Enter Into His Gates with Thanksgiving

The Lord has been giving me this Psalm quite frequently.  Not that I have been unthankful but sometimes we fail to be consistently thankful. Sometimes we look passed the things that we have looking for the next, waiting for the next. We are trying to accomplish things or we are walking through rough places and we are tempted to complain.  

I was reading an excerpt from Battlefield of the Mind Psalms and Proverbs by Joyce Meyer on this Psalm. The Keys to Victorious Living commentaries, Look for Something To Be Thankful For, stated that "Prayer often goes unanswered because of an ungrateful heart. There are people who are grumblers, murmurers, faultfinders, and complainers. We must be careful not to be like that.  We need to be the kind of people who are thankful for what God is doing.  Complaining and being ungrateful are major hindrances to answered prayers."

We have to be thankful for what we have, were we are, and what God is doing for us now.  How can we expect God to bless us with more if we are not grateful for what we have now?  I may not have the new home, but I am thankful for where I am living now.  Thankful for the things God has given me, the beautiful, healthy, and growing family.  We need to have a thankful heart every day.  We must enter into His gates with thanksgiving daily.  

Why? Because we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  God made us, we did not make ourselves.  He is in control and He blesses us daily.  So, we should be thankful continually.  

There will be times when we are faced with situations and troubles, but we still need to be thankful.  The enemy wants you to be dissatisfied all the time. This will cause you to be disgruntle, grumble, murmur, and complain.  You will focus on the problem and not the problem solver.  God is the Great Shepherd and if you know anything about sheep (research the care required for sheep), you will know that they need a loving, protective, and wonderful Shepherd.  

Being ungrateful will keep you from receiving and enjoying the great things that God has already done for you.  You will miss the blessings of the Lord looking for the next.  You may not receive the next because you are not grateful for the present.  

We are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. God deserves our praise.  Praise is defined as "To praise God is to call attention to his glory"   (https://www.biblestudytools.com)

God alone deserves the attention because of all of the wonderful things that He has done for us.  Even in our trials, temptations, and troubles, God has been good to us.  We have escaped many things that we were not even aware of because of the goodness of God. 

The Lord is good and His mercies are everlasting.  They will last forever.  His truth will endure to all generations.  The Word of God is still true thousands of years after it was recorded. Why? Because His truth endures to all generations.  We are recipients of the truth of God.   God is good and deserves our continual thanks.  Ps. 34:1 says, "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth".  

This scripture is a reminder to me that I need to be thankful continually.  I am to focus on the goodness of God and be thankful.  This Thanksgiving week, I challenge you to find things to be thankful for each day and all day long.  Tell God, thank you and give Him praise.  Because He alone is worthy of all the praise. 

Be blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. 

 In Everything, Give Thanks

1 Thess. 5:16-18

"16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

November is the month of thanksgiving.  As a matter of fact, we should always be thankful for all that God has done for us.  If you are reading this blog, God has been good to you.  You are still alive and able to read.  We take so many things for granted. 

I am sure that there are some in dire situations or enduring great trials.  You may not feel as if God has been good to you.  Your problems are clouding your view of anything good that has happened in your life.  Sometimes life can be hard and you lose sight of the everyday good things that God has and is doing for you. However, God is always good and is always good to us.  

Paul was writing to the Thessalonian church to assure them of Jesus' return.  He want to strengthen their faith because they were discouraged.  They were a young church that was enduring persecution.  Christians were being killed by people (Jews, Greeks, or Romans) that hated Christ and everybody that followed Him. Paul wanted them to know that he loved them and that being a Christian was not in vain.  He wanted them to know that their faithfulness during persecution was commendable.

He also wanted to remind them how to prepare for the second coming of Jesus.  He reminded them to comfort the fainthearted, be patient and kind to everyone, to be joyful always, to pray continually, and always be thankful.  He reminded them to avoid evil as well. 

He wanted them to know that regardless of the situation or circumstance, their joy and thankfulness should not fluctuate.  I know that there are times when you don't feel like being thankful or joyous.  It goes against our natural inclination or it's just not a natural response.  We get discouraged, angry, and ready to give up. But Paul admonishes us to give thanks in everything.  Whether you can pay the bill, have what you need, are sick in your body, or lost a family member.  It is hard to be thankful.  But even in the heartbreak, we must look up and be thankful.

Someone might say, "Are you kidding? I'm supposed to be thankful in this situation?"  You don't have to be glad for the situation but you can be grateful that God is still in control and He is able to bring you through it.  He promised never to leave you and can change it SUDDENLY.  Even if He doesn't, your tribulation is working patience and "all things are working together for your good."  

I know it may not look good, feel good, sound good, or even look like it is coming to an end. But God!! God is still good and deserving of the thanks.  He is able to deliver you and He can at any moment.  Job said in Job 13:15 "15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." 

God may be working something in or out of you.  He knows what you need and His plan for your life.  We need to trust His process because He does love us all.  He loves us enough to send His best - Jesus Christ to die for us.  

It is not be easy but give thanks at all times.  Even with tears, give thanks.  When you don't understand or sense His presence, give thanks.  When you can't see your way, give thanks. Better days are coming.  

Every day that you wake up, give thanks.  Just look for things to give thanks for and watch your perspective change.  We can and should always give thanks in all things.  When we are doing God's will, we find it easier to be joyful and thankful. 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all things give thanks.  Why? Because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  Give thanks. 

Be blessed. 

Give Thanks To The Lord!

Ps. 136:1
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. 

Oh, give thanks unto the Lord!!  God is good, God is so good!  We have made it to the eleventh month of the year, November.  The year of 2022 is almost over.  God has been so good to us.  We have had good times, blessings, trials, troubles, persecution, and maybe some hard times.  We have been blessed through the trial and in spite of the trials.  

The book of James, Chapter 1 tells us that trials are coming and they are working patience in us.  It is the perfect work of God.  If we lack wisdom about a situation or a trial, we can ask God.  We don't have to pretend to be happy in a trial, but we can know that God is with us in our trials.  He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).  

The Psalm 136 tell us of God's love and mercy towards us.  We should constantly give thanks to the Lord because He is good and His mercy endures forever.  What is mercy? Mercy is God's lovingkindness, compassion, pity, faithfulness, and sympathy for or toward mankind.  It endures (keeps going on) forever, without end.  Psalm 136 is a responsive reading with the people answering "His mercy endures forever." 

The Psalm tells the wondrous things that God has done.  The response is that His mercy - love, kindness, compassion, etc. continues toward mankind.  These are just a few of the things recorded that God has done.  He is great and deserves praise for all the things that He has done from the beginning.  And in spite of the sinfulness of mankind, He still has mercy on us.  

How many of you would continue to have such love, kindness, compassion, pity, faithfulness, and sympathy toward people that despise you, kick against your authority, disobey you, walk out on you, talk against you, and blatantly disregard your love for them?  Really?  But God has from the beginning to time shown unfathomable love for us and those that were created before us. He is love and His mercy endures forever.  

Since Adam until now, His mercy has been enduring.  Endure means to suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently; remain in existence; last.  God's love has endured the sins and disobedience of man with patience and is still existing.  He doesn't want anyone to perish but sent Jesus to die for our sins.  His love is immeasurable and unrelenting.  

As we enter the month of November, let us be thankful.  Why? Because the Great I Am, our Father, God, Protector, Creator, and Friend has been good to us!!  I challenge you to wake up each day and write at least three things that you are thankful for.  Yes, just three.  I am sure that you could write more but just start with three.  As you give thanks, watch your mood and attitude change for the better (not saying that it is bad).  God deserves all of your gratitude so let's give Him thanks.  

Be blessed. 

 Wake Up and Strengthen That Which Remains

Revelation 3:2

Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.

This is the last blog for October. Revelation was written by John, the Apostle, to the seven churches of Asia.  He was exiled on the Isle of Patmos and was an eye witness of Jesus Christ.  He received a vision from God and was instructed to write to the churches.  He commends their strengths but warns of their weaknesses.  Even though it was addressed to a specific church in Asia, it speaks to the conditions of churches or the church today.  

Revelation 3 was written to the church in Sardis. Sardis was a wealthy city that had two locations. The older section was on a mountain.  When the population outgrew that section, they built a newer section in the valley below.  They were once in a high place and now built in a lower place.  They were called the "dead" church.  The only thing good about them was their name. They were spiritually dead, infested with sin.  Their deeds were evil and their garments were soiled.  They would be removed from the Book of Life if nothing changed.  

The Life Application Bible says that the Spirit didn't have words of commendation for this church because it looked good on the outside and was corrupt on the inside.  He did affirm that some were still faithful believers.  The Spirit admonished them to get up and to return to the foundation of the faith.  They were warned to strengthen those things that were ready to die.  They were on their way out.  Sin had so weakened their faith and light that they were dying.  They had lost their connection with God, even though they looked the part on the outside. 

That is still true today.  Churches can look good on the outside, but be filled with faithless people or those that are dying spiritually.  They hear the Word of God but don't apply the Word to their life.  The seed of the Word is snatched up before they can put it to practice.  Some come, sing, dance, and leave out with no intentions of changing or living a righteous life.  They look the part to the eye, but sin is causing them to die spiritually.  They have strayed away from the truth of God's Word.  

The church was told to wake up! Their wealth, sin, comfort, and self-satisfaction had lulled them to sleep. They wondered from the truth and had become faithless, not growing, and therefore dying.  So we must do the same today, wake up!  The wealth of this world, positions, status, and self-satisfaction have cause some to fall asleep.  We must be in the world and not of it.  We must not be so comfortable in the world that we forget that we were called to affect change, salt and light.  Isaiah 52:1,"Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength." People have to wake up so that their names will not be removed from the Book of Life.

Don't be lulled to sleep by the world.  Wake up and strengthen what remains, the things of God and walk in righteousness.  God sees all and knows all.  The danger of being asleep in this day and age is catastrophic.  Death is eminent.  Wake up and seek God.  He will restore you and you can be faithful again.  He loves you and is waiting for your return.  Return to God today. 

Be blessed. 

 

Awaken From Sleep

Romans 13:11

"Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."

October is the month when fall really starts to set in and things begin to change.  The season changes from really hot weather to a cooler more comfortable temperature.  Here in the south, the climate usually begins to cool off and the nights begin to shorten.  The air is crisper and cooler.  This past week it was in the 30's, which is uncommon for this early in the season.  When you step outside, you tend to become more awake from the bitter cold or the crisp air. 

To awaken means to rouse from sleep; cause to stop sleeping.  In the last blog, we talked about being asleep both naturally and spiritually. It is the state of being physically inactive and unaware of one's surroundings.  It is a time of rest or when we are not conscious of what is happening around us.  If we are asleep spiritually, we are not aware of the condition of our soul or our spiritual walk.  We are partaking of the unfruitful works of darkness or not allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the truth.  

To awaken also means to stop being unaware of our condition.  It means to face the truth of where we are and where we need to go.  Paul was giving instructions on being submitted to government.  We need to obey the laws of the land as long as they are not in conflict with the will of God and His commandments. God knows who is in the position of authority.  We should pray for those that are in authority so that they are just.  

Paul also tells the Romans to love one another and obey the law of love.  He also tells them to follow the command and wake up out of their unconscious state because the time for Christ return was sooner than when the first believed in Christ.  The times then were becoming more evil and people were engaging in the works of darkness - fighting, drunkenness, lust, strife, envy, jealousy, etc.  He warned them to put on Christ so that we can be clean from the inside out.  We must do the same today. 

How does one put on Christ?  First by baptism, Galatians 3:27, "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." This identifies us with Christ, in His death, burial, and resurrection.  We also identify with the family of God.  Second, we accept (or baptized in) His Spirit which will produces in us the fruit of the Spirit and qualities that Jesus show while He was here on earth.  We must be led by the Spirit and die to the unfruitful works of darkness.  

We must wake up from sleep and slumber and allow God to lead and guides us into all truth.  We do not want to be unaware of our spiritual condition or what is going on around us.  These are the last days that were spoken of by the prophets, apostles, and others in God's Word.  We need to cast (discard something unwanted or undesirable) off the works of darkness.  They need to become unwanted or undesirable to us.  We need to love God so much that we do not want to do anything outside of His will.  Why?  Because His will is what is best for us.  He knows His plans for us and what is best for our lives.  

The flesh will always war against the spirit but we must lay aside our desire and take on God's.  No one said that it will be easy but it is worth it.  God can and will help you become more like Him and be able to exhibit His attributes.  

So, let's wake up and ask God to show us what it is that we need to do to walk more closely to Him and farther away from the world.  We are in the world but not of the world.  Our life is hidden in Christ.  He will help you overcome all the habits and attitudes that keep you from walking close to Him.  Sleeping is good for being restore and rejuvenated, not for being unaware of what is happening to you in your spiritual walk.  So get up and seek God before the end of your time.  

Be blessed. 

Awake, You Who Sleep!

Ephesians 5:8-14

"8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are

exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead,  And Christ will give you light.”"

When you think of one who is asleep, you think of sleeping - a condition of body and mind that typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is relatively inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended. Or simply said, a natural temporary state of rest during which an individual becomes physically inactive and unaware of the surrounding environment and many bodily functions (as breathing) slow. One is not aware of what is happening around them and they are resting, not physically active or conscious. 

We can fall asleep spiritually and not be aware of our spiritual condition from partaking in the unfruitful works of darkness.  Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are called to be a light to the world, children of light.  Jesus is the light of the world and we are His children.  

Paul wrote this scripture to the Ephesian church while he was in prison in Ephesus.  He wanted to  strengthen their faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the church.  It was a letter of encouragement to the believers.  Paul reminds the church that they are in constant battle with darkness and we must have the Holy Spirit to enable us to live God's way.  We must lay aside our evil desires and draw on the Holy Spirit's power to live according to God's will for our lives. 

Paul does not tell us to stay away from unbelievers but not to take part in the lifestyle of unbelievers.  We must lead others to Christ by living a lifestyle that is acceptable to God.  Paul says that it is shameful to even speak about the things that people do in the darkness.  We should be a light to those around us of who God is, how much He loves us, and how we are to live according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Our actions should reflect our faith and God's goodness.  

We are to expose the works of darkness lest we are in agreement.  If we are silent, if could be seen as we are in agreement.  We have fallen asleep if we continue to walk in darkness and not let God lead us into all truth.  We need to take a stand for truth and what is right. "We need to wake up and realize the dangerous condition into which some of them had been slipping." (Life Application Bible, NKJV)  Paul admonished the Ephesians church not to fall asleep and slip into a dangerous condition of going along with the unfruitful works of darkness.  The same is happening today, we must be awakened from sleeping.  

The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.  The unfruitful works of darkness are the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit.  We can only have the fruit of the Spirit as we allow the Spirit to lead and guide us.  When we fall asleep, we think that it is okay to do things that are in opposition to the things of God.  We can't serve two Masters and we can't walk in the light and darkness at the same time.  We are just allowing the enemy to fool us.  When we know to do right and don't, to us it is sin. James 4:17 "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

We must wake up and not be tricked by the enemy.  God wants us to walk in the light and allow His light to shine on us.  We have to wake up to the truth and follow Him.  His ways will lead us to eternal life.  He loves us so much and wants to lead us to the truth.  His truth will make us free and give us life abundantly.  

So, Wake Up from sleeping!! Get up and God will shine the light of truth on you.  He is the truth and the light.  Let Him lead you. Don't be unconscious or unaware of the condition of the world or your life.  Jesus is soon to come!!

Be blessed. 

Psalms 150: 1-2, 6

Praise the Lord!  
Praise Him in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His might acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
(6) Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

I am aware that today is the first day of a new month.  We are in the 10th month of the year and the end of another year is quickly approaching.  But let me just give you one last writing on praise and adoration. 

Adoration means deep love and respect; to regard in with loving admiration and devotion; to be very fond of.  God deserves all of our adoration and praise.  He alone deserves our constant "warm approval and admiration", our expression of gratitude and and respect.  We could not have made it without God watching over us and watching out for us.  We don't have the ability to protect ourselves from the seen and the unseen.  God alone is our refuge and our protector. 

Let's not get it twisted - God has kept us to this day.  He is Sovereign and in control of all things.  He doesn't cause bad things to happen, but He allows them.  He knows the plans that He has for your life.  Trouble comes to prepare, strengthen, teach, and direct us.  God did not promise a life without problems, but He did promise not to leave us in the problems alone. Heb. 13:5-6 says, "5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear.   He can (and will) direct us in our troubles if we lean on Him.  Prov. 3:5-6 tells us "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  

I remember singing a song growing up, "Without God I would be nothing.  Without Him, I would fail. Without God, I would be drifting. Like a ship without a sail."  Life without God is like living without your purpose.  God created us with a purpose and living without acknowledging Him is living outside of the purpose for which you were created.  His plans are best and He is a loving father that only wants the best for us all.  He will lead and guide you as you submit to His will and His leading.  He will not force anyone to follow Him.  He will guide you to the path.  It is our disobedience or reluctance that brings suffering and consequences because we think that we know what is best for us.  We make plans and ask to bless them instead of asking for His plan and obeying it. 

May we realize that God's love is so great that if we just follow Him, our lives will be full of His presence and power.  Power to live right, fulfill His call, and to be salt and light so that others will come to know Him and love Him.  

Yes, God is deserving of our praise and our worship all the days of our life.  Let's give it to Him and Him alone.

Be blessed, October is here!