Tuesday, November 24, 2015

A Thankful Heart in Trying Times

Here’s a new twist to an old saying:

Due to the recent financial difficulties, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off!

Now, I know that things are not as good as they could be; but, heaven knows they could be worse. So as we approach the upcoming day that we as Americans set aside to give thanks; well, let’s do just that….GIVE THANKS!

In fact, if truth be told, we find in God’s word that giving “THANKS:” is an imperative …a direct command from the Great I AM.

Throughout the Psalms, David continually wrote to praise the Lord and to give thanks. In Chapters 106 and 118, he begins each psalm with this admonition, “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Time and time again, David reminds us to give thanks…to let our hearts overflow with thanksgiving. In fact, in over 33 passages in the Bible, we are commanded to give thanks to our Father who is the giver of every good gift.

So, on this Thursday, as you gather with friends and family members and recount all of God’s blessings during this past year; don’t look at the shrinking balance in your checking account and lament how poor you are…rather; remember if you have any spare change just lying around the house, you are already wealthier than 75% of the world’s population. Contemplate on this…..if you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back and shoes on your feet….. and you eat at least one meal a day... you are living above the poverty level of 85% of those in third world countries.

Yes, times are hard for many of us here in America, but that does not relieve us of God’s command to obedience as we bestow our praise, honor, adoration and gratitude on Him who has given us all that we have and more than we need.

However, we should not give thanks to God because it our duty or just to be obedient to his Word, but rather out of love and gratitude for the immeasurable blessings of God on this great nation.

Times may be hard and they may become harder…but we, as followers of Christ, are called to a higher standard of thanksgiving…we are to praise him and give thanks in ALL things…the good and the bad…in the best of times and the worst of times.

Begin today your celebration of this Thanksgiving season by doing the following….set aside some time to make a list of the things for which you can give thanks and after each one, BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS….tell Him, personally, what and why you are thankful and how, even if that blessing were striped away, you would still give thanks and bless his name…..for scripture tells us, “What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul.”

This Thanksgiving do the one thing that will honor God, praise Him and bring glory to His name….Tell others how thankful you are that you belong to Jesus. This simple act of telling others that you are a child of the King will elicit praise from your lips and will demonstrate a heart filled and over-flowing with thanksgiving.

It is in every act of worship that we demonstrate our love for our Heavenly Father and in our praise and works of obedience that we show a humble and thankful heart. SO GO AHEAD AND HAVE A BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING this week…and

May God bless you as never before….

WPQ

Poem for the Day:

In harmony with one voice we raise,
Our grateful songs of thankful praise.
In song and dance we do proclaim
That we are blessed in Jesus’ name.

May all creation spend each day,
Praising Jesus in every way…
And may the very rocks cry out
The valleys sing, the mountains shout;

And echo through each humbled heart
As all who know Him do their part….
To sing and worship all our days
With hearts filled with eternal praise.

WPQ 2011


Sunday, November 15, 2015

Praise Him, Praise Him!

I remember as a small child learning the following song when I was about 3 or 4 years old….

Praise Him, Praise Him; All you little children.
God is good; God is good.
Praise Him, Praise Him; All you little children …
GOD is GOOD…GOD is GOOD!!!!!!

This little song should ever be on our lips as believers especially as we enter a season of praise and thanksgiving. Scriptures says it best in Psalm 107:1-2, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”

Did you catch that? The act of gratitude and thanksgiving falls to those of us that are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb….for if anyone has a reason to be thankful, it is surely those that God has forgiven and adopted into the family of righteousness.

The problem for all too many of us is that we are often filled with gratitude, but fail to express it….to our spouse, our family members and especially to our Heavenly Father. It is like picking out a great gift, going to the trouble to wrap it in the best paper, placing an awesome bow on top…..and then sticking it in the closet, never to be given to our intended recipient.

Gratitude that is not shared is not really gratitude at all….it fails to give us that warm, fuzzy feeling that one would expect when shared ……and it leaves our object of affection feeling cold, sullen and unappreciated.

So in this upcoming Thanksgiving season, let’s start at the top of the list with those to whom gratitude and expressions of love are due….Our Savior for His gift of eternal life…our spouses for their affection, tenderness and support …our children for their honor, obedience and admiration….our church, its staff and those who give unselfishly in loving acts of service…..

Let’s unwrap our gifts of gratitude and tell everyone we meet, “Thank you and God Bless you for all that you are and do for those that you love.”

If we, as the Redeemed of Christ, can not express our thanks and show our gratitude to those we love…what does that really say about our relationship with Christ?

A serious question that needs your attention as you Praise Him, Praise Him…. for God is Good!


Happy Thanksgiving,
WPQ

Poem for the Day:

In this season of thanksgiving,
Best watch your attitude;
So share with all your loved ones
Your thanks and gratitude.

Don’t leave them in the darkness
Wondering if your care
Just thank them for their support
And always being there.

WPQ@ 2011



Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Living the Successful Living...what's in it for YOU?

During the last couple of weeks, my Sunday school class has been studying the biblical character, Timothy. I have been constantly amazed at the maturity and level-headedness of this young man. Now that could be due to the time and energy that the great apostle Paul poured into this young man as his friend, confidant and mentor; but, I believe it was in large part due to the willing heart and love of service to the Lord Jesus Christ that made Timothy a real man of God....and the same can be true for each of us if we are willing to heed the advice of the apostle Paul.

Paul was constantly sending Timothy into some of the most impossible situations as he traveled from church to church….often, the bearer of reproach, correction and discipline for a flock gone astray….but, always we read of Timothy’s cool head and diplomacy as he delivered his message from Paul. How could one so young with little formal training become such a great pastor?  Let’s look at Paul's admonition to his young protégé and see what he took to heart.

In 1 Timothy 4: 7, Paul tells Timothy to “Train yourself in godliness….for godliness is beneficial in every way since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” He continues in verses 12-13 by saying, “No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation and teaching”….and in verse 15, “Practice these things; be committed to them so that your progress may be evident to all. Be conscientious about yourself and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this your will save both yourself and your hearers.”

What a great mission statement for young Timothy… and for us. If you are seeking a roadmap that leads to successful Christian living in a wicked and despicable world, follow these words to young Timothy….be an example in what you say, what you do, how and what you love, in your demeanor and in what you put into your mind and body.

Sound simple? Of course….it’s the execution of such a life style that is the true test of who we are and to whom we have committed our lives. Are you committed to live for Jesus today? Are you willing to train yourself in godliness and to practice a lifestyle that honors God?

As a former PGA professional, I have had the opportunity to give many a golf lesson to beginning and aspiring golfers and my advice has always been the same to each of my students, “PRACTICE DOESN’T MAKE PERFECT…PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT.”

Now, if you want to have a good golf swing, you do need to practice; but you need to practice the RIGHT things to accomplish your goals and become a better golfer. Same holds true in living the Christian life….YOU MUST PRACTICE THE RIGHT THINGS…THE “GODLY” THINGS if you want to stand at the Bema seat of Christ and hear those words we all long to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant; enter now into the joy of the Lord.”

How will you stand before your Creator…..trembling because you know that you let Him down or in anxious anticipation for the joy of the Lord?

The choice is up to you ….it’s all in how and what you

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!


Practicing the Basics…..Living for the Reward,


WPQ