This is what I think is most important about celebrating this Season. If you would like to add please comment below.
Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. Matthew 2:14
My prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, help us keep Jesus as the focus this Season. Let us keep others in our minds and hearts, forgetting ourselves and giving our best. Bless us with the inner peace of the knowledge that Jesus is, was and will be. Make it so Lord!
How often do we keep our God appointments? Are we more likely to say…If I have time today…Maybe later…and then it’s time to sleep and we have had no or little contact with Him?
1 Samuel 13:14 tells us of the consequences for King Saul when he decided to go his way and not keep the appointment God had given him.
God is out looking for your replacement right now! This time He’ll do the choosing. When He finds him, he’ll appoint him leader of His people. And all because you didn’t keep your appointment with God! The Message
What was the appointment? Samuel had told Saul to wait 7 days before attacking the Philistines at Gilgal. At that time he, Samuel, would sacrifice to God and the battle could begin. Saul waited the seven days, but in the meantime he was loosing his army to fear. On the 7th day when Samuel didn’t show up immediately Saul took matters into his own hands and did the sacrifice himself. Samuel showed up at the end of the sacrifice and said, “What on earth are you doing?” Saul’s answer was much like our own when we feel we’ve waited long enough and have to take matters into our own hands. Every time I decide I’ve waited long enough and it’s time to do it my way…there is a consequence. The results are not the ones I wanted. Saul’s consequence was not only the loss of his kingship but a serious bout of mental illness.
What is our appointment? God only wants one thing of us. He wants a relationship with us. Each day I set aside specific time to spend with the Lord of my life. I read His personal instructions to me (The Bible), I talk to Him about my day, my thoughts, and lift others up (in prayer), and I sit quietly and enjoy the moments with Him (Psalm 46:10). After reading the verse above, won’t you agree, it’s just to risky to miss the appointment.
As I consider all that I am thankful for I am awed by the provision of Jehovah Jirah, My Provider. There has never been a time that I was without food, clothing, shelter or Him. Even through the darkest times of my life He has been a constant presence. Oh, How He Loves You and Me!!!
Daniel’s words say thanks so beautifully:
“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for He alone has all wisdom and power. He determines the course of world events; He removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though He Himself is surrounded by light. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for You have given me wisdom and strength.” (Daniel 2:20-23)
Can we say the same. Yes, we can! Just like this…
Praise the name of God Most High! He alone knows all and gives all. He knows the plans He has for my life. He charts everything that happens all around the world every second of every day. He gives the perfect gifts and talents to each person. He knows everything, every second, everywhere. He knows what we want to hide and His Glory shines on every secret. He alone, and no other god, is worthy of my constant praise.
My alphabet of thanks! Thank You, LORD, for:
America, Bible, Cats, Dee and Deb, Eternity, Family and Friends, Goodness, Home, Imagination, Jesus and Joyce, Kindness, Life, Music, Nature, Opportunities, Parents, Quiet, Ray (Ruth, Rick, Robin) , Stella, Technology, Unity, Victory, Words, X (standing alone can be Christ or Christian), You, Zeal
Now it’s your turn. Have some fun doing an alphabet for what you are thankful for!
May you be blessed, during this season of Thanksgiving, with the wonder and amazement of all you’ve been given. Oh, How He Loves Us!
When Michael Smith released Ancient Words he spoke right into my heart. (Click on the blue title words to listen to the song.)
David’s words in Psalm 119:11 tell us to hide God’s word in our heart’s. How do we do that? By memorizing them. When we take time to memorize the Word we have all we need to make decisions, to deal with the ups and downs of life, and to help those around us who need to hear them.
Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, has given us 774,746 words that will change our lives when we choose to live by them. Words of life, read John 3:16. Words of hope, read Jeremiah 29:11. Words of strength, Joshua 1:9. (Did you know fear not appears in the Word 365 times.) Words for coping, Psalm 46:10.
Take the time to read, read, and reread Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and Revelation. Use a red-letter edition. His words are as timely now and they were then.
Ah, Lord God, you have breathed Your word on to the pages of my Bible and into the nooks and crannies of my heart! Keep me always mindful that You breathed those words into existence so I would have the answers. Thank you, Lord!
This post was written for the Weekly Writing Challenge: Moved By Music
Do you believe that God’s Promises are real? That He can do what He says He can do? It’s so easy, in a world of broken promises, to get a very jaded attitude about this subject. Promises are made and broken with such regularity it’s what we expect to happen. In the story of Abram and Sarai we are given a glimpse into a Promise Kept.
Wikipedia
I’m sure you know the story…God told Abram to pick up his family, flocks and possessions and move from Ur to where ever He told him to stop. God’s promise was that Abram’s offspring would number more than the stars in the sky and the sand on the beach. So Abram said sure, I can do that and he began walking. He got side-tracked a bit when they stopped in Haran to visit his father. During the lengthy visit his father died and he remembered what God had promised so off he went again.
Abram and Sarai seemed to like doing things themselves rather than waiting on God. (How much like us is that?) During their journey Abram passed off Sarai as his sister to protect themselves. (BTW she really was his half-sister. It was very common to marry within the family at that time because there weren’t a lot of options.) Sarai got tired of waiting for this promised heir, so she gave Abram Hagar to have a child with. The child was conceived, born and caused no end of envy in Sarai’s heart. Abraham got so tired of her constant nagging that he told her to do whatever she wanted with Hagar. That nearly cost Hagar and Ismael their lives, but God intervened and promised a great heritage to them, also. We are still seeing the impact of Sarai’s misguided decision today–Isaacs descendants are, of course, the Israelites and Ishmail’s are the Arabs…need I say more on that?
Abraham and the Three Angels by J.Tissot
There is another part to this story that tells us Sarai had pretty much given up on the Promise. When the three men came to visit Abram in Shechem (the fulfillment of the land part of the Promise) they told Abram they would visit again in a year and at that time he would have a son. Sarai, who was standing in the tent listening, thought to herself–Yeah! Right! Not gonna happen. I’m to old. Ha! Ha! When asked why she laughed she said I didn’t. The man said, yes, you did! Genesis 18 verses 1 and 2 tell us who these visitors were. Abram addresses Him as LORD (It’s capitalized in every translation I read which means a direct reference to Yahwah!) Sarai’s denial of laughter makes sense when we realize that God was the One who ‘heard’ her.
God followed through and Isaac was born. Not only Isaac but three more sons and two daughters. When Isaac was 37 years old Sarah went to her reward. In her lifetime she learned a very important concept…God keeps His promises.
Heavenly Father, Lord of all, help me realize and recognize Your Promises. I give You thanks for all You’ve given me! I ask that You make me constantly aware of You and Your blessings. I lift this prayer in the Precious Name of Jesus. Make it so!
The story of Abraham and Sarah can be found in the following scripture:
Genesis 11 – 21
A Satisfied Spirit 
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