I like to listen to inspirational music in the morning, and one of my all-time favorite pick-me-up songs is Get on Your Feet by Gloria Estefan. If you're in my house when this song comes up on the playlist, you are likely to see me singing and dancing around the house like it's nobody's business. I listen to all genres of music, especially Christian music. This morning, as I was contemplating what to write for this message, the song Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart, written by Eustace Henry Jr, started playing. The lyrics are pretty simple: Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son 2x And now let the weak say, I am strong Let the poor say, I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us 2x What Are You Thankful For? Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart reminds me of a time during a Thanksgiving Day meal, the host directed everyone to go around the table and say what they were thankful for. Each person graciously shared heartfelt moments and various things about which they were grateful. Finally, it was the host's turn to say what he was thankful for. Let me tell you, after he spoke, we were all grateful that we did not have to share our gratifications after him because what he shared would have made anyone else's story seem somewhat insignificant. The host has a knack for flair. He wanted everyone to listen intently. When he was sure all eyes were on him, he took a bite of turkey, placed the fork down on his plate, and sat back in his chair. As he chewed slowly, he looked around the table, making eye contact with everyone in attendance. By now, we all are anxious to hear what he has to say. What he said was something simple but encompassed all of our stories in one sentence. He said, "I am grateful for the Son of God." Suddenly, there was silence in the room. At that moment as each of us, being raised in a Christian home, knew the exact significance of the Son of God. And, of course, we all knew the Son of God, Jesus, was the ultimate thing in life to be grateful for. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16 (ESV). "Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" Hebrews 9:12 (NKJV). Many people are familiar with John 3:16, which tells us that God loves everyone. He loves us all so much that He gave up His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the sacrifice we needed to be forgiven once and for all. Hebrews 9:12 shows how Jesus' blood is the only blood that could forgive us for our sins forever. From the moment Jesus died for our sins, we no longer have to give sacrifices for our sins. Jesus' blood covered us all forever. And now, because of that one sacrifice, we can have the greatest gift of all, a place in heaven. That is a lot to be thankful for. "Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, 'I am strong'" Joel 3:10 (NKJV). "Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless" Isaiah 40:28-29 (NLT). God does not steer us away from hardship and disasters. When we have faith in Him and trust Him, He gives us the powerful resources and strength we need to get through and overcome the things that happen to us. "Looking at his disciples, he said: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh'" Luke 6:20-21 (NIV). "Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him" James 2:5 (NIV)? The lyrics in the song, Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart, mention the poor being rich. Most people might equate this statement to mean financially rich. We who are Christians know this verse to mean that when we hunger and thirst after the Lord, we will be blessed and rich in faith. We are heirs to the kingdom that the Lord promised to us. And now I ask you, "What are you thankful for?" "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things" Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV). Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day celebration and a wonderfully blessed life.
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As human beings, we are wired to be social and because of that, it is natural to seek out acceptance from others.
I remember those times during physical education class when we had to line up and be chosen to play on one team or another. The captain of their respective teams would take turns selecting their team members. Eventually, only two people were left standing. One of the two would be chosen by one of the captains and the other was the the person the team got stuck with after all the selections were made. I never knew what went on in the mind of the last one standing, but I prayed that person would understand that even though they were not chosen to be a member of one of the teams before them, they would know that they have been chosen already by someone greater than anyone on earth. They have been chosen by God.
1 Peter 2:9:
You are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
What a wonderful thought that we are chosen to be on God’s team. We don’t have to do anything to earn our position and we certainly don’t deserve it.
Still, our Lord and Savior loves us, no matter who we are. We could be good, bad, talented, untalented, pretty, ugly, tall, short, or whatever terms the world uses to describe us. It may sting a little when we are not chosen to be on a sports team. But, we need to learn to let it go because in the whole scheme of life, it truly does not matter. The fact is, you and I are God’s children. God chose us, each and every one of us to be members of His family. He chose us to be members of His team. And, there is no better team to be on than God’s team. So dear teammates, the next time you are feeling unwanted, unappreciated, or unloved, remember you have the love of the Lord Almighty and there is no greater love to be found on earth than the love of the One and Only Lord God Almighty. Today’s song is about how you are chosen by God. You are strong, precious and irreplaceable.
Song Title: Chosen
By: Sidewalk Prophets Composers: Ben McDonald, Dave Frey, Seth Moseley & Tommy Iceland Copyright: Curb|Word Entertainment , January 10, 2020
For sure, times are tough. There is much uncertainty in the world. Granted, everyone is feeling a little beside themselves over the outbreak of the Coronavirus; add to that the general stresses of day-to-day living, financial matters, and relationships with family and friends.
It is easy to let things bring us down with worry, especially when we don’t know where to turn for answers that help us through the things we are dealing with. On Sunday, a friend of mine delivered a sermon that delivered the words of Psalm 91. Coincidentally, on the same Sunday, the pastor of my church delivered a sermon on the same passage – Psalm 91. Although I enjoy all of the Psalms, there are several that I rely on for uplifting and extra strength. This Psalm is one of those Psalms that helps me see the promises of God very clearly. God promises not to forsake us. He promises to be with us forever and ever. Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” God is Our Protector
The thing to realize about the Almighty God is that He is not a man who might be prone to fall away from his promises for whatever good (or bad) reason he has. Our God is perfect and He does not lie. His Word is Truth. So when He makes a promise, we can trust He will deliver on His promise. And, because we trust in His Word and His promises, we can live a life unafraid of anything that is happening in our lives and around the world right now.
Verse 1 refers to the Shadow of the Almighty. I quote a portion of my friend’s sermon to share how when we rely on the Lord for protection we are under the shadow of the Almighty. When I see the word “shadow” I think of a “shade tree” where one can be protected from the burning rays of the sun - a metaphor for care and protection. It also reminds us of a mother bird hovering over her young as they reside in her shadow.
My friend’s interpretation provides a clear picture of how God watches over us and provides a shield of protection over, around, and under us to keep us from harm and danger.
Verses 9 and 10 clearly state that if we claim the Lord as our refuge (Savior) and make Him our dwelling (reside in the Lord) He will protect us from harm. Psalm 91 is filled with many promises, naming all kinds of danger and harm that could possibly come to us, but no matter what it is and no matter where we are, our God who is omnipresent (everywhere at all times) will be where we need Him to be and when we need Him to be there, and He will protect us. Have No Fear
Have no fear. Have no doubt. God is your protector, your defender. In whatever you do for Him, He sends angels before you to make a safe path for you.
When you have God as your guide, you have God as your guarantee that no pestilence, no sickness, no weakness, no demon… nothing can harm you. All you need to do is call upon the Lord. He will hear you and when you make Him your Lord and Savior, He will save you. Isaiah 59:1Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Today's Song
Title: He is With You
Performance: Mandisa Copyright: UMG (on behalf of Sparrow (SPR)); Capitol CMG Publishing, ASCAP, LatinAutor - UMPG, LatinAutor, UMPI, Warner Chappell, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, Adorando Brazil, and 6 Music Rights Societies |
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