Second Chances

Friday, the first week of Advent

Today’s Reading:  Jeremiah 23:5 / Malachi 3:1 / Luke 1:57-80

When I read through the story of the birth of John the Baptist, it is easy for my heart to be suddenly filled with an overwhelming sense of excitement and expectation!  As the joyous event unfolds, we find Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives gathering about them because they realize that something special from the Lord is happening.  They are astounded when the parents of the baby snub tradition and decidedly name their child John.  Then they are even more amazed when Zechariah, who had been unable to say a word since a mysterious Divine visitation a year before, suddenly begins to speak and sing out praises to God!

The crowd that has gathered begins to ask questions wondering “What kind of child will this be?” (Luke 1:66 NKJV), and amazingly enough the Spirit of God falls upon the old priest and he begins to prophesy the answers to all their questions!  Like the song that the young virgin girl Mary had sung out many months before, Zechariah begins by blessing God and then goes into an eloquent dissertation bringing to the remembrance of all within the sound of his voice, the covenant made to Abraham hundreds of years before, which foretold of His promise for the salvation of God's people.

Then Zechariah’s attention turns to his eight day old son and he “proclaims the dignity, employment, doctrine and success of his son: and the ruin and recovery of the Jews and the Gentiles.”  (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible – Luke 1:76)  Talk about the proud Papa!  Zechariah took the first opportunity he could to begin to brag on his son and as John was to do for Jesus, he spoke out and prepared the way for the ministry of his child.

To me it is not as important as to the words that Zechariah spoke that day, but as to what actually was being exhibited in the course of the events of John’s birth.  First we see the old priest who failed miserably when given the opportunity to demonstrate his faith when the angel Gabriel appeared to him to announce what was going to happen on that day.  I am pretty positive that Zechariah must have spent many long hours delineating over what had happened, and considering how he would do it differently if he had the chance.  Well, God did give him a second chance and when the priest did not give in to the pressure of his friends and relatives and declared that their child would be named John as the angel of the Lord had stated, his tongue was instantly loosed and he was mightily used of God to announce to the world the unfolding of God’s ultimate plan for the salvation of mankind!

Then within the text of Zechariah’s prophecy, we see our heavenly Father reinstating the glory of King David’s family name, which had been trashed through the generations of unbelief and apostasy by the Jewish people.  He declared that God “has raised up a mighty Savior for us in the family of his servant David.”  (Luke 1:69 God’s Word ©)  Here another second chance is given to get back on track to the plan He had promised and had been cultivating for literally hundreds of years.

Thirdly through the ministry that He had planned for John the Baptist and was introduced through his elderly father’s prophecy on that fateful day, we see God giving His people a another second chance in order to stop the runaway train that they had been aboard and refocus their undivided attention back on Him.  And on His mercy, His faithfulness, His promises and on His ability to provide a Savior of Whom John would later declare: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2 NKJV)

Our heavenly Father is the God of the second chance!  And as He would continue to demonstrate through the lives of Peter, Paul, John Mark and countless others throughout the generations to come, He will do the same for you and me.  How exciting and how relevant that He would express this expectation of his nature to the world at the very beginning of the culmination of His plan for salvation that was planned before the world began.

Grab ahold of that excitement and expectation as you celebrate the Christmas Season this year.  Think on that wonderful time when John came into the world in preparation for the coming of Jesus.  Let the plans and purposes as well as the second chances of God permeate your understanding.  Focus your attention back onto Him.  Let go of the failures of your past and allow Him to use you mightily for Him in your future!  Have a wonderful weekend. 

I would encourage you to take some time this weekend to go and review the past week’s readings.  Then jot down your thoughts and make whatever “rearrangements” in your lives, in your thinking, or even in your words so that you might better align yourselves with His plan for you and your family!  Another good idea might be to write down those places in your life that you would like a second chance in.  Then turn them over to the Lord and look in expectation for His new opportunities!  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”

Appreciating Mary

Thursday – the first week of Advent

Today’s Reading:  Luke 1:39-56

 

In reading through the interactions between Mary and her older cousin Elizabeth when they first met following Mary’s visitation from the angel Gabriel, I was struck with a multitude of questions and thoughts about the special young girl who was called upon to give birth to our Savior.  It is obvious that this get together of the two relatives was planned and anointed by the Lord.  From the moment they met and Mary opened her mouth in greeting, the power of the Holy Ghost fell upon them both.

As the baby leaped within Elizabeth’s womb she spoke out the words that filled her heart and in a matter of a few sentences confirmed, comforted and solidified the recent life changing set of events that had been thrust upon her relative.  It was important for the young girl to be with someone who understood exactly what she must have been going through with her thoughts and emotions.

Mary was overcome with thanksgiving and joy with Elizabeth’s God given encouragement and immediately began to utter the praises and goodness of her heavenly Father.  One of her initial statements after thanking Him for finding favor with her was to announce that “From now on, all people will call me blessed.”  (Luke 1:48  God’s Word ©)  This proclamation was not one that was driven by personal pride in her unique calling but done in awe of God’s greater plan.  John Darby’s Synopsis of the Bible states that: “The marvelous intervention of God humbled her instead of lifting her up.  She saw God in that which had taken place, and not herself… God has too large a place in her thoughts in this matter to leave any room for self-importance.”

So while this statement was not spoken for personal gain, it send me off on a rabbit trail of thoughts concerning how modern day Christians appreciate Mary in her role in God’s plan for our salvation.  Having been raised as an active and devout Catholic, who joined a Baptist Church after getting married and then moved on into the Pentecostal camp, I have personally seen all spectrums of the church’s attitude toward her.  A comment I recently read concerning Mary from a book on Baptist Theology by James Leo Garrett mentions another work entitled “The Mother of Jesus: Her Problems and Her Glory” by AT Robertson. 

This text declares that “The Louisville scholar delineated the life of Mary from the Gospels, partly because the Roman Catholics have ‘deified’ her and protestants ‘have neglected her.’” This statement written in the 1920’s seems to accurately sum up the place of Mary in our understanding of the Gospel.  Though an article I read this morning from AmericanCatholic.com would disagree with Robertson's characterization of the Catholics beliefs.  (For a greater understanding of the Catholics view of Mary check out https://www.americancatholic.org/Features/customs/rosary/mary_worship.asp  It definitely changed some of my misconceptions!)  It is clear that she was special and unique in God’s eyes and held a very important position in the fulfillment of His plan. 

Mary continued on with her song by magnifying the works of His goodness toward His people in the land of Israel throughout the previous generations.  Mary had no thought of herself, but poured on the praise and honor to God.  Following this, our story relates that she remained with Elizabeth for about three months.  While I have no scripture to justify my thoughts, I can only imagine the joy and enthusiasm that must have filled their hearts as they sat down with a cup of hot tea and talked and hugged each other throughout the wee hours of that first night together.  When they finally parted, I am assured that they were both filled up with Holy Spirit, confident and ready to face the daunting tasks that were set before them.

As you prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s birth this year, I would also encourage you to meditate on our daily scriptures that tell the story of this world changing event that occurred in that tiny village in Israel a few thousand years ago.  Consider Mary and her importance in your celebration.  Think about her role, her devotion to God, and to her obedience to His calling on her life.  Maybe you’ll find some things to pattern your own life after.  Then as she did, lift up your voice and sing out your praises to our Almighty God and allow His goodness and His faithfulness to saturate you in preparation for the upcoming holiday as well as for the New Year ahead!  You might want to jot down some of your thoughts and use them as a basis for your New Year’s resolutions for 2014.  Have a great day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”

The Teenage Years

Wednesday, the first week of Advent
 
Today’s Reading:  Isaiah 7:14 / Luke 1:26-38

 

Today’s society tends to look at the teenage years as a time to fear.  To many it is looked upon as “The Rebellious Years,” or as a time of experimentation.  It is the one phase of the child rearing years that many parents dread and pray that they have the endurance to make it through with their kids.  As one who has had the honor of working closely with and ministering to youth in the local church throughout my life, as well as actively participating in the upbringing of our own four kids, I look at those experiencing life as a 12 to 18 year old with a different set of glasses!

I see these youth as older kids who suddenly find themselves in an in-between time where they are no longer children, but yet not quite adults.  Their bodies are changing, and they are beginning to have the capabilities to think about and comprehend the world and everything they have ever known with a whole new set of comprehensive and abstract tools.  Then on top of everything else, their emotions seem to be on a rollercoaster ride as they are going through their physical, mental, spiritual and emotional upheaval!  With everything happening in them, it is no surprise for me to see some of our youth dressed in black from head to toe, with hair in multicolored shades of red or blue, with a new vocabulary that seems to only include about half a dozen words, or with body piercing and/or tattoos in a wide array of locations on their bodies!

Yes, they are experimenting and testing the waters of life.  Yes, they are looking to find out who they really are and what they really believe and yes, they are testing those around them, those they love and befriend to find out just how really loved and accepted they are to them.  In my experience I have come to realize that our youth are a product of the environment that they have been raised in, and underneath it all, that they are looking for the same securities that we adults seek in our lives.

In our story today, we see the angel Gabriel coming on the scene again as he appears to a young teenage girl with a message that could turn her world upside down!  It is interesting for me to see that there is no record of her physical features or dress.  The only description that is given is that she was “a virgin” who was “highly favored.” (Luke 1:26-28)  Have you ever thought about Mary’s appearance?  What if she wore a nose ring like Rachel the revered wife of Isaac who is one of the Patriarchs of the Jewish faith?  (See Genesis 24:22)  It would seem that God only looked upon the qualities of her heart and not on the sight of how she dressed, her hair style or the jewelry she might have worn.

What we do see as our story unfolds though, is that this young girl, who was most likely between the ages of 12 – 15 years old, knew the scriptures, knew the faithfulness of her God, and was very confident and yet humble to accept and pursue whatever responsibility was given to her from Him.  When Gabriel appeared to her she was not overtaken with fear as we saw with her uncle’s experience six months previous to this event.  I believe that her reaction that caused her to be “startled by what the angel said” and her question “How can this be?” (Luke 1:29 & 34) was simply the inquisitive request of an innocent young girl wanting to know how it would happen.  She did not ask for a sign and never doubted that it was from God, or that she could handle the calling!  Her reply to the angel’s explanation was a straight forward affirmation of: “I am the Lord’s servant.  Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”  (Luke 1:38 God’s Word ©) 

Nowhere do we find any recorded thoughts of “Can I do this?  Am I good enough or able to accomplish this task?  What if I fail?” or “What will my family, friends and relatives think?” and maybe most importantly, “What will my husband to be think?”  I am positive that Mary’s home environment perfectly prepared her for her all important role in God’s plan for our salvation.  She never flinched, but jumped whole heartedly into this sudden and totally unexpected turn in her life!

Once again, how would you respond to such a dramatic turn of events in your life?  Would you have the same simple confidence, zeal and freedom to let go and let God as this young teenage girl exemplified?  This short story has many things for us to consider this Christmas season.  For instance, how we look at others and how we look at ourselves.  It implores us to examine the depth of our unyielding trust in our heavenly Father, and maybe even the difference between how God looks at teenagers compared to how we view them.  This could be an advantageous time to grab a sheet of blank paper and begin to jot down some personal notes as thoughts on these questions arise within you.  It might just be the beginnings of a whole new way you look at life’s assignments, at other people and at yourself!

Have a Super day!  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”

"Let's Rearrange That!"

Today’s Advent Calendar post is dedicated to my Dad who passed on to his place in glory last night.  As my son and I and our wife’s sat around his bed yesterday, we reminisced about many of the good times we had with him over the years.  While we talked, I thought about how much my Dad had influenced and helped to establish who I am today.  He played a major role in the arranging and many times, as today’s topic states, the rearranging of my life when I strayed off the right path!  His input came with soft but intelligent words of encouragement and occasionally when I was young, with the help of the paddle!  Most of all though, it was by his quiet and consistent example. 

He was a gentle and emotional man with a great sense of humor who deeply loved my Mom as well as my brother, sister and I.  Dad was held in great esteem by all that he touched with his life.  He also exhibited a strong sense of patience and calmness in the face of any situation that he was involved with.  That’s probably how he successfully taught at the Middle School level for over 27 years!  It is probably also where I received my love for children and youth ministry.  His legacy will be felt and carried on through the coming years by all who had the honor and pleasure of being touched by his presence! 

Let’s Rearrange That!

Tuesday, the first week of Advent

Today’s Reading:  Genesis 30:1, 22-23 / Luke 1:23-25  

There is an old western film produced by the RKO studio in 1936 starring the legend of silent and talking westerns, Harry Carey Sr.  In the film, the actor plays the part of a notorious outlaw who is just released from prison after a 35 year sentence.  He is totally out of touch with the modern world and is even more miffed when nobody remembers the tough guy that he used to be.  There are some pretty hilarious scenes with the way he reacts to the younger people’s comments to him as being an “old man!”

In the climax of the movie, he teams up with the old Sheriff who put him away many years back to help with his sharp-shooter skills with a gun, in order to roust a gang held up in a country cabin.  Throughout the gunfight scene Harry Carey’s character calmly looks at different targets on, in and around the cabin and says to the young upstart Deputy crouching next to him, “Let’s rearrange that!”  Then to the amazement and chagrin of his young “Doubting Thomas,” he aims his rifle and hits his intended bull’s-eye.  In the end he shoots off the stovepipe from the roof and forces the bad guys to surrender as they are overtaken by the smoke from the fireplace that fills the house.

The words of the comment “Let’s rearrange that” go hand in hand with today’s reading and corresponding lesson.  In our scripture we take up where Zechariah has just received a life altering message from the angel of the Lord.  Yesterday we saw a man that responded in doubt and unbelief, but today we see a man that quickly saw the error of his ways and “rearranged” his thinking, his faith and his courage!  Think about that for a moment.  Many of us would have probably felt sorry for ourselves, thrown in the towel and went home with our tails between our legs.  But not Zechariah!

This man of God, swallowed his pride, accepted his situation, and looked forward with new purpose to the job that was set before him.  The Word says that he did not drop everything and run home, but that he stayed on in order to complete his previous assignment with his temple duties for another few days and then returned to his home in the mountains to proceed with the next phase of his life.  After this the story turns to his wife Elizabeth and we get an abbreviated glimpse into the reactions of a mighty women of faith.

Our story states that Zechariah and Elizabeth were quite old at this stage in their lives and that she had been barren.  Previous to this we learned that they were accepted by God because they lived righteous before both God and man.  As members of the priestly line of Aaron they had to be very much aware of the promises of God to His people, especially that of Deuteronomy 7:14 where it was proclaimed that “You will be blessed more than any other people.  Your men and women will be able to have children, and your animals will be able to have offspring.” (God’s Word ©)

Throughout my many years in ministry I have seen countless Christians who have turned away from God because they became angry and embittered with the loss of a loved one, the inability to have a family, or because they felt that God didn’t answer a particular prayer of theirs.  They blamed God, and walked away from Him and or blamed themselves and lived the rest of their lives in defeat, fear of failure and indecision.  Zechariah and Elizabeth were not like this though!  They are shining examples of those who trust in the Lord in the midst of confusing times when you might not have all the answers.  And yes, Zechariah did exhibit a moment of weakness (which is not uncommon among those of us who face negative lifelong situations or health issues day and night, 24/7), but he saw the light, “rearranged” his faith and moved forward.

Elizabeth quickly discerned not only the miracle but also the importance of the event that had taken place in their lives.  I believe that is precisely why she spent five months in seclusion so she could be alone in the presence of the Lord, thank Him for removing what was considered a disgrace and meditate upon, as well as prepare herself for, His next assignment.

Today we have read of an older couple who learned a practical lesson in life, made some rapid “rearrangements” within themselves and stepped excitedly into their future!  How would you (or have you) handled a similar situation?  This would be a good time to consider the place and level of faith in your life.  Are you at a place where you could positively respond to a new direction, or job that God might present to you?  If not, then maybe today would present the perfect opportunity to look within and make any “rearrangements” to better align you with the path that proceeds from His loving kindness, mercy and potential plan for your life! 

Once again, this might be the perfect discussion to have around the dinner table tonight.  Have a great adventure today!  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What “REARRANGEMENTS” am I expecting to make today?”

2013 Advent Calendar

Today we begin a journey through the Christmas Story as related to us through the living Word of God.  This month long adventure combines the Old Testament prophecies with the New Testament records of the actual events as they occurred over 2000 years ago.  Our journey will take the form of an Advent Calendar that will give us daily insights, encouragement, and some ideas for activities to enhance your celebration of the birth of Christ.

If you will recall, the Advent Calendar is a special calendar that originated with the 19th century Lutheran’s in Germany and is used to count down the days until Christmas.  Each day a special event such as a reading, activity, gift or candy was unveiled to the participants.  It is a great family experience, but also can be used as a daily devotional for individuals or for small groups.  It is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  So I would encourage you to let this month’s blog postings become a part of your Holiday tradition!  Please feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences with us all throughout this Special Season!

A Puzzling Announcement – Monday, the first week of Advent

Today’s Reading:  Mark 1:1-3 / Luke 1:1-25



As I studied the first chapter in the book of Luke verses 1- 25, I was repeatedly amazed at the significance of every little detail of the interactions between Zechariah and the angel Gabriel.  It became very evident that our heavenly Father wanted to make sure that every part of His plan for our salvation was accomplished in perfect order, according to the prophecies of old. 

From His very selection of Zechariah and Elizabeth with their shared family heritage from the line of Aaron, their having His approval because they chose to live a life that “followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly” (Luke 1:6 God’s Word ©), to the specific location of the visitation in the temple in Jerusalem, as well as the particular hour that it occurred during the daily time of public prayer.  In legal investigation jargon you could say that God wanted to leave a clear and undisputable paper trail that would easily lead the Jews to the correct understanding of the importance to the event that happened on that day.

Another point to consider would be that the angel Gabriel was the same heavenly messenger that prophesied to Daniel some 500 years earlier about the coming of the Messiah.  His appearance to Zechariah was the first such visit or prophesy given to the Jews for some 400 years.  This was an earth shaking event that should have shook the very foundations of the nation of Israel… but then the human part of the equation came into play!

As a descendant of Aaron according to the division of priests from Eleazar, the eldest son of Aaron, Zechariah was most likely trained in the Holy Scriptures from his earliest childhood years.  He had to have been very knowledgeable of the prophesies regarding the coming Messiah, but when the angel appeared to him and presented his glorious message, Zechariah immediately slipped into the natural mode and could only see the impossibilities of his wife’s and his old age!  His exhibited no faith, but demanded physical proof before he would consider accepting what had just been told him.  That seemingly small oversight caused the potential of a big snag in God’s highly planned series of events that were to begin with the birth of the one who “will prepare the people for their Lord.”  (Luke 1:17 God’s Word)

Gabriel though, was a seasoned messenger and probably had a good understanding of the human disposition and quickly remedied the situation by silencing Zechariah so that his unbelief would not stop the plan of God.  His inability to clearly explain what had happened with the heavenly visitation to the people who anxiously awaited his over-extended return from the Holy of Holies outside of the temple, just added to the confusion surrounding the event and resulted in the puzzlement of the people.  The people knew that something special had occurred, but had to wait another year before they understood the true significance of the event that day.

This story makes me consider all the well laid plans that God has for yours and my life, and the many times we have stepped in trying to understand the plan from a natural point of view.  These sense based reactions have a tendency to throw a wrench into God’s directions for us.  God knows us, He knows our idiosyncrasies, our personalities, our education, our family backgrounds and our job resumes!  When He outlines something for us to do, He has already taken that all into consideration.  Zechariah was the perfect choice for this part of God’s plan for the coming of Jesus, but he looked at the natural and panicked!  God used him anyway, but I am sure that the time between the announcement of the event and the birth of their son was very difficult and emotional for the old priest.  After he had time to consider everything that had happened, I would think that Zachariah wished he had responded differently to the heavenly messenger who approached him on that fateful day while in service in the temple.

This event that occurred at the very beginning of the New Testament is a good place for each of us to take a personal look at ourselves and where we stand when it comes to our faith in the callings that God chooses for us throughout our lifetimes.  Like Zechariah, would you have a hard time looking beyond the physical state of things in the situation you faced?  Would your health, your finances, your education or what your family and friends may think be more influential to you than your personal experience and trust in God?  How would you like to live the time between the announcement of God’s plan for you and its fulfillment?  Zachariah has given us some insight, and it would probably be a good idea for us to consider it! 

This might be a good conversation starter for you and your family and friends as we begin this year’s Holiday season.  Have a great day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What Course of Action am I expecting To Take today?”

 

 

Throughout Every Generation...

I had a couple of great conversations with our two daughters yesterday.  After texting back and forth with our older daughter in North Carolina, she called me on my cell and we spoke for about an hour.  I put the call on the speakerphone so that my wife could participate in the conversation as well.  Immediately following that conversation, I bundled up my wife for a walk and was about to go out the door when the home phone rang.  Well, low and behold, it was our youngest daughter calling from Oklahoma!

My heart was warmed and my personal joy took a leap when I tapped the end button following our talk.  As I sat back in my chair at the kitchen table and contemplated the two conversations, I thought about how our kid’s current lives are the first and best fruit of Piper’s and my marriage.

This morning as I studied from Psalm 100:5, I nodded my head in agreement to my thoughts at the end of the calls with our two girls.  This concluding verse of Psalm 100 tells us that: “The Lord is good.  His mercy endures forever.  His faithfulness endures throughout all generations.” (God’s Word ©)  It is very apparent to my wife and I that the Lord’s faithfulness is being carried on into the lives of our children!

Both of our daughters have been praying about and seeking changes in their employment.  While one has been looking to grow within her field of interest, the other has been endeavoring to enter into a different and more fulfilling career path.  It has thrilled me to no end when they talk about their seeking the Lord as their initial point of contact.  To hear their excitement over the things of God is a most rewarding gift for me!

Both of them were brimming over with excitement and praises as opportunities seemed to suddenly open up for both of them.  Our oldest has already started her new promising position, while our youngest is interviewing next week for what could turn out to be a nice promotion with the potential of a bright future.

As JoAnna and I talked, I was thoroughly blessed as she told me of her love for the Word of God, for her renewed fire for their ministry calling, and of fulfilling the various dreams that have been on her heart for years.  I almost came to tears as she explained how some of her favorite times when growing up, were those spent alone with her Mom sharing life, scriptures and dreams together.  All of our children have told of how it was their Mom that put the deep love of God’s Word and trust in His faithfulness into their hearts.  Another special moment came when JoAnna thanked me for the loving, respectful and caring relationship that Piper and I always lived before our kids.  She confided to me, that she had told her husband that it was the same kind of relationship that she wants them to have.

Those two conversations yesterday afternoon perfectly demonstrated God’s Word as stated in Psalm 100:5!  He is so good to us, and as we seek Him and trust in Him, His loving kindness, mercy and faithfulness will continue to all the future generations whom we have touched.  It is also comforting to know that our efforts to follow after God and His directions for our lives are being rewarded as we look into the lives of our kids.

When my wife and I finally made it out for our walk yesterday, I mentally reviewed the conversations with our girls.  After being quiet for a while I finally told my wife with a heartfelt expression, that I am so thankful that we are not held accountable to man’s standards but only to Gods.  Not everyone in our extended families always agreed with some of the paths we have followed and attempted to get us to follow their suggestions which did not necessarily agree with what we believed to be God’s standards for our lives.  But once we knew that we knew God’s plans, we did our best to stay on His path and not deviate, no matter how strong the opposing pressure.

Now as the years have passed and our kids are off on their own, living their own lives with their spouses and families, I am glad that we stuck to our guns!  As Piper and I stopped at the lake and marveled at the colors that were reflecting from the setting sun, I had a fleeting sense of our heavenly Father putting His arms around the two of us and saying, “You done good kids!”

It was like the perfect ending to a great Thanksgiving Day.  At that moment I had the realization that not only were my wife and I and our kids thankful to God for all of His blessings and faithfulness to us over the years, but that He was also thankful for our love, trust and obedience to Him…  I bet He thinks the same thing about you as well!

Have a good Thanksgiving Weekend.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”

 

PS:  Don't Forget!  Our Christmas 2013 Advent Calendar starts Monday...

Celebrating Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:4 is a good indicator of the entire 100^th Psalm.  In this verse David tells us to,

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

 and into his courts with praise:
 be thankful unto him,
 and bless his name.” (KJV)

One of the obvious things that comes to my mind as I have been studying this Psalm is that it is all about the yielding of our full attention to God.  It is all about giving and not getting… and carries the implication that it is an enjoyable undertaking! 

 

As I pondered this in line with today’s celebration of Thanksgiving, I was drawn back to one of my favorite memories of family Thanksgivings when I was a child.  The vivid sights, sounds and smells of that special time in my Grandparents little home filled my thoughts.  I can still see the steamy windows, smell the turkey roasting in the oven, and almost feel the excitement that filled the home.  But most of all, it was my Grandmother’s smiling face as she puttered around her place of heaven on earth, that was her kitchen!

Then there was my Grandpa’s laugh and his encouraging words, and the merriment and chatter that freely flowed between all the cousins.  At that time it seemed like we had entered an enchanted world.  When you were there it was liked being saturated with happiness and the warmth of unconditional love that only our Grandparents could heap upon us!

To me, that is how it must also be in the presence of our loving heavenly Father!  That is why we can’t help but enter into His gates with hearts and lips filled with a song of thanksgiving, praise and blessing.  In His house there is life that flows abundantly!

In my thoughts this morning I also dwelt on that first New England Thanksgiving that was held in 1621.  In reality, that first Thanksgiving was a celebration of life.  As survivors of that terrible first winter, the Pilgrims were thankful for the past and hopeful for their future.  And even though they celebrated with the Indians who had helped them and with their family and friends who were left among the living, their focus was clearly on their God who had faithfully seen them though!

These individuals were survivors.  They had chosen life and had made it successfully through their first rough challenges in the new world. Their decision for life and their experience of that first dreadful winter was but fuel for the fire that burned within them.  They knew that with God, they could do anything!  (See: Philippians 4:13)

In Deuteronomy 30:19 Moses told the people, “that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” (KJV)  He told them that they had to make a decision, and then he gave them a helpful hint as to which way to choose!

As you celebrate this day of Thanksgiving, I would encourage you to decide for yourself which way you will choose this coming year.  When you choose life, you choose to enter into God’s presence… into the place where He abides.  It’s a place that I am sure is just like my Grandparent’s old home that was filled with unconditional love, where you felt safe and special and came away from feeling like you could accomplish anything!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”

PS:  Don't Forget... On Monday we start our 2013 Advent Calendar!