Give thanks...for everything

Today, one of the Lenten studies I am pursuing focused on prayer, reasoning that we should give thanks for the small things as well as the large things. The psalmist gives a multitude of reasons in the reading associated with the text, Psalm 103:1-5. After reading the assigned scripture, I went on to embrace the entire psalm, and have recorded it below for your consideration.

As I read it, this psalm of David explains why we should thank the Good Lord above for everything in our lives. After all, as verse 19 explains, “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.”

Since this is the case, who else would you pray to? To whom, other than God, would you give thanks? And, since His Son declared it so, pray in Jesus name, always. John 16:23-24 (NIV) [Jesus said] 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Give thanks daily for your food, your warmth, your humble abode, your children, your health, your faith…I could list a million things I am thankful for, but I am sure, when you read it, you will understand the psalm’s guidance.

Psalm 103 (NIV)
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul.

Ending today's post with the prayer from the devotional - Lord, open my eyes that I may see the giftedness of my life and let my life be a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. AMEN

Today's devotion - Where does your help come from?

Today's Bible reading is the 121st Psalm. Be sure to read it, the story and the insight that are included with most all Our Daily Bread devotional offerings. In my mother's extended absence from blogging you can find this daily devotion by following this link.

God bless all of you today and every day.

Let's accept that we are all sinners

As the apostle Paul said in Romans 3:23 (NIV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

This was not my intended blog post today. In fact, I was thinking about Titus 2:11-12 instead, but a Facebook post by my daughter sent this commentary in a whole different direction.

A little background – Several months ago a gay couple, Ozzie Russ and Steve Schlairet, who live in Washington County, Florida, where my daughter and her family reside, filed a lawsuit to get the right to obtain a marriage license and marry one another in Florida.

A federal court judge ruled in the plaintiff’s favor writing in his opinion that the ban was unconstitutional, and yesterday the first day the ban was officially lifted, Washington County Clerk’s office issued three same-sex marriage licenses, including one to Russ and Schlairet.

This decision is contrary to the vote of the people that banned same-sex marriages in Florida. In Washington County, the ban was approved by a 9-1 margin.

My daughter posted the following in her disgust at the pastors who protested the decision at the court house - Ashamed of the pastors/residents protesting gay marriage in the Holmes/Washington County area. Just showing what redneck pieces of trash you are. You have all sinned and continue to do so. Unless you are involved in these people's marriage it's none of your business. If God wants to condemn these people he will do so at the pearly gates. It is not your place to judge! My children are taught to love not hate and none of them will ever attend a church that one of you pigs preaches at or other protesters attend. If we have to praise God from our homes we will!

Her post got me to thinking about the issue. And, I wrote the following in reply to her opinion - Amanda, you said it so well. Jesus said, "Love one another," (John 13:34-35 NIV) not hate and ridicule and intimidate and protest. If these people are going to protest sin, they best start in their own home. None of us are without sin, so the Good Book says. Adam and Eve guaranteed that. Maybe these folks should read Mary Ann Froehlic's book, "Courageous Gentleness - Following Christ's Example of Restrained Strength." Froehlich reminds everyone that gentleness is one of the qualities that draws many to God. This book provides a biblically sound understanding of what it means to be tenderhearted and kind in your relationships with family, neighbors, coworkers and even enemies, according to Discovery House, the publishers of this work. If you do not have a copy of this book in your family, church or local library, you can purchase one through this link. When you get it, READ IT AND APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE and your dealings with others - friend or foe.

Of course I know what the Good Book has to say about immoral acts, homosexuality being one of them, Romans 1:26-27 NIV, but I also know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ consorted with men and women of questionable morals. How else would He have been able to share his message?

How can we fulfill the Great Commission Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) unless we get out in the world and preach the Gospel?

Personally, I believe in the message of the parable of the stoning of the immoral woman. Remember that one? Let those of you who are without sin cast the first stone. You’ll find the entire story in John 8 (NKJV).

I am confident that not one of those protestors are without sin. So I would suggest that they use some courageous gentleness by sharing the message of salvation to everyone, not just those that darken their church doors or follow their rules of compliance.

In my opinion, protest and ridicule are definitely no sharing God’s love for all mankind.
Jesus came to this world to offer salvation through faith in Him. We are no longer under the Law according to Romans 3:21-31 (NIV).

We, as believers, are saved through faith; saved by His grace – no more, no less. The Bible says so in Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

We are not, by any stretch of the imagination, free of sin. Even though we try to live as good, moral, Christian folk, sin permeates every facet of our life.

Food for thought? Sure got me thinking about a lot of things, not just gay marriage. How about you?

And, as is always my prayer for you, May God bless each and every one of you every day in every way. Amen!

Be Happy

In the new year, I have decided to adopt a positive attitude in all aspects of my life. Seems to me that by doing so, it will be easier to adopt God’s plan, and to be a true follower of His way.

Proverbs, most of which was written by King Solomon, the wisest monarch to ever rule Israel, writes in Chapter 15, Verse 13 (NIV) A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Now I know everyone prefers a happy heart and I also know it’s better to walk around with a smile on your face rather than a frown, but the big question is how to accomplish “happy.” Who wants a crushed spirit anyway? Certainly not me, and I am pretty sure you would agree.

In my 63+ years, I have found happiness is definitely a state of mind adopted with considerable effort on some days, less on others.

If I begin my day in God’s Word, it seems the day starts off on the right foot and stays there. Writing this blog requires that I focus on God and his authoritative Word every morning – first thing.

To be honest, I never thought of studying God’s Word as an avenue to happiness, but in this, only the third day of my Retreat to Belief adventure, I have found that His Word just may be the key to the ultimate form of happiness – surrender to Him.

Make His plans for you, your plans for you. I sincerely believe that finding true happiness starts in the Bible and stays there as we follow its precepts. As I searched my Bible this morning I came across a verse that certifies my assumption. Again it’s Proverbs - Proverbs 16:20 (NKJV) to be exact, He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

I always end my day in the Bible too. For more than 40 years I have gone to sleep with words of wisdom from the Our Daily Bread devotional. Several years ago (and I don’t remember when) I took a page out of the January booklet, the title – How to be Happy. Richard De Haan, a member of the RBC Ministries founding family, offers these Ten Rules for Happier Living:

            1.     Give something away.

2.     Do a kindness

3.     Give thanks always.

4.     Work with vim and vigor.

5.     Visit the elderly and learn from their experience.

6.     Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel.

7.     Laugh often – it’s life’s lubricant.

8.     Pray to know God’s way.

9.     Plan as though you will live forever – you will.

10.  Live as though today is your last day on earth.

Read your Bible. Pray often. Give thanks. Be happy in Him.

And, may God bless each and every one of you every day in every way. Amen.