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A Thanksgiving Poem

(This poem/prayer was penned by Nadine Flowers, a friend of members Ralph & Mildred Dickson)

Thanksgiving is more than just one day, a certain time of year.

It’s God’s command of gratitude; It’s what he wants to hear.

Thanksgiving should come from deep within

A heart of love that never ends.

A spontaneous, grateful heart.

That acknowledges God for all he has done.

For his mercy and grace, his unfailing love

For daily provision and all the things, we’re not worthy of.

Being grateful, thankful, every day.

Honoring God in all our ways.

Putting him first as we plan our day.

Realizing he’s worthy of our honor and praise.

True thankfulness comes when we truly know God.

Recognizing his goodness as he lives in our hearts.

Remembering what he has done in our lives.

He provides, he sustains, he comforts, he guides.

So enjoy the turkey, the stuffing and pie.

It all comes from God, the giver of life.

 

A blessed and happy Thanksgiving Day to you all!

“O give thanks to the Lord for he is GOOD and his love endures forever!”

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 10 of “Fan or Follower – Finish Strong!”  (CLICK HERE).

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James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 

Accounts like this from James 2 and Matthew 25 (yesterday’s lesson) make us nervous and seem to contradict the clear conviction that we have that our salvation rests 100% on the back of Jesus’ perfect life, innocent death and glorious resurrection.

So, when Jesus returns and makes mention of the works of believers or the lack of works of unbelievers is there a component that we must fulfill to earn a spot in heaven.

Let me put it this way.

If you are alive, you will breathe.  

If you are alive, your heart will beat.

If you are alive, your brain will function.

If someone seems to not be alive, there will be attempts to see if they are breathing.  Someone will try to take the pulse.  Monitors will measure brain activity.

Life has evidence.

It would be ridiculous to say that someone is alive when their heart is not beating, their lungs not breathing and their brain not functioning.

If someone would challenge and say, “All you have to do is say you are alive.”  Someone might say, “Saying their alive is ok, but I will show life by what the body is doing.”

Perhaps this isn’t a perfect analogy, but the activities of the body indicate that there is life.

So the works of the believer show evidence that faith is alive.  Works don’t create the faith.  Works give evidence of the faith that God has worked in their hearts.

When a heart of an individual is touched and changed by the love of God, it is only natural for that life to exhibit the love of God in dealings with others.

The Apostle John reflects this in 1 John 4:11-12:

1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

What is noticeable in Jesus’ speaking of the last judgment is the believer asks, “When did I see you…?” because the believer is simply living out the love of God, not living to get credits before God.  

Living a life of love is simply what ones who have been touched by the love of God do.

And Jesus notices.

Apply: Living a life of love starts with being filled with the love of Jesus.  How is your “love tank” from Jesus?  How can you ensure that stays full so that it overflows to others?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me.  May my love for others always reflect the love you have shown to me.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 10 of “Fan or Follower – Finish Strong!”  (CLICK HERE).

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Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 

What are you doing today?  Perhaps just two days away from Thanksgiving, your day is filled with wrapping up tasks at work, stopping by the store for meal items, or getting ready to travel to visit family.  Each of these tasks takes preparation and effort to be ready…getting your work done, planning your meal, or thinking through what you need while you are gone.  Yet, we do what is needed to be ready for the day ahead.

But what would happen if Jesus showed up in the sky in all his glory?

How would you react?

“Jesus!  Wow, I didn’t expect you today.  I didn’t think you’d be back for a long time yet.”

“Jesus! Is that really you?  I figured I had time to get my life straightened out.”

“Jesus! This can’t be real.  The Bible is just a fairy tale.

“Jesus! I’ve been hoping today would be the day for a long time!”

Not sure how you would react?  The prophet Daniel gives us a little more description of the day:

Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.

His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.

Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

The court was seated, and the books were opened.

What would you be thinking at “the books” were opened?

Would your name be in there?  What would be noted next to it?  Would “the court” determine you could come to heaven or would the judgment be much more severe?

Standing before the Son of Man with an open book is terrifying if I don’t know what is in the book.  

But what if I did?

Jesus gives an insight to what options are in the book.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 

The group on Jesus’ right had hearts of faith in him that lives that were lived for him.  They were lives not lived to create “check marks” of faith, but one’s that simply flowed from a heart of faith.  Those on Jesus’ right simply lived a life of love in the shadow of God’s love shown to them.  When they saw someone to serve, they served them.  The king recognized hearts of faith living lives of faith in love to those around.

More tomorrow…but for today, be connected to your Savior and let his love live in you and through you…and if Jesus comes today…great!

Apply: What opportunities do I have to show the love of Jesus to people around me today?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for promising to return and helping me be prepared.  Keep me close to your love and focused on showing your love each and every day! AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 10 of “Fan or Follower – Finish Strong!”  (CLICK HERE).

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“The thrill of victory…the agony of defeat.”

You may be old enough to remember this slogan from the opening of ABC’s Wide world of sports.  The words played over images of the victorious carrying of a boxer to the agony of a ski jumper spiraling off the ski jump to a hard landing below.

Sports are full of celebrations…and also defeats. We have all watched as one team celebrated to the falling of confetti and the raising of the trophy and the tears and dejection of the other team heading back to their locker room, coming up just short of the championship.

Victory is thrilling.

Defeat is agonizing.

Sports is temporary, but there is a bigger victory or defeat to be had.

Will we “win” the eternal victor’s crown or lose it?

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

If you are not playing to win, why are you playing?

Athletes at all levels play to win.  Whether middle school volleyball or professional football, athletes train and play to win.  In essence Paul is saying, “If you are not playing to win, why are you playing?”  Yet he also calls our attention to the amount of time, energy and effort that individuals put forward to win a temporary crown.  In Paul’s day, the winner of an Olympic event would receive a real laurel of flowers as a championship crown.  We all know flowers last about 5-7 days once cut.  Yet, athletes would train, struggle and compete at their bets to win that temporary crown.

How much more the crown that will last forever.

The effort Paul is talking about is not in connection to “earning eternal life” but doing all that is necessary to stay connected to the Gospel and help others do the same.  He says it this way:

1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The stakes are too high.  Paul knew that the power of God was the Gospel and that every person needed the Gospel.  So he practiced his faith and the sharing of the Gospel with purpose and intensity to ensure others would hear the Gospel message.

The stakes are high for us as well.  Satan is working his hardest to get us to give up and desert our Savior.  The challenges to our faith our real and not easy.  So, we have no other choice than to engage in the competition.  So we exercise our faith daily.  Take input from our Coach regularly.  We “eat” the food of the Word often.  All to keep the Gospel at the center of our lives and the threat of Satan at bay.

Why? To receive the crown that will last.

Apply: What spiritual struggles lead you to want to give up?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for connecting my heart to yours by grace.  Empower me with your Spirit to daily engage in the training and competition to fend of the attacks of Satan and stay faithful to you.  Amen.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 9 of “Fan or Follower – Be Faithful!”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Faithfulness is easy when it’s not tested.

It’s easy to be faithful to your company when you have no other offers or incentives to leave your company for another.

It’s easy to be faithful when your marriage is going well and there are no challenges to your relationship.

It’s easy to be faithful to the Lord when life is stress and problem free.

But when challenges come, faithfulness is challenged.

Even when the challenges have little to do with our faith, we are tempted to blame God, create a story that God hates us or abandoned us and as a result, we are more willing to walk away from God, thinking he is the cause of all our problems.

When challenges ARE directly related to our faith in Jesus?  How will we react then?

The Revelation that God gave to the Apostle John gives a vivid picture of days to come when the challenges to those who are Christians will increase.  What will that be like?

I’m not sure.  For those reading this in the United States, our faith has been relatively untested in modern times.  Sure we may face challenges at work when we stand for Biblical values and world view.  Those in public office may be voted out for their godly perspective on marriage and life in the womb.  However, to my knowledge, facing death for our faith is not something we live with every day.

But here’s the truth that God gives to John and through him to us.

Satan is at work to challenge and test our faith.  Satan would love if every believer in Christ would step away from their faith and leave their relationship with Jesus.   The way he works? He seeks to bring persecution, hardship and even the threat of life itself to us in the hopes that we will think it is better and easier to step away from our faith instead of enduring the physical and emotional hardship, yet still remain faithful to the Lord.

Periodically I read a website called “Voice of the Martyrs” (https://www.persecution.com/).  The stories of individuals imprisoned or threatened with their life are inspiring.  These are current stories, not from the 1st century Roman persecution.  Yet, the Christians persecuted around the world remain faithful to their Savior.  While I pray that this type of persecution never comes to our country, I pray more that I will be able to remain faithful to the point of giving up my life instead of giving up my Savior.

For many of us, we made this promise on our confirmation day to “endure all things, even death itself, rather than give up the faith” we were professing.  May God give us strength to uphold this promise all the days of our lives.

The reward?

The victor’s crown!  This isn’t just a token, “Thanks for playing” reward.  It is a reward of grace, earned by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and given to us as a gift of love.  It is a motivation to endure all things, even death.  We don’t want to lose the crown of life!  It is a reminder when Satan deceives us to think that denying Christ is better than walking with Christ.  There is no greater blessing or greater reward than spending forever in the joys of heaven.

Persecution, hardship is temporary.  Heaven is eternal.

Be faithful!

Apply: What challenges to your faith are happening now?  How does refocusing on Jesus’ promise help to endure all and stay faithful?

Prayer: Lord, keep us faithful to the point of death and in your grace give us the crown of life! AMEN.