"GIVING THANKS"

Oh happy days, I'm grateful that my Lord and Savior has allowed me to rise to see another day. To work for him another day as it's harvest time and I believe it's time for us to put our best foot forward.

Whens the last time that you were involved in a selfish act, when did you do something for someone other than your family or yourself ? Friends all we have to do is ask the Father for our marching orders, He will point to the person, family or even Non-Profit Organization for you to bless.

How often do you forget to give thanks?
Praise and thanksgiving should be a regular part of our customary behavior, and not just reserved for Thanksgiving day. Giving thanks should be heartfelt and well thought out. Most of us just say words as we believe that it is appropriate in any given situation. If we continuously praise God I believe that we won't take his blessings for granted.

There are four elements related to giving thanks: (1) by remembering what God has done, (2) telling others about it, (3) showing God's glory to others, and (4) offering gifts of self, time, and resources. By allowing God to rule our lives, others will see our thankfulness.

Have a great day in the Lord, and "Happy Thanksgiving"
Until next time.

Jim

" PATIENTLY WAITING ON GOD "

Good Morning to you all, it's a might chilly here in North Carolina. My wife just informed me of two facts, the present temperature is 27' and our youngest grandson who just turned seven months on the 14Th has two teeth already. The Autumn and the Spring are my two most favorite seasons. They represent life and death, and with our patience brings grass and flowers then towards the end of the year we get beautiful foliage, then barren branches.

You know, now days we want everything right now, and from my personal observation things get old fast. What happens at Christmas time the toy/gift that your child just had to have, becomes old and unwanted as soon as the excitement wares off. When we walk and talk with the Lord, We become acutely aware of his love for us. I've had to learn that doing God's Will sometimes means waiting patiently. In life we occasionally run into a bend in the road in which we must wait on the Lord. Most of you are praying with me for a new laptop and I'm very grateful for your prayers. While we wait, we can love God, serve others, and most importantly tell others about him.
Waiting for God to help us is not easy, but when we do we just might find that we benefit. In Psalm 40 David received four benefits while waiting: God (1) elevated him out of his despair, (2) set his feet on a rock, (3) made his footsteps firm, (4) put a new song of praise in his mouth.

I'm at a point in my life and maybe you are also starting to realize that often blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting. When we take our mind off of ourselves we can be used by the Lord in his way. Waiting for God is not easy. Often it seems that he isn't answering our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation. This kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But God is truly worth waiting for. Lamentations 3:24-26 calls us to hope in and wait for the Lord because often God uses waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us. Lamentations 3:24 "THE LORD IS MY PORTION," says my soul, "THEREFORE I HAVE HOPE IN HIM."

Make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them. Until Next Time, I'll be waiting on the Lord.

Jim

"TO SHARE -- OR NOT TO SHARE"

Good morning all, it appears that the retailers around the world are attempting to jump start the Christmas/Holiday Season earlier and earlier each year now. It appears that they find and excuse and we just go along with it like dumb sheep, we are being lead around by world circumstances. Why is it that the one thing that we should prepare for we don't, the second coming of Jesus Christ? This week I wish to share my heart, so please be sensitive and let's see where we end up.

It is tempting - especially if we have material wealth -- to cut ourselves off from one another, each taking care of his or her own interests, each providing for and enjoying his or her own little piece of the world. But as part of God's spiritual family, it is our responsibility to help one another in every way possible. You see God's family works best when its members work together, oh that's us you and me.

Have you ever brained stormed as how to stop hunger just in your neighborhood, your city, your country or more importantly around the word? Have you ever thought about how many souls may go to bed hungry? We often ask God to solve a small problem, but he wants to give us a whole new life and help for all our problems. When we ask God for help, he may say, "I've got something even better for you." Ask God for what you want, but don't be surprised when he gives you what you really need.

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered" (Prov. 21:13). Friends it's important for each of us to go out of our way to meet the need(s) of the poor and less fortunate in order to protect their rights. You never know, we may be in need of such services ourselves someday. Do you remember 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel said " Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. In other words pious ceremonies or rituals are hollow unless they are performed with an outlook of love and obedience "Being Pious" (going to church, serving on a committee, giving to charity) is not enough if we do not act out of devotion and obedience to God.

A sacrifice was a ritual transition between man and God that physically demonstrated a relationship between them. But if the person's heart was not truly repentant or if he did not truly love God, the sacrifice was a hollow ritual. Sacrifices and Offerings are never to become bribes to make God overlook our character faults. If our lives personal and in business dealings are not characterized by justice, no amount of generosity when the offering plate is handed to you will make up for it.

I was attempting to share some "Food for Thought" until next time.

Jim

"GOD BLESS AMERICA"

May God bless you and yours, well the United States Presidential elections are over. It's my prayer that you will pray for all of those in authority over you.
As God's people, we are visitors here on earth and our allegiance is to the king of kings and Lord of all. We are still required to cooperate with the authorities and to be responsible citizens.

An ambassador to another country keeps local laws in order and represent well the one who sent him. We are Christ's ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20) are you being a good foreign ambassador for him to this world? As believers, we are Christ's ambassadors, sent with his message of reconciliation to the world. An ambassador of reconciliation has an important responsibility. Now let me ask you a question, how well are you fulfilling your commission as Christ's ambassador?

We are all subject to authority, until next week.

Jim