I stood before my choir family just days ago giving them a last-minute Thanksgiving speech. With the extra time we had, I asked them as a group to share some things they were thankful for. They went down the line, some pausing to think, others answering immediately. Nice things were said about faith, family, food, friends, and football. Anything you can think of, these kids mentioned. The last person spoke and I was about to close things out when a voice from the back said, "What about you?"
It hadn't occurred to me that I might need to say something. I hadn't given it a lot of thought. In the few seconds I had to think, I found myself suddenly overcome with emotion.
"There's just so much," I finally said. Several people nodded their heads in approval. I went on to name just a few things that I was incredibly thankful for, but there was so much I didn't say. I thought back to the beginning of the month, when I first made my Thanksgiving proposition. I issued a challenge to several of my friends, that from November 1st to Thanksgiving day to write down one thing each day they were thankful for. I accepted the challenge myself, and I must say it helped me tremendously.
Today was technically the last day of the challenge. I woke up this morning and began searching through my Bible, as I often do, hoping to find a good message for today. I came across the passage I used to start the challenge, with the key verse being 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It gave me the inspiration to issue a new challenge, directed at everyone.
I'm not saying you have to keep a formal list, although that's what I'll be doing and it might be fun. You could post it on your various social network accounts. I did that as well, and I thought it was pretty cool to see less that dishonors God on Twitter and more that brings glory to Him. However you would prefer to keep track, even just in your head, is fine. It doesn't have to be a daily thing, but it can be if you want to do it that way. All that matters is that whenever you think of something to be thankful for, be thankful for it.
It has become evident to me in the past 28 days that the things we should thank God for are endless. There shouldn't be a deadline on your thankfulness, and we shouldn't have to set aside a day for it. Every day is a gift from God, so why not thank Him for it? James 1:17 is one of my favorite verses, and it says that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. If we focus a little bit more on that, we'll have a better perspective in general and we will be better living out our purpose, which is to glorify God.
If you do accept the challenge, pass it on. The goal is to bring honor to God in all that we do. He has given us so many great ways of doing that. Start thanking Him for it. And as you stuff yourself with stuffing and gobble down some turkey, keep in mind what the purpose of Thanksgiving really is, and don't forget to give thanks.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." --1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
A Perfect Morning in an Imperfect World
I woke up this morning, and would you believe it? The sun was shining. I made the conjecture that everyone else in the world who woke up this morning witnessed the same thing.
I proceeded to get ready for my day, noting the fact that I was taking a warm shower and putting on clean clothes. I turned on my favorite Chris Tomlin CD, noting that I was in a house with electricity and proceeded to open my Bible, which someone so graciously translated into my language so I could have my own copy of the word of God. I found myself looking through the book of John, and happened to come across one of my long-time favorite verses, which is John 16:33.
It occurred to me as I read it that I had in fact had a perfect morning. Today is, in fact, my fifteenth birthday. I could hardly think of any tribulation I might currently be having. That, however, is when it occurred to me that not everyone could say the same. As of that moment, countless people were starving or cold or sick and dying. People were losing loved ones. So many people in so many places were hurting in some way. Even as I write this, I am aware of that fact.
The idea that kept coming to mind was the doctrine of common grace. I kept thinking about how, regardless of who you are or where you are, you got to see the sun shine today. You got to look outside at all of the beautiful things God made. Although it's true that not everyone had a great day today, I'm sure that anyone in the world could think of a situation that could be worse. Why is that?
I like to think of what my camp pastor this past summer, Matt Carter, had to say on the subject. He said, "For those of you who are in Christ, this world is as close to hell as you're going to get."
That's the most exciting news I've ever heard! As believers, we have assurance that we're going to heaven someday, where we will be in the presence of God (Revelation 21:3). Nothing in the world can possibly do any real damage to us, because it is all temporary. Any tribulation in our lives is going to end sooner than we can imagine, and we will be in a place where everything is perfect because there is no sin.
In John 16:33, we are told that we are going to have tribulation. It's guaranteed in this world. The key there is that it will be in this world, but that Jesus has already overcome this world! He overcame sin and death, so that those who are in Christ will spend eternity not in this world, but in the New Earth in the presence of the one, true, living God. I think that's a really good reason to take heart.
The point of what Jesus is saying here is that we shouldn't focus on the struggles of this life. It goes back to Philippians 4:4. We should rejoice always because of the promises that God has made, knowing that he will keep them and that we are so incredibly blessed. As you go through the next few days (and the next few decades), keep in mind just how blessed you are. That way, when you wake up tomorrow and the sun is shining again, you can have one more thing on an endless list of things to be thankful for, God's grace being at the top. As you enjoy your holiday and as you go back to your 'normal life,' take heart in the fact that Jesus has overcome the world.
Happy Thanksgiving!
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." --John 16:33
I proceeded to get ready for my day, noting the fact that I was taking a warm shower and putting on clean clothes. I turned on my favorite Chris Tomlin CD, noting that I was in a house with electricity and proceeded to open my Bible, which someone so graciously translated into my language so I could have my own copy of the word of God. I found myself looking through the book of John, and happened to come across one of my long-time favorite verses, which is John 16:33.
It occurred to me as I read it that I had in fact had a perfect morning. Today is, in fact, my fifteenth birthday. I could hardly think of any tribulation I might currently be having. That, however, is when it occurred to me that not everyone could say the same. As of that moment, countless people were starving or cold or sick and dying. People were losing loved ones. So many people in so many places were hurting in some way. Even as I write this, I am aware of that fact.
The idea that kept coming to mind was the doctrine of common grace. I kept thinking about how, regardless of who you are or where you are, you got to see the sun shine today. You got to look outside at all of the beautiful things God made. Although it's true that not everyone had a great day today, I'm sure that anyone in the world could think of a situation that could be worse. Why is that?
I like to think of what my camp pastor this past summer, Matt Carter, had to say on the subject. He said, "For those of you who are in Christ, this world is as close to hell as you're going to get."
That's the most exciting news I've ever heard! As believers, we have assurance that we're going to heaven someday, where we will be in the presence of God (Revelation 21:3). Nothing in the world can possibly do any real damage to us, because it is all temporary. Any tribulation in our lives is going to end sooner than we can imagine, and we will be in a place where everything is perfect because there is no sin.
In John 16:33, we are told that we are going to have tribulation. It's guaranteed in this world. The key there is that it will be in this world, but that Jesus has already overcome this world! He overcame sin and death, so that those who are in Christ will spend eternity not in this world, but in the New Earth in the presence of the one, true, living God. I think that's a really good reason to take heart.
The point of what Jesus is saying here is that we shouldn't focus on the struggles of this life. It goes back to Philippians 4:4. We should rejoice always because of the promises that God has made, knowing that he will keep them and that we are so incredibly blessed. As you go through the next few days (and the next few decades), keep in mind just how blessed you are. That way, when you wake up tomorrow and the sun is shining again, you can have one more thing on an endless list of things to be thankful for, God's grace being at the top. As you enjoy your holiday and as you go back to your 'normal life,' take heart in the fact that Jesus has overcome the world.
Happy Thanksgiving!
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." --John 16:33
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