Miracles!

Christmas is all about miracles, and this morning I want to thank my Heavenly Father for blessing our family with another miracle from His loving hand!  Yes -- "I believe in miracles, for I believe in God"!  And, yes -- "Every time I hear a new-born baby cry, or touch a leaf, or see the sky -- then I know why, I believe"!

And yesterday, my son, Joel, and his wife, Mandy, heard their newborn baby cry and welcomed her into their hearts and home!
     "Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this precious gift of Riley Grace to our family, and thank you for the gift of Jesus -- the Baby that you sent at Christmas so long ago to be the Saviour of the world."

And don't forget, dear friend -- Riley Grace belongs to our family -- but Jesus said, "Whosoever will may come!"  You can be part of the family of God!!  Praise the Lord!

God loved -- God gave!

The loved and familiar verse in John 3: 16 tells us:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

What will you give to Jesus this Christmas?  I think one of the gifts our Lord would like most is that of Faithfulness!  In fact, Jesus speaks to us in the last book of the Bible, and says -- ". . .be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."  Which reminds me -- today is the mid-week service at our church, and I intend to be there--the Lord willing!  I like the little quote that says, "there is always enough time in a day to do God's will", and Jesus told us in His wonderful Sermon on the Mount --
     "Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?  or, Where-withal shall we be clothed? for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

So this Christmas, let us sing with the songwriter -- "Not just a part, or half of my heart -- I will give all to Thee!"     

December Delights!

December is filled with delights, and I was delighted that yesterday, the very first day of this wonderful month was the Lord's Day!  I thought it was very meaningful and special to begin this month in the house of the Lord to worship Him whose name is called, "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Today is only the 2nd day of the month, but already one can sense that there is something different -- something special about this month!  Homes and stores are beautifully decorated -- delightful aromas are coming from bakeries and homes whose kitchens are busy making special Christmas treats!  Little ones are practicing their lines for the Christmas program, and even those who have a tendency to be a little "grumpy" and complain about everything find themselves caught up in the special joy that surrounds them.

Are you wondering what makes this month so special that all the world is affected by it?  Well, I can tell you -- it is because we are celebrating a birthday -- but this is not just another birthday -- this is the Birthday of the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS, born in a manger and sent to be our Saviour!  So at the very beginning of this special month, let us determine that we will remember each day that "JESUS is the reason for the season" and may we, in the words of the songwriter --

      "Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.
                 Oh, come, let us adore Him.  Oh, come let us adore Him.
       Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"

The Day After!

The Thanksgiving holiday has officially ended!  Men have returned to their places of employment, women have started again on their diets and exercise programs, and Black Friday shoppers are crowding the stores!  Even though the holiday has ended, I trust our giving of thanks will be never-ending!  Let us determine that we are going to make every day a day of "Thanksliving" as we walk with Jesus in the joys and the sorrows of every tomorrow!

I like this poem, "Beyond Our Asking" by Helen Steiner Rice --

     "More than hearts can imagine or minds comprehend,
God's bountiful gifts are ours without end --
      We ask for a cupful when the vast sea is ours,
We pick a small rosebud from a garden of flowers.

      We reach for a sunbeam, but the sun still abides --
We draw one short breath, but there's air on all sides --
      Whatever we ask for falls short of God's giving,
For His Greatness exceeds every facet of living!

      And always, God is ready and eager and willing
To pour out His mercy -- completely fulfilling
      All of man's needs for peace, joy and rest,
For God gives His children whatever is best!

      Just give Him a chance to open His Treasures,
And He'll fill your life with unfathomable pleasures --
      Pleasures that never grow worn-out and faded,
And leave us depleted, disillusioned and jaded --

      For God has a "storehouse" just filled to the brim
With all that man needs---if we'll only ask Him!"

And Jesus said:
     "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."  Praise the Lord!

Thanksgiving Eve!

The little children sing -- "My cup is full and running over!"  That is how I feel when I start counting my blessings!  My heart is full of praise and thanksgiving as I try to contemplate the goodness of God.  First and foremost, I am so grateful for God's Holy Word and the wonderful plan of salvation which included me!  So I trust that as we continue through this Thanksgiving week, we will remember to -- "In everything, give thanks."

Very soon, wonderful aromas will be filling kitchens all across America as Mothers and daughters prepare wonderful desserts, delicious salads, yummy sweet potatoes with lots of butter and brown sugar, turkeys, ham, and all the Thanksgiving traditions your family enjoys!  But the best part will be to have all the family gathered together around the table; taking time to bow our heads and our
hearts to our wonderful Lord and thanking Him for His great love and tender mercies throughout the year.  So as you work in your kitchens today, make sure you take some little prayer breaks to praise the Lord!!

And tomorrow, on Thanksgiving Day, as you enjoy the fellowship of loved ones around the table, perhaps you would like to share this poem by Helen Steiner Rice --

     "Thank you, God for everything -- the big things and the small,
For every good gift comes from God -- the giver of them all;
      And all too often we accept, without any thanks or praise,
The gifts God send as blessings each day in many ways.

      And so at this Thanksgiving Time we offer up a prayer,
To thank you, God, for giving us a lot more than our share --
      First, thank You for the little things that often come our way,
The things we take for granted, but don't mention when we pray.

      The unexpected courtesy, the thoughtful kindly deed --  
A hand reached out to help us in the time of sudden need --
      Oh, make us more aware, dear God, of little daily graces
That come to us with sweet surprise from never-dreamed-of places.

      Then thank You for the miracles we are much too blind to see --
And give us new awareness of our many gifts from Thee.
      And help us to remember that the key to life and living --
Is to make each prayer a prayer of Thanks, and every day Thanksgiving!"

God bless you, and from my home to yours -- Best Wishes for a very blessed Thanksgiving!



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Thanksgiving Week!

As we begin this special Thanksgiving week, may we take time each day to "give thanks with a grateful heart"!  As we go about our daily tasks, may we often find a hymn of praise and thanksgiving springing forth from our hearts until we are lost in wonder, love and praise!  May we be like the Psalmist in Psalm 150.  After 149 Psalms, he is still praising the Lord and seems to want us all to know that our wonderful Lord is still deserving of our continual praise and thanksgiving!

     "Praise ye the Lord.  Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power.
      Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
      Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
      Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
      Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals.
      Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord."

And by the time you finish reading and meditating upon these praises, no doubt your heart will be so full and overflowing you will find yourself singing --
                           "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.
                             Praise Him, all creatures here below.
                             Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
                             Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
                                                                                   Amen!

Thanksgiving Sunday!

If Jesus tarries, and lends me breath, I am greatly looking forward to being in the house of the Lord this coming Sunday!  What a wonderful day to bring an offering, and enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise -- to be thankful unto Him and bless His name!  I read the 148th Psalm this morning, and my heart was thrilled and blessed!!  I wanted to share it with you, and as you read this glorious Psalm, I trust that your heart will be thrilled and blessed also!

     "Praise ye the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights.
      Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts.
      Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light.
      Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
      Let them praise the name of the Lord: for He commanded, and they were created.
      He hath also established them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass. 
      Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
      Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His word:
      Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
      Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
      Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
      Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
      Let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is excellent: His glory is above the earth and heaven.
      He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints; even of the children of Israel; a people near unto Him.  Praise ye the Lord."

Praise the Lord!!  What a mighty God we serve!!  Let us prepare our hearts for the coming Lord's Day, and on this Thanksgiving Sunday, may we Praise Him and Give Thanks with a grateful heart!