I Am Thinking about Thanking…

There is no question about the great need for thankfulness in our day. I firmly believe that much of society’s ills today are the result of a lack of gratitude. I am not just talking about lip service, but I am talking about an attitude of the heart from within.

Here in America on the last Thursday of the month of November, we celebrate the landing of the Pilgrims and their first celebration dinner that they had with the Native Americans who were very instrumental in the survival of the pilgrim settlements. It is a holiday that we call Thanksgiving. It is a time to gather with friends, family and eat to your hearts content and to be thankful for the time that the year has brought you to. One of the things we as believers should be cognizant of is to always have a spirit of Thanksgiving.

I Thessalonians 5:18 clearly state, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So we should be grateful for everything that transpires in our lives the good, the bad and the ugly. I know, I know, it is easier said then done. If we believe the Word of God, it says that all things are working together for our good according to his purpose to them that love the Lord. We should be compelled to always have a heart of Thanksgiving and to be grateful. One of the hardest things I have learned personally is to keep this attitude of Thanksgiving. During the month of November I try to consciously be more aware and be more thankful. For instance, I try not to ask God for anything but to thank him for all things even for the things that I might not desire. It is many times through those things that come to break us, is the catalyst for making us. In asking, we must understand that we come from a position of not wanting but possessing and if we have that mindset then we know we already posses what we have need. Otherwise we are saying we do not possess it and it is just in the realm of possibility. But if we come from a position of possessing then we can have an attitude of Thanksgiving.

For instance in praying and simple prayers as such as blessing your food instead of asking God to bless it thank Him for already blessing it even before it reached your dining table. Instead of asking God to heal you thank you for the healing that was already made available through his dying on the cross for He took upon Himself our diseases and infirmities and by his stripes we were, not are but were healed. Everyone who has breath no matter the circumstances can find a reason to be grateful and thank God for life, for strength, for family, for health, for being able to understand your surroundings. You might not have everything that you want but you understand that you have a hope and you have a Father that is there to hear, to undergird and to provide.

One of the signs of the end times is that there will be a time where man will be ungrateful ungodly. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 points out at that in the last days perilous time shall come for men should be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, UNTHANKFUL.

I know we all recognize that we are living in those times but I want to stick out like a sore thumb with the glow of thanksgiving. How about you? During this time take the time to be thankful and offer unto the Father a heart of Thanksgiving. After all, we should be able to give thanks because He has made our heart, our body His temple. I am THANKFUL for that truth!

 

 

 

Reeling and Rocking, Rocking and Rolling

Division, separation, disunity, disease and destruction seem to be the order of today. Probably in our history of mankind have we not seen such a state of chaos, especially here in America. Not to say this is new, because history will support the treacherous actions of mankind, however in this age of “enlightenment” we are amazed at how these atrocities still exist in such a great percentage. And it is happening all over the world. Your nation is not excluded.

Jesus says a “truth” that is not religiously based, because you must remember He was not a “religious” man. Here is what Matthew 12:25 state. “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:” Every kingdom? Every city? Every house? Yes, every, every!

When we look at the word “divide” there are 2 meanings. The first definition can be a good thing meaning to bestow or impart as in bestow money to a charity or imparting wisdom to the next generation of life students. The second meaning is to split into factions, separate into parts or parties, or to cut into pieces. Let’s look at it this way. When healthy cells divide and reproduce they can impart positive traits and genes and cause growth and life. The dividing of the egg cell produces life. However a cell can also be divided and produce a cancerous result. This is the meaning Jesus was inferring.

It is a simple yet profound truth that somehow we do not grasp or at least tend to forget. In America, we have a government who for the last 6 years would rather be consciously impotent than productive. This has nothing to do with political parties or biases. It has nothing to do with the race of one or the creed of another. It has nothing to do with the old order versus the new reality. It has to do with the entity, in this case government being productive able to stand for the good of its citizens. Stand means to be upright and in a place of balance. It means to be firmly established and have the ability to be mobile. Standing illustrates strength and unity between parts needed to be progressive.

There are so many examples today of division:

Nations (Civil wars)

Religion (Denominations and factions)

Politics (Government)

Families

Human Race (Nationality, creeds, race, sexes)

These are kingdoms that cannot and will not stand. They might exist and appear strong and right in its ability to separate, but it is still impotent and crippled in it reality. The only final result that occurs is death, in its many forms. The first biblically recorded separation was recorded in in Genesis when Adam became impotent when Adam broke from his source of life, God the Father. The result was even forewarned, “the day you eat, you will experience a death, a separation. Even when our human house becomes ultimately divided, our spirit will depart, separate from the physical body leaving and empty shell unable to stand.

So the question is where is the kingdom, the house divided in your sphere of life? Oh and do not go to far down this road of searching because it might be good to look in the mirror first. I know, I know, impossible, but just maybe, just maybe there might be a potential division to inspect. The Bible speaks of a double minded man in James 1:8 stating that man is unstable or divided in his own interest, in all of his way.

At the time of this writing is the 25^th anniversary of the taking down of the Berlin wall. This wall symbolized division that separated friends, families, father and sons. The wall not only kept people out but kept people prisoners or confined…on BOTH the east and west side. Oh if we could know true unity and live it out, especially those who label ourselves as believers. I rephrase President Reagan’s request to the Russian President at the time, Mr. Gorbachev. Believers…encompassing all nations, creeds and colors, tear down this wall. John 17:20-21 says it better through the words of Christ, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

I can understand why the world does not really believe in the Jesus they see every day illustrated by us. I can almost understand the dissolution of our young people that they search for the answers of life through drugs, cults or false religions. They turn to gangs and other demonic promises that say join us and feel free. They say believe in our human ideology because the one you have been shown is falling short on what is being preached. Love for ALL mankind? Yeah right! What Christ are we illustrating? One of bigotry, racism, sexism and preference? To do so would make our Father the same. We see that in our churches where we label churches, music and ministry. We have the Hispanic church, the black church, the oriental church, and the Protestant church, the Catholic Church. There will be no white, black, brown, yellow or red church in Heaven. There will be no favoritism of music of praise being sung. This leads to the labeling of music. Gospel music, which is different then southern gospel, which is different, then hymns which is different then sacred liturgy. How dare we!!! Each really is all the same to the Father because there is only ONE CHURCH and your INDIVIDUAL preference of style of song does not indicate HIS preference. Yet we continue for the MOST part I want to believe unconsciously divide the representation of even HIS Kingdom so thus the church is impotent. Father I hear you… and thanks for already forgiving me BEFORE I came to this realization and my need for repenting, turning, doing a 180, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”