Month: November 2020

In Everything Give Thanks

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Most of us know that we need to be thankful in every situation. But maybe we try and fail sometimes because we forget that thankfulness that is only once piece of a big puzzle. Finding where it will fit in our lives includes reading what comes before the well known verse in Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Wow! That all sounds like a pretty tall order in 2020 as some of us are wondering if they’ll even let us sit down at the table with our own families. But God never intended to simply leave off a few instructions for us to do and then leave town. No Jesus is right here with us and we can begin rejoicing when we remember that he came. Then we can pray because He gave us His Holy Spirit who is teaching us how to pray every day. And now we can give thanks because no matter what…Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so!!

I hope you like the video for this coming week. I break into the Christmas carol bin for Joy to the World. How Great Thou Art seemed appropriate as we remember God’s goodness even in what seems a horrible year and Jesus Loves Me is always my own go-to song whenever I am facing confusing or difficult times. I know He is always by my side and that no matter how old I get, I am still His child!! Be blessed. Have a great week-end everybody!

Milk – Eggs and Worry

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That is why I say to you; don’t worry about living—wondering what you are going to eat or drink, or what you are going to wear. Surely life is more important than food, and the body more important than the clothes you wear. Look at the birds in the sky. They never sow nor reap nor store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.  Matthew 6:25-26 Phillips

As a native New Englander I confess that we do brag a lot about our toughness when it comes to winter. We laugh uproariously at stories of school districts in the South shutting down because of a couple of inches of snow. But no matter how many winters we have lived through our response to snow falling on our own street stays the same. “Honey, can you run to the store and pick up some milk and eggs?” Despite the logical conclusion that hens will keep on laying and cows will continue to give milk, we go into panic mode! No matter how tough we pretend to be, Jesus knows us all the way to the core of our fearful hearts. He sees that no matter how many times He has provided daily bread and protected us through long cold nights that at the first sign of a storm we act as if God might not take care of us this time around.

But if we watch the birds as Jesus tells us to do, we’ll notice that none of them stay up late at night looking for seeds to pluck from the bushes or worms to pull from the ground. They simply fold their wings, tuck their heads and drift off to sleep.

They somehow know that tomorrow will always dawn with all they need to get by. So whether you are wondering if there will be milk and eggs at the store when the snow melts or panic buying toilet paper in the pandemic, what counts is not on how tough we are, but who we are looking to for help. If we look to Jesus we will be amazed to discover once again, that the same God who is an expert on feeding birds, knows exactly what we need today!

The Whole Armor of God

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

Some of us have memories of our Sunday-school teacher illustrating this verse by showing the class a brightly colored plastic sword and shield. The scene may bring a nostalgic smile to our face, but to the people of the Apostle Paul’s day, armor was no laughing matter. Every part of a Roman soldier’s armor was as essential to staying alive as a bullet proof vest is to any soldier on a 21st century battlefield.

Paul lists 6 pieces of armor: the belt of truth, the footwear of being prepared by the gospel, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit and last a communications device called prayer. But in the middle of a conflict it is easy to just grab on to on one or two pieces and run into battle half dressed. We think that we will be okay because we have spent plenty of time reading the Bible so even if our faith is a bit weak or we haven’t taken time to pray we hope we’ll get by.

Unfortunately our spiritual enemy doesn’t think the way that we do. He is not planning to attack our areas of strength but at our weakest point. He doesn’t fight by the rules and stays focused on our spiritual destruction. But we don’t need to panic because we aren’t dependent on our own resources. Today we can rejoice because we know two things for certain: God is the manufacturer of the best armor on earth and He has promised to never abandon us in battle!

I really enjoyed this rendition by David Wesley of the song that best tells us how this great spiritual battle will be won. May God bless you as you stand on your own field of conflict next to the mightiest of all warriors – the Son of God!