Friends - Old and New

Day 6 of a week of Thanksgiving.

Philippians 1:3 - Show Context
I thank my God every time I remember you.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 - Show Context
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

I put up one of my Christmas trees yesterday. (Cheryl says I can only put up one since we are trying to sell the house.) I have so many wonderful memories that I'm reminded of each year as I hang the ornaments on the tree. And I'm reminded of all the friends I have been blessed to know and love.

One of the joys of being in full-time Christian vocation is that you get to meet a lot of wonderful people over the years at a lot of wonderful churches. As I hang ornaments I'm reminded of friends who gave us ornaments.

This snowman playing the violin is a brand new ornament I got from Brenda. I hung it first.

These pines in front of the Rockies was hand-painted by Alan in Denver.

Here's another hand-painted one by Ruby in Spiro, Oklahoma. We had chickens in Spiro. Ha! The big city kid had moved to a small town and those cute little chicks you used to be able to get your kids for Easter grow up! Who knew?!

These Lyndel and Cheryl snowmen were given to Cheryl by friends at LifeWay.

So Christmas and Thanksgiving are times I am reminded over and over again of how blessed I am - not just with things (house, car, clothes, food, etc.) - but mostly with wonderful relationships: family, old friends, new friends, co-workers... by YOU!

I thank God each time I am reminded of you.

Happy Thanksgiving

Jas 1:17 - Show Context
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Ps 7:17 - Show Context
I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Ps 9:1 - Show Context
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.

Psalm 136 - a Thanksgiving Model

A week of Thanksgiving day 3.

Here's something fun you can do with your family for Thanksgiving or any other time. It's important for your family to realize together all the wonderful things God has done for you, your family, your church, your country, etc.

Take Psalm 136 and read the first few verses to get you started.



This is from John Milton's Metrical Psalms written in the mid 1600's.

Psalms 136 - Study This Chapter

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.


2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.


3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.


4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.


5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.


6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.


7 who made the great lights-- His love endures forever.


8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.


9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.



Notice that there is a short phrase telling something of God's goodness or greatness followed by "His love endures forever." (Other translations use the phrase "His lovingkindness is everlasting" or "His love is eternal" or "His mercy endureth forever.")


Then it's your turn. Take turns saying your own first half of a verse (make up your own) and then the whole family says together "His love endures forever." Spend some time and you'll be amazed at what your family comes up with - especially if you have younger children. They are great at seeing God's goodness.


Then you can sing along with Michael W. as a nice ending to a good time of family worship.

A Week of Thanksgiving - Day 2

Since this is Thanksgiving week, I thought it would be nice to have a week of Thanksgiving posts.




I suppose I should have started with day 1, but I was a little busy on day 1. It was a great day by the way. The music in the services was great and gave everyone a chance to sing their thankfulness.





Then last night we had our first huge Thanksgiving meal together as a church family in our new Family Life Center. It was sooooo cool seeing almost 500 people around round tables with room to spare! I want to put up some pictures, but I forgot my camera! If you took pictures last night send me some.





Last night showed many things that we as a church can/should be thankful for. So fill in the blanks for yourself for day 1.





So many people say, "I just want to know what God's will is for me." They are usually wanting to know about a career move or college choice or something like that. I know that God cares very much about those kinds of things, but I also know that He also cares a great deal - probably more so - about WHO we are. God's will for us in that regard is very easy to find. He comes right out and says it as plain as day. Here's one example.





1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.





So it is God's will for you and for me that we 1. always rejoice, 2. pray without ceasing and 3. give thanks in everything.

I found this picture here http://www.marianland.com/automchristian/61350.html (I thought I should credit the work.)

"In everything give thanks." That's God's will? Yep. Says so right there. Easy to say, not so easy to do.





It all comes down to your personal theology. If you believe that nothing happens without God allowing it to happen, then you can thank Him, knowing that He works all things together for good to those who love Him... Ro 8:28





Hmmmm, well, I'm just thinking as I type. This could be worked out into a much better little devotion/sermonette/Bible study. But I have Christmas sets calling "Lyndel.... come paint...."





If we can learn to be thankful in the not-so-great times of life, I see two things happening. 1. We become more like Christ as we learn to rely on God and rest in Him and - well there's a whole bunch of things. I can't do everything for you - think about it. and 2. the world sees a great testimony of God's grace and how knowing Jesus in a personal way really makes a difference in our lives. In other words - you're a witness! Be a good one.



Sorry. You'll have to do the rest. I'm off to paint.

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things I am thankful for. Actually, first I want to put in here a great Bible verse.

James 1:17
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

and this one from Ecclesiates

Ec 3:13
moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor--it is the gift of God.

I read this week that if you don't give thanks then it's thanks keeping. So listing things I am thankful for is my way of giving thanks to the Father from Whom all blessings flow.

Of course I'm thankful that God loves to give. He gives grace and mercy and love and peace and joy and more. I could go on for pages listing God's abundant physical blessings like food and cothes and homes. But here are the things I am most thankful for.

I'm thankful for my wonderful family:

My lovely wife, Cheryl. (Here we are last Valentine's Day.)

My Children, Andrew and Christy.

My daughter-in law and son-in-law, Haley and Daniel.

For my grandchildren: Gibson (5), Haven (almost 4), Hannah (21 months), Elam (15 months) and Benjamin (9 months)

My parents, Bill and Dolores

For my brothers and their families.

All of Cheryl's family.

I'm thankful God called me into vocational ministry and for the joy of leading people in worship each week.

and for my church, Hilldale Baptist Church

and our choir

and my pastor, Dr. Larry Roberston

and Pastoral staff: Mike, Terry, Verlon, Tim, Paul, Tony and Steve

and all the ladies who are such great help - Donna, my assistant

and pianists/keyboard players: Michelle, Mary Beth, Mrs. Church, Gena, Debbie and for another week or two, Lewis

and the guys in the band

and for sound guys and video guys and camera men and comptuer people and all of those who make worship happen each week (I'm afraid to list them for fear of leaving someone out, but you know who they are)

for a congregation that loves to sing and worship together

for music ministers across the state who I get to spend time with at concerts and festivals and on mission trips

I guess I could go on and on, but I guess this list shows that the things I am most thankful for are relationships. Stuff comes and goes. Cars get old and rusty, houses fall apart and the plumbing goes bad or the roof leaks, clothes go in and out of style, but the people God brings into our lives, whether family or friends, are what makes life so rich and so wonderful. And for all of these listed here and more, I am most thankful.