Thankful, Day Twenty-Two

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

And God said, "Let there be light." Then He separated light from darkness. Then He separated heaven from earth. Then He separated earth from sea, and caused the earth to produce grass and trees, fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Then He created the sun, moon, and stars to shine upon the earth. Then He created fish to fill the seas and birds to fill the sky. Then He created animals of every kind to fill the earth. And finally, He created man in His own image and after His likeness, and in that man woman and all of humanity, and He gave them rule over the earth, its resources and its creatures. Everything that exists was thought of first in the mind of God, then created by the will, word and hand of God. And everything that exists does so for the praise and pleasure of God.

So when the Psalmist writes, "Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands," He is not merely talking about himself and the human inhabitants of planet earth. He is literally talking about the entire creation of God.

Let the whole earth praise the Lord!

Let the ground and everything that grows in it praise the Lord!

Let the inhabitants of the earth praise the Lord!

Let everything in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth praise the Lord!

Let every kindred, tribe and tongue praise the Lord!

Let every city, state, nation and kingdom praise the Lord!

From the ends of heaven and earth, let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Let us fill our God-made lungs with God-made air, plant our God-made feet on God-made ground, lift our God-made eyes toward the God-made heavens, and send a man-made shout Godward. And let all creation shout with us in praise to the One who made us all!

Today, I'm thankful for simple solutions to big problems.

I'm thankful for God's grace in every situation.

I'm thankful for rain.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Twenty-One

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

That shout that I talked about the other day, it's not an arbitrary shout. It's not random, unreasonable, or indistinct noise that serves no purpose. It's not making noise for noise sake, or being loud for loudness sake. It is a directed shout, a purposeful shout, a cry of triumph heavenward to the One who has given us all things. Our God is the object of our praise because He is the source of our victory, the reason for our joy, the purpose and direction in our lives. The Bible says He is worthy of our praise because He is the creator of all that is, and we exist for His good pleasure.

The name that is used here for God is translated LORD in the English versions of the Bible, but it is really the ancient covenant name God used when communicating with His people. It is the name Yahweh, or more correctly YHWH, which means "the one who exists", or perhaps more familiar to us, "I AM THAT I AM". One of my preacher friends likes to put it this way: He is whatever you need Him to be whenever you need Him to be that.

YHWH is such a sacred name that it is never written or spoken out loud by a proper Jew. Many Jews or Christians with a Jewish flavor, substitute writing G-d for God and saying HaShem, which means "the name" instead of saying God. In the old translations, the name YHWH was given the vowel points from the word Adonai, which means lord, and that combined name is often rendered Jehovah, which is another familiar name to us.

He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider. Jehovah Nissi, our banner of victory. Jehovah Tsidkenu, our righteousness. Jehovah Rapha, our healer. Jehovah Raha, our shepherd. Jehovah Shalom, our peace. Jehovah Shammah, our omnipresent God. Jehovah Sabaoth, our protector.

He is the object of our praise, the one to whom we direct that triumphant shout, and since He is never far from us and always available when we call, He should never be far from our thoughts or our heart when it comes time to give thanks.

Today, I'm thankful for the wealth that I have in my friends, who have made this week such a blessing to me.

I'm thankful for the many wonderful greetings and gifts I received from my friends and family, which made this a very special birthday.

I'm thankful for all the prayers and wishes for the blessings of God in my life for the coming year. I receive!

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Twenty

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Make a joyful shout, it says. Some versions say noise. I looked it up in the Hebrew and found the word to be (transliterated) ruwa, which in the original language is said with a hard ch sound at the end, but I'm from Texas. I couldn't help looking at the word and thinking it might come out a little bit like the old HOOAH, which is an army battle cry. Lest you think I'm taking these thoughts far afield, check out the Hebrew meaning behind the word. That joyful shout was a war cry, a noise of alarm and triumph in the ranks. In battle, in distress, in victory, it was the loud noise lifted up by warriors to put the enemy on notice and to encourage the allies.

Of course, as in all things Hebraic, there are multiple layers of meaning. Ruwa was also an ovation, an exclamation of religious impulse, a joyful adulation. But mostly it is used in the Bible as a shout of triumphant victory.

Jesus said, "In this world, you have tribulation. Be of good cheer! I have overcome the world."

Paul wrote, "In all things we have been made more than conquerors through Jesus Christ who loved us!"

John testified, "This is the victory that overcomes the world: your faith."

And in the Revelation it is said, "They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony."

We are certainly in a battle for our eternal destiny, but too many Christians are fighting that battle as if they are on the losing side. With helmets dented, shields cracked, swords bent and dragging in the dirt, too many Christians are ready to wave the white flag of surrender just to get some relief. They fail to realize that Christ is on our side. He who fought all our battles on the cross defeated death, hell and the grave, sin, sickness and satan, and all his enemies have been placed under his feet by the omnipotent Father. And the Bible says, "If God be for us, who can be against us!"

So lift up your head today; you're on the winning side!

Gird your loins and do battle in prayer today; you're on the winning side!

Strengthen yourself in the Lord and fight on today; you're on the winning side!

No enemy can defeat you. No power can conquer you. No devil can possess you. No weapon can prosper against you. And nothing shall separate you from the love of God! You're on the winning side!

When your enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against it.

When your enemy comes on strong in one direction, he will flee from you in seven.

So lift up a shout today; you're on the winning side!

Let the devil hear your cry and tremble, for greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Let the gates of hell shake and quake before you. Get ready to charge hell with a water pistol and go devil hunting with a switch. I've read the end of the Book, and I know everything is gonna be alright!

Today, I'm thankful for my new home where I have found peace and comfort and rest.

I'm thankful for the outpouring of love from friends and family that started a couple of days ago in honor of the day of my birth.

I'm thankful for the sweet fellowship I shared last night with my favorite person in the whole world.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Nineteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

We are living in a time and culture where truth is often treated as relative--relative to time and culture and individual and circumstance. Many people believe that the only absolute truth is that there is no absolute truth. Every person can be a god or goddess unto themselves, making up their own truth as they go along, and changing their truth to fit current trends. And they don't want anyone else imposing any kind of truth on them, because what's true for you may not be true for me.

However, I always have to laugh at those who say truth is relative. Because there are certain things they still consider to be universally true. For instance, they may say that there is no absolute truth, but take a gun and shoot somebody with it, and they will be among almost all humans saying that murder is always absolutely wrong. Unless circumstances dictate that it is acceptable. Such as abortion or euthanasia. Then murder is okay. But capital punishment is definitely wrong. Self defense is questionable. Killing cows and chickens for food is horrific. War is bad.

No one is going to stand up for the murderer and say it was okay, even if that murderer insists that in his version of truth, killing people is okay. Even among those who say truth is relative, they want to pick and choose which truths are relative when.

It's situational ethics. What's wrong right now might not be wrong in the right circumstances. Lying for instance. Lying to spare someone's feelings is okay, some say. Even casual deception is acceptable. Unless you're the one being lied to. Then you declare that you shouldn't have been lied to; that you want the truth, even if you can't handle the truth!

I have to tell you, I'm a smart man, but I am no where near smart enough to determine my own truth. I much prefer submitting to an infinite God who has written me a very long note called The Bible, which is the only absolute truth I need. I get it in it and I find out everything I need to know about being in relationship with God and living my life the way He intended for me to live it. And there is not one rule or commandment or absolute truth that does me any damage. This is one truth that has been written down completely for my good.

Today I'm thankful for some little things.

I'm thankful that Luther is making a place to keep my tools; and also that he can teach me how to use them.

I'm thankful that tomorrow is signing day...that the house which has been my home for the last 5 years is finally no longer mine.

And I'm thankful for the small prayers that still get answered. I needed to find two sets of keys...in an apartment that is stacked and packed with boxes and other moving debris. When I prayed, I had a picture in my head about where one set was; if I had gone right to it to begin with I could have saved myself a couple hours of looking through boxes. On the other hand, I got some boxes unpacked and my office rearranged so that I can at least get in it and continue the unpacking. The other key I was sure I had lost, but was prepared to spend the whole night looking for it. Then an idea hit me, and I went right to the exact place where I found my impossible to find key. Thank you Jesus that you care, even about the little things. That's why I'm trusting you with the big things too.

Thankful, Day Eighteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

How ease it is to let time get away, to let the minutes turn into hours and hours turn into days, sometimes without our even acknowledging God, much less giving thanks for who He is and what He has done for us. I know these last seven days have been extremely busy for me. Even though I haven't blogged it, I've still tried to be thankful. But I have to admit, sometimes I let the time get away without a thought to thanksgiving.

And yet there is so much to be thankful for. I'm glad that the LORD is a merciful God, a loving, forgiving, long-suffering God who has done everything for us out of the love and care and compassion that He has for us. His mercies are new every morning, thank Him, and I usually need them every morning too. I'm glad that even though sometimes we may lose sight of Him, He never loses sight of us. Even though we may sometimes forget about Him (even if only momentarily), He never forgets about us. And even when we walk (or run) away from Him, He never walks (or runs) away from us. Rather, He pursues us, calling to us constantly to return to His wonderful love and care.

Today I'm thankful for the strength He gives for work.

I'm thankful for the rest He gives from work.

I'm thankful for the help He gives through Himself and through other people when we need assistance with our work.

Thankful, Day Seventeen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

There are lots of things that are good about God, but I have to admit that His mercy is one of things I am most thankful for. It springs from His boundless love and amazing grace, and is wonderfully new every morning. It is available to the tempted and the tried, and also to the fallen and the flawed. His mercy is what keeps us alive when we deserve wrath. His mercy is what sees us through until we have reached that place where He is waiting for us. His mercy is forever and always, everlasting and eternal, wonderful, bountiful, more than enough to deal with a multitude of sins. I'm glad they can deal with mine.

Tonight, I'm thankful for sweet fellowship with the Lord in prayer throughout this day. It's been a great day and full of His presence.

I'm thankful for sweet fellowship with my mother, who has worked hard with me and for me today. I really appreciate her help.

I'm thankful for the sweet fellowship I'm going to have tomorrow with my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ. They have been so encouraging this week, and we've seen God do some amazing things!

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Sixteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Indeed, the LORD is good. He's the goodest of good. He's better than anything that has ever been, better than anything that will ever be. He's the ultimate definitive of everything that is right and holy and perfect and good. He's good for me, He's good to me, He's better to me than I've been to myself. He is the giver of good and perfect gifts. In me there is nothing good that dwells; my righteousness is as garbage compared to His. But the Spirit of Christ in me has made me the righteousness of God. I will never, in and of myself, be as good as God. But when I stand in Him forgiven, I stand in Him complete!

Today, I'm thankful for the goodness of God in providing for my needs, the ones I know about, and the ones I didn't know I had.

I'm thankful for the goodness of God in giving me people who love me, and for giving me people to love.

I'm thankful for answered prayer--one very specific request that was answered immediately tonight for someone else! God still answers prayer!

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Fifteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

It's very late, and I'm very tired, but I did not want to close my eyes on this day without giving God thanks for some big things today.

First of all, I'm thankful for all of my friends, but today especially for those who came out to help me move today. Thank you Reza, William, Chris, Matt, Jesse, & Tracy. I could not have done this thing without you!

I'm thankful for my mother, who flew in from Colorado Springs to help me during this move. Your presence is already invaluable, and I'm so thankful that your my Momma, and that I'm your son.

I'm thankful for what is continually looking like the perfect home for me, and I cannot wait to get this new chapter in my life started.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Fourteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Even though the words seem plain enough, I just looked up thankful and bless to see their meaning in the original Hebrew. It's interesting that the first can mean cast down and the second can mean kneel down. Immediately, I was reminded of the heavenly imagery from Revelation 4 & 5 where, as the angels sing Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty, the elders fall on their faces and throw down their crowns before the presence of God.

As always, the kind of worship encouraged and demonstrated in this Psalm is the active kind. Praise and giving thanks mean more than giving God lip service; it's about action. It's about actually doing something in honor of God.

When was the last time you fell down in worship to the Lord? I'm not talking about any mystical experience like being "slain in the Spirit". I mean, when was the last time you voluntarily prostrated yourself in the presence of God and just worshiped Him for all that He is and all that He has done?

And when was the last time you really threw your praise down to God? Another meaning of being thankful is to shoot upward. So when was the last time we shot our praise like an arrow in the direction of God?

To bless His name is to give Him praise, to honor Him, to bring glory to Him, to make His name excellent with our words and works. This is how the Bible instructs us to give thanks!

Today, I'm thankful for the bounty with which God has blessed me. I've got more stuff than any one person needs, which is also why I've been getting rid of alot of stuff...either selling it to put the funds to good use, or giving it away as a blessing to someone else. At a time when so many are in desperate need, I'm thankful for the God who has supplied all of mine.

I'm thankful for the strength God has given me in my body, the ability to do the things which need to be done. There are lots of people who can't get around very well, who can't walk, who can't lift and carry heavy loads; I can, and to date I've never been seriously injured doing anything that needed to be done. Even when I am weak, He is strong.

I'm thankful for the help that God provides in the form of people, such as the ones who are going to help me tomorrow in my move. Even my mother is coming in to help me do this thing. I could do it by myself, but I'm thankful that I don't have to.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Thirteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Thanksgiving. That's what this 100 day exercise is all about. In doing it, I have realized that giving thanks is something I don't do enough of. I won't speak for you, but as for me, I am not as regularly and consistently grateful to God as I should be. At least, I don't express my gratitude as much as I ought to. God has done so much, and continues to do so much still, working on my behalf, working in me and around me and through me and for me. But I have to admit that I'm not always as intentionally thankful as He deserves and desires.

Thanksgiving is more than just offering God a toss-up, "Thanks God" over our meals, or when something good happens. Thanksgiving needs to be heartfelt action that springs from heart-based attitude. It should be the overflow of love in our hearts for God because of all the wonderful things He has done and continues to do. It should be the identifying marker of any true believer--the giving of thanks in any and all situations and circumstances. Thanksgiving needs to be done every day in multiple ways, because God is good every day in multiple ways.

Today, I'm thankful for the goodness of God to me, for He has blessed me not only with physical blessings, but He has also give me every Spiritual blessing. He has made heavens riches available to me through Jesus Christ, and all things are mine in Christ Jesus.

I'm thankful for the grace of God to me, for He has forgiven my sins, overlooked my transgressions and covered them over, to be remembered no more.

I'm thankful for the gentleness of God to me, for in all of His dealings with me, He deals with me as a son and not a slave, gently urging and encouraging me to do His will, gently correcting me when I stray, and gently welcoming me back when I've realized the error of my ways.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Twelve

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

This is a Psalm with two stanzas of six lines each. The first three lines of each stanza tell us what to do; the last three lines of each stanza tell us why. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David communicated God's desire to be in relationship with us, and to be in close proximity to us. God wants us to draw near to Him in praise and worship, He wants us to draw near in spirit and in truth.

I'm reminded of the story of the old married couple riding down the road in the truck, the old man at the wheel, and the old woman against the passenger door. She looks over at him and says, "Pa, we don't sit as close as we used to." He looks back and says, "I ain't the one that moved." There are times when I don't feel as close to God as at others, but in those times it is not God who has pulled away from me. Rather, I have pulled away from God. For whatever reason--I get busy doing stuff; I let things distract me; I allow myself to be drawn away in various pursuits. Sometimes I'm even guilty of avoiding God because of something I've done wrong, and I don't want to stand before a disappointed God.

When I finally do come to Him, I find Him right where I left Him, waiting on my return. He hasn't abandoned or forsaken or forgotten Me, and He welcomes me with openness and acceptance and forgiveness. He wants me with Him, and truth be told, I want to be with Him. With the Lord is the best place to be, and His presence has no equal. So we should follow the counsel of the Psalmist: Enter into His gates...And into His courts!

And when we come, let us do so with thanksgiving and praise!

Today, I'm thankful for God's provision in multiple ways as I'm getting ready to make some really big changes in my life.

I'm thankful for God's peace, especially as these really big changes take place.

I'm thankful for God's assurance as I trust and follow Him through these changes. Everything is going to be alright!

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Eleven

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

There is lots of shepherd imagery in the Bible concerning the Lord and our relationship to Him. He is my shepherd, the Psalmist tells us, leading us and guiding us, guarding and protecting us, providing for us, healing us, comforting us. He calls Himself the good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, who knows those who are His, and is known by them. And like sheep sometimes do, we have all gone astray, but God laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

One of the things that seems so important to me tonight is His provision as my shepherd, for He has fed me today. He has given strength to my body through His Spirit so that I can do the things I needed to do, and fed me twice by the hands of others. He has nourished my spirit through His Word, giving me encouragement that I needed through the mouth of a faithful servant. He has provided intellectual fodder through discussion of the things of God with others. He has provided emotional sustenance through the sweet fellowship I have shared with those who love me, and whom my soul also loves.

My shepherd knows how to take care of me, and does so with with the deepest of loves. That's what a shepherd does, and I'm glad I'm resting in His pasture today!

Today I'm thankful for those things I mentioned above, the feeding of my body, mind and soul by my gentle shepherd.

I'm thankful for the Word of the Lord that comes through the Bible, through faithful servants of the LORD, and through His voice in my heart, the Word that directs me in what I need to do.

I'm thankful for love.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful, Day Ten

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

I'm so glad I belong to God. I know some people cringe at the thought of "belonging" to someone, as if it is like being a slave or a pet, but it's not like that for me at all. It's really like belonging to my Dad and Mom; they gave me life, I am their son. I belong to them. I am their "people", and they are mine. It's the same with God. He is the Almighty Creator, but He has become my Father by way of adoption, having purchased my place in His family through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And because I am now His "people", and He is mine, I know that God will also take care of me, just as my Dad would. I cannot count the number of times by Dad went to bat for me. I cannot enumerate all the gifts he gave me, nor all the sacrifices he made for my benefit. My Dad was a provider, a protector, a discipler, a teacher, a friend. He did everything he could for me, to get me started right in life and keep me on the right path. And he did all that because I am his, I belong to him, I am His "people".

All those who come to God through Jesus Christ belong to Him, and have become His people. I know it's not Politically Correct to say this, but it is a fallacious error to say that "we are all God's children." Jesus said to certain hypocrites of his acquaintance, "You are not children of Abraham; you are like your father the devil." We are not born God's children, we have to be born again into His holy family. Those that don't know Him cannot claim Him as Father, nor Jesus as brother. And they can't have one without the other. But when we come to the Father through the grace of the Son, what a wonderful family we belong to then.

I tell you, it is an awesome thing to belong to God, and to be one of His people!

Today I'm thankful for all the people who came my way today to take my stuff off my hands at decent prices. Some of them got a better deal with me than they would have anywhere else, and I'm glad I could do it.

I'm thankful for the beautiful weather this morning, the breeze that kept things cool until my garage sale ended and I was able to retreat inside.

I'm thankful for the strength God gave me to get through this day, and the strength I know He will provide for tomorrow!

What are you thankful for?

Thankful, Day Nine

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

God is my maker. True, He didn't scoop up a handful of dirt and fashion my body, nor did He breathe on it to give me life. I was formed when the seed of my father united with the egg of my mother, the two becoming a single-cell lifeform in a spark of energy that quickly caused them to divide and thereby multiply. That's the scientific explanation, anyway. The chromosomes of my parents determining my genetic makeup to produce the fine figure of a man that I am today. But the inspired writers of Scripture said that it is actually God who fashions and forms us in the womb, that is God who is ultimately responsible for our design, and also our destiny.

And like that first man, Adam, whom God made from the dust and breathed upon, we are made to reflect God's image and live in His likeness. In other words, we are made to look like God and to be like God. We are made to represent Him, to showcase His heart and character, to live out His will. We were made to bring glory and honor and praise to the Lord. The question we must ask ourselves is--are we doing that? Are we being the right kind of ambassador for God?

Alot of people who want to live in their sinful ways would like to point out that God made them that way, therefore they must be that way. However, they forget that God made them for a specific purpose, not for sin but for salvation. Not for depredation, but for righteousness. I was not made to be a liar or a murderer or an immoral man. I was made to please and to praise God. I was made so that my life would be a testament to His matchless grace and limitless love. When I choose a different path, I am displeasing the one who made me, defiling the body He gave me, and wasting away the life He wanted me to live.

And then there are those who look at themselves and their lives and boast, "I am a self-made man." When I look at the same life, I think, "I sure am glad you didn't blame God for it; you're a mess!" It's much better when we acknowledge God's hand in creating u, and God's will in launching us into life, and then choose to live up to His expectations.

Today, I'm thankful for rain. Glorious rain. Refreshing rain. Wet wonderful rain! We need it so much, and no more still. But thank you God for last night and today. I appreciate it.

I'm thankful for friends who want to spend time with me and feed me. I appreciate the fellowship and the love that you show me.

I'm thankful for peace that passes all understanding when I give my anxieties to God, because there are just some things I can't do anything about.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Eight

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

I was having a conversation not long ago which turned to the nature of belief for salvation, and the statement was made: "I believe in Jesus."

I responded with a question: "But what do you believe about him?"

They responded with another question: "Well, what do you mean when you ask if I believe in Jesus?"

I replied: "Do you believe that Jesus is the one and only unique Son of God, miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin, that He lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death to atone for all the sins of all humanity, that He rose from the dead after three days, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God?"

The answer: "Oh no, I don't believe that."

Alot of people want to believe in Jesus as an important historical figure or as a great teacher or a good man without actually putting their faith in Him for salvation. For some, it is a matter of thinking they don't need a savior. For others, it is a matter of thinking that any religion will do. For others still, it is a matter of thinking they are good enough to save themselves. But none of those things are true. We are all born in need of a savior, but not just any savior; we need the one and only Savior of all mankind, Jesus Christ the righteous, who said, "If you believe in me, you will have eternal life!"

And what must the nature of that belief be? It's not merely acknowledging His existence. The Bible says the demons in hell believe in God and tremble at His name. It is about putting all of our faith, hope, confidence, and trust in the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of all that is, about coming to Him through Jesus Christ His son, about surrendering our lives to the One with all authority and accepting His will, plan, and purpose for us.

Today I'm thankful for the things that are finally coming together for my good and the glory of God; I've been waiting a long time for some of them.

I'm thankful for the good things that God has provided for me, the many blessings He has bestowed upon me, including some I can't yet tell you about!

I'm thankful for the promises of God, which are faithful and true; He's never let me down yet, and He's not going to start now.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful, Day Seven

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord, He is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Remember your parents' admonition--"Stay close to me now. Don't wander off." No matter what was going on, if we were out with the folks, we fully understood that they wanted us near at hand, both for our safety and their sanity. They didn't want us to be out of sight, or if we were out of sight, they wanted us within hearing range for when they called. And they often did. Calling our name out the front door, or in a crowded department store. I have one friend whose mother would walk down a deserted aisle and whistle shrilly until her children came running. Our parents wanted us close, and it was for our own good whether we realized it or not.

God wants us close too. I don't know why I can't get the Edenic imagery out of my mind, but when God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden, He came every day in the cool of the day to walk with them and talk with them. He wanted them close, within calling distance. And every day they were there to meet Him, until the day when the broke the one rule He'd established for them. On the day they ate the forbidden fruit, they hid in a grove of fig trees and cowered with leaves clutched over their nakedness. When the LORD arrived and did not immediately find them (undoubtedly the all-knowing already knew what had happened and where they were), He called to them by name, "Adam! Where are you?"

Does God ever have to call your name because you've wandered too far from His presence? Does He ever have to step out on the front porch of your relationship and holler loudly for you to return home? Like Adam and Eve, we occasionally tend toward wanderlust, following the fancies of this world or our own imaginations after things we think will satisfy. But God still wants us in His presence where He can see us and look out for us, where we can hear His voice and come when He calls. And like Adam and Eve, sometimes He finds us hiding in the tattered remains of our transgressions, hoping He won't know or won't see. Even then, He calls us out and says, "Where are you?" He still wants to be with us, and He wants us to be with Him.

So instead of waiting for Him to call because we have taken a step too far, let us follow the advice of the Psalmist and come into the presence of God singing His praises and giving Him thanks, even if we also have to add our repentance to it. Throughout the Bible, the principle is clear: if we will draw near to God, God will also draw near to us. Because that is where He wants to be.

Today, I'm thankful for the favor God gives us with others, and for making a way where there seems to be no way.

I'm thankful for the provision of God who continues to meet all of my needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.

I'm thankful for the care and concern for me expressed by others because of their love for me.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Six

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

It occurs to me that this Psalm is addressed to everyone, everywhere. "All you lands", it says. That's who should be shouting the praises of God, even if they don't. That's also who should be serving Him with gladness and coming into His presence with singing. Everyone, everywhere. No exceptions.

From the very beginning, when God made Adam from the mud and Eve from Adam's rib, He has wanted a relationship with His creation. He desired friendship and fellowship, two things Adam was designed for. He also desired worship, still another of Adam's many purposes. And if you wonder why God wanted worship, or why you should praise Him, just think about this: He made you too. In that scoop of mud were all the sons and daughters of man made. In that one man, the seeds of all human life were placed; into the womb of his wife were those seeds sown. In that one man, God started us all. And it was for fellowship and worship.

He walked with Adam and Even in the garden in the cool of the day, when the mist was rising around them. After they were expelled from Eden, he still sought to have fellowship with them. At the entrance to Eden he placed to cherubim as guardians for the good of humanity, and there he would meet with them. That's where Cain and Abel brought their sacrifices for worship. They came before God with their offerings, though only one was acceptable because it followed a proscribed method. There they met with Him; there they walked with Him and talked with Him. Even in the midst of Cain's sin, God came and spoke to Him, still desiring fellowship.

I suppose it would be wonderful indeed if everyone everywhere simply recognized their need for God and the necessity of serving Him with gladness. Not through compulsion or coercion, but by choice. Not with a sullen heart and sour expression, but with a smile on your face and a dance in your step. Serve the Lord with gladness, it says! And why should we be glad? Why should we be thankful? If the fact that He made you and wants to spend time with you isn't reason enough for thanks, I don't know what is.

Today, I'm thankful for the presence of God that meets with us every time we gather in His name; that was a promise fulfilled today when we gathered for worship.

I'm thankful for the power of God that is at work in us, changing, transforming, renewing; because of His power, I'm a different man than I used to be, or than I could have been had I not found Jesus at an early age.

I'm thankful for the word of God that speaks to our hearts, addresses our situations, and challenges our lives; without the Word we'd be as lost as the proverbial ball in high weeds. But now we have His Word, His direction, His comfort, His knowledge, His peace, His nourishment. Need I go on?

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Five

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

The Bible is clear. Everyone, everything, everywhere ought to be praising God with everything that they have. Here it says "all you lands." Elsewhere it says, "everything that has breath." Paul writes that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The Psalmist writes that the trees of the field clap their hands, and Jesus said if the little children stopped praising Him, the rocks would cry out.

Everyone ought to give God praise and glory. Ought to, but they don't. It's not just Christians who have reason to be thankful. After all, the same sun shines on us all. It rains on everyone (or at least it will, when this drought in south central Texas is over) alike. We all breathe the same air, walk on the same ground. God is good to all of us, regardless of how good we are to Him.

Furthermore, Christ died for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, the perfect sinless lamb for all the sins of man. Jesus loved us while we were yet sinners and without strength. He loved us when we were unloving, unlovely and unlovable. He gave His life so that everyone could live, whosoever believes in Him. The same forgiveness, the same mercy and grace, that very same love is equally available to all.

What more reason could we have to give thanks?

I'm thankful today for the Word of God, which nourishes me Spiritually and gives me strength.

I'm thankful for the Spirit of God, who lives in me and continually works on me to make me more like Christ and less like myself.

I'm thankful for the promises of God, which give me hope of a future.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Four

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD, He is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

So, I cooked a turkey this week. I know it's August, the middle of summer, but I've had this turkey in my freezer and on my mind for a while and I decided this week was the week to fix it. It was purely coincidence that I chose to cook my turkey the same week I started blogging through 100 days of thanks again. I had the whole meal planned, complete with cornbread dressing and sweet potato casserole. The only thing lacking would have been pie. I've been so hungry for turkey, possibly because I missed out on the typical indulgence of holiday bird last year.

Every time I opened the door and saw that frozen fowl on the shelf, I was reminded of Thanksgiving, and of giving thanks. There's been hardly a day that went by these last five months that I haven't thought about the 100th Psalm and my first 100 days of thanks. I once mused that perhaps I would just go on blogging my thanks, but alas, I did not. And now I'm starting the exercise again. But something I have discovered. That great hymn of thanksgiving really got down in my heart. I'm still so very thankful for all that God is, all that He has done, and all that He is going to do.

By the way, I said I cooked that turkey this week. What I didn't get to do was eat it. I cooked it one evening, then wrapped it in foil and set it in the refrigerator. One night, I robbed it of its oysters (those tender medallions of juicy dark meat in the middle of the back). Tonight, I wanted some of my special turkey salad (with chopped meat, both white and dark, celery, onion, pecans, miracle whip, salt & pepper), so I carved that turkey up. I'm saving the breasts and legs for Sunday Dinner after church with friends, I've got plenty more white meat for the Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas I'm planning, and I'm boiling the carcass and meaty wings as I type. I'm going to get lots of different meals out of that turkey.

Having that turkey reminds me so much of my many reasons to give thanks. I'm so excited about the turkey, just as we should be excited about the Lord. He gives us so much of Himself and His many wonderful blessings, and it's not all the same stuff over and over and over again. He gives us good stuff, new stuff, fresh stuff. When I'm in need, He reaches into His storehouse of endless supply and provides whatever I need whenever I need it. He is good all the time, and His mercy is forever and ever!

Today, I'm thankful for food in my refrigerator, my pantry, and now in my stomach. Even in hard times, God has never let me be hungry or without.

I'm thankful for my beautiful home that God has allowed me to live in these past five years; I'm thankful for the sale of that same house, and for the neat little apartment I found very close to my church. God has never seen me homeless.

And I'm thankful for all the people who have shared my life, my food, and my home, my friends who have become family. God has never left me alone.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Three

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Do we wake up with a groan about it being morning, or do we wake rejoicing that it is a new day to serve the Lord? Even as I ask the question, I cringe inside with the knowledge that there are days I awaken with a groan, wishing it was still dark outside so I could be justified in going back to sleep. Some days I just want to pull the covers up over my head until the day has passed me by. Some days my feet just don't want to hit the floor. But today, I awoke with a smile on my face and the praise of God on my lips. I'm not bragging; I'm just acknowledging that it happened.

And what a wonderful day it turned out to be.

I've often said that people ought to throw the covers back and leap out of bed with a shout of praise, dancing around the end of the bed speaking in tongues until the glory falls and we are ready to start our day. Then jump straight up in the air; that's Rapture practice. I've also said that if you're feeling down and out, broke down, busted and disgusted, just start shouting "Hallelujah" at the top of your lungs. It never ceased to amaze me how much good those things do me, when I follow my own advice.

Every day we should rise with the thought that it is a new day to serve the Lord, and thank Him for it. It's a new day filled with opportunity and blessing; don't let either pass you by. Yesterday's gone, you can't get it back, but thank God, when you've asked for forgiveness, you're sins are gone too. They can't come back on you. What we didn't finish yesterday, we can work on again today. What went wrong yesterday can be set right today. What we lost yesterday can be regained, or we can press on to something else, something new, something better. Memories may mingle with regrets, but living for today gives us purpose, and looking forward to tomorrow should be an exercise in hope.

So with each new day, let us start it out by giving thanks, and see what the Lord will do.

Today, I'm thankful for the strength that comes from having a personal day of rest, relaxation, restoration, and renewal. This was my day, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'm thankful for the money that came in the mail, and for the folks that sent it. God always knows when I'm going to be in need, and He is more than able to provide.

I'm thankful for the blessings of fellowship that I enjoyed today with so many wonderful friends, ending my day with the best one of all. And I'm thankful that I have a friend who sticks closer than a brother--Jesus Christ.

So what are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Two

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness,
Come before His presence with thanksgiving.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

I don't know how you feel about God, but I get the impression that many times we fall into the trap of thinking that the Almighty is someone to be feared and avoided at all cost, for if we get to close, we are going fry like crispy critters, that the Eternal Sovereign is a vindictive, malevolent overlord waiting for his subjects to mess up so that he can blot us out, removing us completely from existence. But God is not someone to be avoided, He is someone to be embraced. We should never run nor hide from the presence of God, but rather seek Him out and enjoy Him. That's what He wants from us, because that's what He wants to do with us.

This beautiful Psalm is all about reveling in the presence of God. It's about serving Him gladly and coming before Him in song. He doesn't want us crawling on our bellies to grovel at the lowly foot of His throne, He wants us dancing and rejoicing before Him, happy to be with Him, happy to know Him, happy to belong to Him. He wants us praising and worshiping, not crying and complaining and demeaning ourselves.

I mean, there is a place for humility. There is a time for lowliness, for meekness, for decreasing that He might increase. But there is also a time and place for celebration with Him. After all, when one soul gets saved, all of heaven rejoices. In heaven if one word of praise is uttered, it stirs an eruption of adoration from everything that has breath. So let us learn to celebrate the Lord, to worship Him, to give him loud adoration, energetic adulation. Let us open our mouths and our hearts in glorious exaltation of the God who is above all in through all and in us all!

Today I am thankful for the power of forgiveness, for the forgiveness I have received from God and from other, and for the forgiveness I am able to offer because of the love that God has put in my own heart.

I am thankful for the wonder of reconciliation, when God heals broken hearts, binding up their wounds, and restores relationships on earth.

I am thankful for the provision of peace that God has made to all who call upon Him, for He said if we pray, His peace that passes all understanding will guard our hearts and minds.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day One

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

I have always liked this Psalm, but late last year, I fell in love with it. For 100 Days I studied its words and journaled through it, letting the concept of thanks fill my heart and mind. What a transformational process it was! Now trying to do it again, I don't want to just rehash the same old thoughts I expressed last time. I want to find fresh meaning, fresh revelation and inspiration, fresh application in this timeless passage from God's eternal Word.

This is a Psalm of thanksgiving. It says so right in the title of the Psalm, at least in my Bible. And the overriding theme is the how and why of giving thanks. To this penman, thanksgiving was more than just a mumbled "thank you". It was an extravagant act of worship that involved body, soul and spirit. It wasn't just a prayer or simply a song; it was a melee of gratitude, an outpouring of appreciation directed heavenward in fervent and fanatical rejoicing of the heart. If you don't believe me, just look at that first suggestion: Make a joyful shout! In the old KJV, it's noise. Make a joyful noise to the LORD! In the words of an old campfire tradition, it was basically saying, "We're gonna raise a ruckus tonight!"

When we give thanks to the Lord, is that the kind of enthusiasm we employ? There is so much to be thankful for; not realizing that is one reason I want to do these 100 days again. I want to give thanks with all my heart and soul, because He is God, He is creator and sustainer, redeemer and friend, He is good and His mercy is forever. That's something to get excited about.

I'm thankful today for faith that sees the invisible, receives the incredible, and believes the impossible. That kind of faith comes only from the Lord.

I'm thankful today for hope that holds on and does not give up, because it will not be disappointed. That kind of hope comes only from the Lord.

I'm thankful today for love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things, for love that does not fail. That kind of love comes only from the Lord.

Father, thank you, and please increase my faith, strengthen my hope, and inspire my love today.

100 Days of Thanks

Just after Thanksgiving last year, a day that started a process I could not have foreseen or even hoped for, a pastor friend introduced me to a concept that really took hold of my imagination. This is what he suggested:

Read the 100th Psalm.

Study it using the Psalm's format as your guide.

Journal about it.

List three things for which you are thankful.

Do it every day, for 100 days.

It took me a little longer than 100 days, but I blogged 100 times through the 100th Psalm, giving thanks everyday for three things. It was a transformational exercise through which I was tremendously blessed in a multitude of ways. I experienced important changes in my own life, and in the world around me as I gave thanks to the Lord. And to be quite honest, I've missed doing it.

From today, August 16, there are 100 days until our Thanksgiving holiday, and I've decided to try it again...100 Days of Thanks. I will attempt to blog everyday for 100 days on the 100th Psalm, and give thanks through it. But I would also like to invite you to join me on this journey of thanks. Perhaps you'd like to list 3 things your thankful for on each day you read the blog; post your thoughts in the comments here or on Facebook if you like. But let's see what happens when we rediscover the grace of giving thanks.

The Nature of Faith, part 9

Therefore, having been justified by faith
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have access by faith
into this grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2, NKJV

Faith is what saves us, at least as far as our part is concerned. We don't have to work for our salvation; it can't be bought or earned. We don't have to provide it for ourselves; that was done through Jesus Christ and His redemptive sacrifice on Calvary's Cross. We don't have to do anything to save ourselves; we only have to believe.

The Bible says that whoever believes, the same shall be saved. And what must be believed? That Jesus Christ, the real and unique Son of God, who was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, who was God made flesh to dwell among men, who lived a completely perfect and sinless life, died for us. That He was buried, and that after three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, He was resurrected, never to die again.

After belief comes confession--that Jesus Christ is Lord. That Jesus Christ is the everlasting God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Master of the Universe, the Ruler of Everything. Belief, confession, and submission to who He is in a personal way. That's what saves us, and it starts with faith.

Because Abraham believed, he was counted righteous. Because he acted in faith upon what God had said, he was counted righteous. Because he lived by faith in the Living God, he was justified by that same faith and counted righteous. The same is true for us today. If we believe and live in faith in this same God, we also shall be counted righteous by Him. We shall be justified from our sins, and we will become as "just if I'd" never sinned. Jesus did all the work, paid the price, and offered salvation freely to all. The one and only thing we have to do is believe and live by that faith.

When we believe and are justified, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. The enmity, the hatefulness of sin is put to death, and God receives us as children and friends, accepted and adopted through Jesus Christ. When we believe and are justified and accepted, we have access into grace, the unmerited favor and undeserved blessing that is the free gift of God. We can enter in and be safe in grace, we can stand in grace before God, completely forgiven and whole, saved by grace through faith that comes not from ourselves, but which is given to us by God. Even when we fall, we fall in grace and can again receive forgiveness to keep standing in grace.

And when we stand in grace, having believed and been saved through our faith, we can also rejoice in hope, that hope being that the glory of God, the manifested excellency of His person and power has been made real in us, is being made real in us, and will ultimately be made real in us when we become like Christ in life, in death, and in resurrection!

This is our hope--Christ in us, the guarantee of God's glory!

The Nature of Faith, part 8

...and being fully convinced
that what He had promised
He was also able to perform.
Romans 4:21, NKJV

What are the keys to living by faith and receiving the promises of God?

First, you have to believe.

Second, you have to maintain your hope, even when things look hopeless.

Third, you have to keep your eyes on Jesus, not on your circumstances.

Fourth, you have to strengthen your faith through remembrance and declaration.

Fifth, you have to give glory to God continually as you wait.

But there is an element we must not forget. If God is the one who said it, we have to be fully convinced that what God promises, He is also able to perform. What God promises, He is also willing to fulfill. What God promises, He will absolutely do...in His own good time according to His own special purpose.

The mistake too many people have made when it comes to faith is the faulty belief that God has to do whatever we tell Him to do "in Jesus' name." As if the name of Jesus is some kind of magic quarter that we can drop in the machine and press the button for what we want. Yes, Jesus did say ask whatever we will in His name, and we can expect to receive. But that one verse separated from the entirety of Scripture leads to arrogance and presumption, and false religion. We must first be abiding in Christ, and letting His words abide in us. We must also know and understand the will of the Father regarding our request, whether what we are asking is pleasing to Him. We must also have good and righteous motives in asking so that we do not ask amiss. There are governing principles in everything spiritual, and we need to learn them.

And when taking a stand in faith, we need to make sure that we have heard from God, that we remember correctly what we have been told, and that we don't add to or take away from God's word to suit our own desires. Like Abraham...God promised him descendants, property, and blessing, so that he could be a blessing to the whole world. Abraham had no problem asking God, "Did you really say thus-and-so? Did I hear you right? Would you confirm your word to me? How will I know that this is really from you?" And God wasn't offended at all that Abraham sought clarification. Rather, God continued to confirm His promise to Abraham, and Abraham continued to be strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, being fully convinced that what God had promised, He would also do.

If you hare attempting to live in faith, especially regarding a promise, be certain of what God has said. Be obedient to God's direction. And trust in God's word. He is faithful and true, and not a man that He should lie. He will not fail you and He does not change. If God has said it, you can believe it. And wait patiently to receive the promises of God.

The Nature of Faith, part 7

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief,
but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God...
Romans 4:20, NKJV

Abraham never doubted that God would fulfill His promises. This is evidenced in Genesis and emphasized in the New Testament. Abraham believed God--the Bible says so over and over again. When God showed up and said, "I'll give you a son, and a country, and descendants as uncountable as the stars, and blessings beyond measure, and I'll make you a blessing to everybody everywhere," Abraham took God at His word. He never doubted God's promises, even if he did question God's procedures.

Maybe his descendants would be through his nephew Lot, whom he brought along to Canaan as a foster son after Lot's father died. But God said, "This is not my plan."

Maybe his descendants would be made through the adoption of people born in his household, servants would become sons and thereby fulfill God's promises. But God said, "This is not my plan."

Maybe his descendants would be made through the womb of a surrogate mother, one Hagar of Egypt, and Abraham fathered a son through a concubine. But God said, "This is not my plan." Even the six sons he fathered later through Keturah were excluded from God's plan, for God said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."

People can say what they want to about Abraham, but he never doubted in unbelief. He was the father of faith, the friend of God, the man who believed God and was counted righteous because of it. He did not waver concerning the promises of God. If anything, he erred in good faith, thinking he knew how to help God out and make the promises come true.

And he strengthened himself in faith, giving glory to God.

If God has made us promises, we need to learn a lesson from Abraham and do the same. We need to strengthen ourselves in faith. We need to remind ourselves of all that God has promised, and all that God has done thus far. We need to remind ourselves that God is faithful, that He will not lie, that He does not change, that His word is absolute and it is true. We need to remind ourselves that what God has promised, that will He also do. What God has started, He will be faithful to complete in me and you. We strengthen ourselves in faith by reminding ourselves and giving testimony about it, speaking in faith even when it hasn't happened yet. We continue to pray, we continue to obey, and we continue to believe.

And through it all, we give glory to God! We praise the Lord in good times and in bad, when times are easy, and when times are sad. We praise the Lord for what He's done, and we praise Him for who He is, because He is worthy of our praise whether He has done something or not. We need to keep on trusting, and we need to keep on singing. Sooner or later, God will do as He said He would, and I better be found strong in faith and giving glory to God!

The Nature of Faith, part 6

And not being weak in faith,
he did not consider his own body, already dead
(since he was about a hundred years old),
and the deadness of Sarah's womb.
Romans 4:19, NKJV

What do you do when the promises of God say one thing, and the reality of the situation says another? This is where the rubber of our faith meets the road of God's faithfulness. I use that analogy because the road is constant. It is solid and firm, and though winding, it will get you where the map says it goes. But my faith is ever turning, and my tires aren't always consistent. They get bulges and bald spots. Right now one of the tires on my truck has a slow leak that I have to keep refilling until I take the time to have it fixed. If a tire sits in the same position too long, it gets misshapen and rots. Are there lessons to be learned there? If anything, faith needs to be active.

Take Abraham for instance. He was "about a hundred" when God showed up at the door of his tent for a conversation. Among other things they discussed, God told Abraham that Sarah was going to give him a son. The first time God said it, Abraham laughed. The second time God said it, Sarah laughed. But it is God who laughed last, for when that boy entered the world, they named him laughter. That's a good way to put another spin on your faith.

Abraham was ninety-nine, Sarah was ninety. People may have aged differently back in the patriarchal days, for they lived much longer. Sarah died at 127, Abraham at 175. I've often tried to think of it in relative terms, comparing their lifespans to ours. In other words, Abraham and Sarah were middle-aged. She had likely gone through The Change, and Abraham probably experienced some Dysfunction. They weren't young people anymore. He didn't have the toned muscular physique of his prime. She was still beautiful, but perhaps that perfect hourglass figure had broadened and softened a bit. The pitter-patter of their hearts wasn't attraction and infatuation, it was atrial fibrillation. Their hair was gray, their faces wrinkled, and let's face it, a lifetime of nomadic tent dwelling could not have been an easy one. The years had taken a toll on their bodies.

So when God showed up and said they were going to have a son, it wasn't the easiest thing to believe in. God had to repeat Himself several times and endure some mental jesting from his two chosen servants. Finally, he said, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" The obvious answer being no, that put an end to the discussion.

Abraham was a man of faith, a man who had always put feet to his prayers. When God said get up and go, he got up and went. When God said pack your bags, Abraham was ready. He did not consider the lifelessness of his own body, nor the lifelessness in Sarah's womb. I've got a sneaking suspicion that these two people, who had lived and walked by faith for a quarter-century in following God, acted upon that enduring faith regarding this promise too. After dinner that night, I'm pretty sure they had a little private alone time that we won't speculate on here.

And the wheels of faith kept on turning

The Nature of Faith, part 5

who, contrary to hope, in hope believed,

so that he became the father of many nations,

according to what was spoken,

"So shall your descendants be."

Romans 4:18, NKJV

It seems I still have this lesson to learn, that when God makes a promise, He's good for it. If God has said He'll do it, He will. If God has said it will happen, it will. If God has said you'll get it, you will. No matter what. God doesn't make promises that He can't make good on.

Take Abraham for instance. Abraham was seventy-five years old when God started making promises to him, promises about a hope and a future for him and his descendants forever. God promised Abraham a new home and country, a land that he could call his own, and He promised Abraham children and family, heirs of the promise. Those promises were repeated to Abraham over and over again through the course of the next quarter-century. At one point, God showed up and personally made a covenant with Abraham--the most sacred of ancient agreements two people could make--and demonstrated that He Himself would uphold both His end of the covenant, and Abraham's. God was swearing by Himself, and then He said, "Look at the stars and count them if you are able. So shall your descendants be."

Abraham was almost halfway through the length of his life when he received that promise from God. He was getting older, his body was starting to suffer the consequences of advancing years, and his wife was aging as well. The situation didn't look good from the start, and at seventy-six, he still wasn't a father. At eighty, he still wasn't a father. At eighty-six, he took matters into his own hands and tried out Plan B; that didn't work so well, even though he fathered Ishmael through it. But God had something different in mind for Abraham. At ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine he still had not received the fulfillment of God's promises. By then, his situation looked, to his natural eyes, impossible. "God," he said, "I'll just be satisfied with what I have. I have Ishmael, and that's good enough for me."

Let me pause here for just a minute.

Many times, we receive a promise from God and expect immediate fulfillment. We expect to see the promised blessing materialize out of thin air right before our eyes just like that (snap fingers here). And sometimes, God does things that way. He speaks, and BOOM, just like that it happens. But other times, God takes some time. He has good reason for it, I'm sure. He's getting us ready to receive. He's moving us where we need to be. He's bringing others into place. He's working on our behalf, working out all things for the good of those who love Him, who are the called according to His purpose. He's always doing stuff, even when we can't see. To us it takes along time, but God has a different perspective.

Let me put it this way. The Apostle Peter wrote that with the Lord, one thousand years is as one day, and one day as a thousand years. Now I'm not certain as to the mechanics and dynamics of that statement, but if we take it most literally, the twenty-five years that passed in Abraham's life--from seventy-five to one hundred--was about thirty-six minutes on God's watch.

Sometimes we get in a hurry. Like Abraham did at minute sixteen in the time frame of God, sometimes we get impatient and try to handle things ourselves. We get ahead of God's unfolding plan, skip steps, skim passages, going forward by leaps and bounds when God wants us to take small, cautious steps. We've got the end in mind when God is working through the journey. And every time we get ahead of God, we get an Ishmael--an ill-conceived, illegitimate, unruly product of our work instead of our faith. What's even worse is that sometimes we delight in the bastardization of God's plan and cease hoping for something better. We think we have what we wanted all along, and it is enough.

But God's plan is still in motion; God's promises are still faithful and true. He's not going to let us down, and he's not going to leave us with broken dreams or broken hearts. Abraham may have been happy with Ishmael; he may have even been happy with Hagar. And perhaps they were happy with him. But one person not happy with those circumstances was the instigator of Plan B, Abraham's wife Sarah, who thought she was helping God out by providing a surrogate. Sarah had always been part of God's plan; Hagar was not the way. And now Sarah was being excluded from fulfillment while Abraham played with inadequacy.

So when Abraham was ninety-nine years of age, and Sarah was ninety, at 34 minutes and some seconds past the hour of God's promise, God Himself shows up again, twice, and makes covenant with Abraham again. This time, though, He cuts covenant with Abraham in his manhood, instituting circumcision as the sign of covenant, forever marking what would likely have been considered the symbolic representation of Abraham's vim, vigor, and vitality. And then God says, "Sarah your wife shall have a son."

It wasn't logical for Abraham and Sarah to expect to have children. It wasn't normal. their contemporaries were likely enjoying grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were past their prime. The time for hope was gone. And yet when God spoke, reiterating the promises He had been making all along, the Bible says that Abraham, contrary to hope, in hope believed.

Sometimes that's a lesson I still need to learn.

The Nature of Faith, part 4

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace,

so that the promise might be sure to all the seed,

not only to those who are of the law,

but also those who are of the faith of Abraham,

who is the father of us all

(as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations")

in the presence of Him whom he believed--God,

who gives life to the dead

and calls those things which do not exist as though they did...

Romans 4:16-17, NKJV

Faith is belief.

It is conviction.

It is persuasion.

It is trust and hope and confidence.

Faith is not science or philosophy or politics.

Faith is not opinion.

Faith is not imagination, although some would call it a delusion.

Faith is the substance and reality of hope , the evidence and proof of things unseen.

Faith is a choice.

On a day that is not thoroughly described in Scripture, Abraham made a choice. The Bible says that Abraham heard the voice of God--a voice, we might assume, he had never heard before, belonging to a God he did not worship--that told him to leave his homeland and family and go to a land that God would show him. He was given promises of becoming a great nation, and of being infinitely blessed by both God and man, and of providing a blessing to all the people of the earth. Based apparently upon that revelation, Abraham made a choice; he chose to follow the voice.

In what did he place his faith? In whom did he trust? The Bible shows that Abraham believed in the God who created all that is, who formed the original man from the dust of the ground and fashioned that man to look like Him and to be like Him. Abraham believed in the God of his forefathers, the God that Adam knew personally, that Abel worshiped, that Seth and Enos called upon, that Enoch walked with, that Noah obeyed. How Abraham's family strayed from the true faith to become idol worshipers in Ur of the Chaldees, and how Abraham was restored to that faith, we are not told. What we are told is that Abraham heard the voice, listened to its commands, and made the choice to believe and follow.

And therefore it was accounted to him as righteousness.

But in whom did he believe, and who are we to believe today? The Apostle Paul said that Abraham believed in the One who gives life to the dead and creates by the power of His word. In other words, Abraham believed in the God who can do anything, everything, whatever He pleases.

God brought life to the deadness of Abraham's spirit when he called him from idolatry to serve the One True God and live in newness of life.

God brought life to the deadness of Abraham's and Sarah's aged bodies, enabling them to conceive. God did such a good job on Abraham, that he went on to father six more sons in his old age.

God brought life to the deadness of their hopes and dreams for an heir and a legacy, demonstrating His own faithfulness to His word and His promises, which are faithful and true.

God brought Isaac symbolically back to life when He prevented Abraham from sacrificing him and provided a ram in his stead.

And God will bring life to Abraham again when he is resurrected to walk in eternal life.

God called Abraham the possessor of Canaan, though he never owned anything more than a burial plot for his people.

God called Abraham the father of many nations before he ever fathered a son.

God called Abraham a blessing to the whole world before Abraham ever even followed the Lord!

That's the God I serve today, the God we all can believe in, the God in whom I have placed all of my hope, my confidence, my trust, the God in whom I have put all my faith. He has demonstrated His great faithfulness to me again and again, and I am persuaded that He will continue to be faithful to what He has said.