is an attitude by which we live. Especially when we are confronted with tough days and uncomfortable times, we will find our strength and success in such praise and gratitude. 

Devote yourself to prayer and thanksgiving for all God has done and continues to do for you and your family. Encourage your families as you gather together to make a priority of these godly traits. They are the answer to the dilemma of our nation, and the direction on the map leading us on our eternal journey. 

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How praise and thanksgiving should be

In a blog post from earlier this week, Peter Kennedy posted a story told by Worship Leader, Kelly Carpenter.  This story speaks to me on exactly how praise and thanksgiving is supposed to be working in the lives of all Christians.  Read it carefully and prayerfully.

 In January 1994, Kelly Carpenter was busy doing things serving God, when he began feeling the Lord wanted more of him. Kelly was a worship leader at his church. He just finished a church service, but his heart was not quite in it. "My heart was heavy that day because I had come to the realization that I had put my ministry in front of my relationship with the Lord. So I literally cried out to Him, "I lay it all down again to hear You say that I'm Your friend."  Within 20 minutes he had written the praise song “Draw Me Close.” Kelly said that "the song just spilled out."

"This song has always been intensely personal for me," Kelly adds, "and continues to bring me back to my knees, that my relationship with God should come first before the call, the vision, and the ministry that He has given me."

Kelly said brokenness, as he's come to understand it, is a universal experience throughout life. "The song connects with anyone who is going through brokenness." He continues, even years down the road to hear from people who've been impacted by the song.

 Let nothing come between you and Jesus. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is a personal God who loves you intimately.

 “Draw me close to you Never let me go I lay it all down again To hear you say that I’m your friend” – Kelly Carpenter

First of all, thanks for the story.  And thanks for giving us this lesson of praise and thanksgiving. Now I want my readers to do some thinking for themselves.
 
Notice Kelly was actively involved in sharing the blessing of worship with his church....that is his job. In the process of his task, Kelly felt something wasn't right and his heart was heavy. Then it dawned on him. His ministry had actually taken priority over his personal relationship with God.  He literally prayed out loud, "I lay it all down again to hear You say that I'm Your friend."

So we come to the point of asking if there is anything, good or bad, in which we become so devoted and involved, that it damages our relationship with God?  Is there anything in this world, good or bad, that is worth giving up all that God gives us and makes of us?

The fact that God draws us close to him should be at the top of our list of those things for which we are thankful.  Praise God he loves us this much. 

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Taking care of me

Andrew Wommack, pastor from Colorado, recently posted on Twitter the following statement, "God is El Shaddai, not El Cheapo. The Lord will take care of us better than we take care of ourselves. "  As a child of God, I really want to believe that, but my actions and even my mind get in the way and sometimes I think I know what is better for me.  That type of living and thinking is very often what gets us into trouble. 

Wommack also added a scriptural reference, Matthew 6:33 with is post, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Jesus had been teaching in this section of the Sermon on the Mount, about the subject of worry. In fact, he had told his hearers, "do not worry about your life, what you shall eat or drink: or about your body, what you will wear."  Jesus then asks them, " Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?"

The Lord's teaching continues by giving examples and asking more questions. " Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them."

What about those birds?  They don't do a thing to produce their own food, and they don't stockpile the things they need for the future, yet God feeds them.  Aren't YOU more valuable than the birds?  And what about your clothing?  Look at the lilies growing in the field. They don't have to work for their survival, and yet even someone as great and Solomon was not dressed better than these lilies.  If God clothes the grass growing in the field which is here for a while and then eaten or destroyed, don't you think God will take care of YOU?  Scripture is quick to point out our faith is lacking if we doubt God in these areas. That's why God says, "Do not worry about these things.  These are the things that pagans chase after, and God already knows you need them."

Immediately following in the scripture is the verse we started with, ""But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I must admit I don't know how to bring in all the ramifications of homelessness, hunger, sickness, disease, and tragedy.  There are some sad things happening in our world today. But I must, in all things, cling to the One which promises to "take better care of me, than I can take care of myself."

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Losing our Mind

The book of Daniel in the Old Testament tells the story of strong and prosperous King Nebuchadnezzar, who went to bed one night and had a dream.  He described himself as living a life of contentment and prosperity, but something about this dream he had brought him great fear. 

Nebuchadnezzar sent for those he considered the wisest men of Babylon, and that included magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners.  He told them his dream, but none could interpret it. 

Finally he called for Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, and told him about the dream. It was a dream which centered around a huge tree whose height reached the sky, covered with limbs and leaves and fruit, and animals found shelter under the tree, while many birds claimed the tree as their home. 

Also in his dream Nebuchadnezzar saw a messenger, like one that had come down from heaven, which instructed him to cut down the tree, strip its leaves and branches and scatter all the fruit. The animals will all leave, and the birds will have no place for their nests. He was also told to leave the stump and the roots in the ground.  How would we interpret such a dream?

The Bible says Daniel was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him.  It took a lot of courage for him to give the dream's interpretation to the king. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, "You, O King, are the tree!"  Remember the tree standing tall and majestic, covered with leaves and fruit, shows a king that is great and strong. But life was about to change for Nebuchadnezzar. He is now shown as the tree that is cut down and stripped, living and controlled by an animalistic mind.  This was to get Nebuchadnezzar to see he was going down.  Daniel's suggestion was simple, "Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

From a king to an animal, the picture of Nebuchadnezzar is a picture of us,  when we outgrow our need for God. The king rationalized with himself that he had built his dynasty, he was successful on his own, he was content with his life of prosperity. But he had forgotten God. It was as if God had gotten in his way and wasn't needed anymore. 

The part of this which scares me the most is the description of a king, whose mind was changed into that of an animal. Sin does that. It brings not only mental but a spiritual insanity when we succeed to the point of not needing God anymore.  Thankfully, Nebuchadnezzar in repentance looked toward heaven again and he got his mind restored which led to praise and honor toward God. That needs to happen for a lot of mankind, too. Remember Paul's words in Romans 12, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  God longs for us to seek him, receive him, and love him with hearts and minds that will be continually blessed; not because of anything we have done, but because of everything God has done.   God bless. 

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