Thanks Living vs Thanksgiving:

Thanks Living vs Thanksgiving:

A former pastor of a church I once was a member of said, “As Christians we should be engaged in Thanks Living rather than just celebrating Thanksgiving.” Those words are true.

We as Christians have a lot to be thankful for. Death has no meaning for us. None what so ever. We often forget that in today's busy, hurry up, stop do this, now do that world. With that alone we should be living each day in thanks living. The fact is, we often do not.

In 1 Corinthian, Chapter 13, we learn love is the greatest.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

1 Cor 13:13 (NLT)

It is Christ's love for each of us that He gave himself willing to save us. With that said the words, thank you just do not seem to really describe it for me.

As my walk with Christ improves daily so does my love for the lost. Especially at this time of the year. One Christmas not so long ago, my wife and I sat on a bench in the middle of the mall watching the people go by. It was sad. There was Christmas music playing. People going here and there. We watched the clerks busy ringing up purchases non-stop. Very few smiles we began to notice. It seem we were the only ones enjoying the Christmas songs playing. You see, we had no money. We would like to shop and buy gifts for our children, friends and neighbors, but we could not. God gave us a wonderful gift that night. Such peace. While others were caught up in stuff. We enjoyed the moment of what the season is supposed to be like. My wife and I are still thankful for that moment. We were the least of these and happy and thankful for it.

Have our financial status improved since then? No, but we are very thankful. The last thing we need is more stuff. How many in that mall were lost? Lost without a relationship with Christ? All of us I would say. We enjoyed the moment but share it with no one. Did we share our love of Christ with others that evening? No. So what good is it to be blessed with such a gift and not share it, if not give it away to others? That is where I stand now. Being humble is hard. Hard in a world of want. Our needs are met. We should be grateful for that alone.

Is there any thing wrong with success? No. If we pass by someone in need and have nothing to offer them but prayer. Give it to them. If we have means then we should give and help others. Often as we collect things we stop thinking of others. Money can give you opportunities. We are told to spend it wisely. To be good stewards of our money. Yet does this mean we should go to the Walmarts instead of the mom and pop stores of downtown? If we do not only the Walmarts will be left. We may pay a higher price, but at least we know it is going to them rather than some global corporation.

So what does it mean, “Thanks Living.” Great question. With today's pressures, do we really get up in the morning and praise God that we are alive? More than likely we wake and are ready to smash the alarm clock. We forget to look at the bigger picture. We see our own little world rather than the world itself. When is the last time you picked up your Bible and said, “Yes, Lord I can change the world.” The fact is, you can.

The clerk behind the counter who has seen over 200 people go through their line with not one person taking the time to read their name badge and calling them by name. That can be your first step. Give them and others a smile. It cost you nothing yet can and will make a difference in the lives of others. While in the parking lot or walking along the sidewalk, give someone a smile and say hello or good day. Get copies of the Gospel and just hand one to someone else. Just say, “Did you get one of these.” Then tell them to have a good day. If the Holy Spirit guides you then share your faith with them right there and then. I know of one man who sits in the food courtyard in the mall and reads his Bible and prays for those walking by. When you get home take time not to just roll your garbage bin back in but your neighbors as well. They will appreciate it. These are all acts of Thanks Living. Try it.

Teach, Preach and Reach.

Me and My Broken Wagon:

The day before Thanksgiving day on my way home from work my car breaks down. Not an uncommon thing. Cars break down all the time. With thousands of parts, nuts and bolts. Gears turning and the wear of the road it's something we have come to expect. When ever your car breaks down it always causes confusion and inconvenience. Especially during the holidays and cold weather. 

So I jack-up the car. Put it up on jack-stands and began to inspect for what I thought was wrong with it. Within minutes I realize this is a job beyond my abilities. That's when the frustration kicks in. Here I have a box load of tools I have gained over the past twenty years. A fairly decent knowledge of auto mechanics. Yet, there I am. Standing in front of a mountain with a shovel and a few spoons. At least that is what it feels like. I have the tools to tear it all apart, but lack the knowledge and experience to finish the job. I have only one choice. Seek help and I know it is going to cost me.

As Christians we face the same thing each day in our Christian Walk. As we read and study the Bible we gain knowledge and I pray, wisdom. We might even go beyond that. Say we attend seminary. We study. We interact with fellow Christians and professors. We write papers and dissertations. We enter into theology and doctoral issues. Really get into the spiritual meat of it.

Yet, each day we know peoples' lives are broken. With all this knowledge more often than most we still stand before others as if standing in front of a mountain with little more than a spoon in hand. We have all the tools we need. Yet, we cannot do it by ourselves.

I was recently asked, “What possibly could be the benefits of fear?” One benefit of fear is to know that we must rely on God. We must seek out help, which begins with prayer. Seeking out help will cost you. First price you will pay is pride. It's hard for a man to be beaten by a machine. A chunk of metal and plastic with wires running here and there. It's even harder for a man to step down from pride and reach up for help.

Is prayer going to fix my car? No, God has given me the first step. To pray and rely on Him. Seek help. It will cost me. God has a purpose in all this. I will let you know how it comes out.

Teach, Preach and Reach. 

Weeds in the Garden Tells Us Everything:

This evening I was sitting outside of church before evening service reading my Bible. (The Evidence Bible, compiled by Ray Comfort) Studying the question on “Why does God allow suffering in the world?” Pastor Comfort suggest studying the soil for a moment. I was outside so I did. As he had stated, “There you will find weeds.” Weeds seem to grow everywhere. Even though you pull them out by the roots they still grow back again. No one plants them. No one cares for them making sure they receive enough water. They just appear. They grow up in the cracks of sidewalks and the streets we drive on. As Brother Ray puts it, “They are a curse.” Why?

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” Gen 3:17-19 (NLT)

Did you see it? Look at the words “the ground is cursed because of you.” We over look it. I never gave it that much thought. Yet, it is the key to the problems of the world.

Pastor Comfort goes on in the lesson noting that we are constantly subject to hurricanes, earth quakes, tsunamis, tornadoes and other what we call natural disasters. According to scripture there is nothing natural about them. Sin entered the world and we and all the earth was cursed. Am I reading it wrong? I do not think so. It makes sense.

Weeds are a curse. Disasters are a curse. Diseases are a curse. Again Brother Ray points out sin and suffering cannot be separated. The Bible tells us that God cursed the Earth because of Adam's transgression. What is Sin?

….for sin is the transgression of the law 1 John 3:4 (KJV)

Therefore we should be reaching out to God instead of pointing the finger at Him accusing Him of wrong doing. Scripture tells us who the real accuser is in Job 1:6, 2:1 and in Zec 3:1 in the New Living Translation of the Bible. Check it out for yourself.

Next time you see a weed in your garden, in your lawn or growing out of the crack of a sidewalk it is a reminder of what is wrong in the world. Sin and suffering cannot be separated.