Thursday, November 28, 2013

thanksgiving

Today is the traditional day set aside to come together and give thanks for our blessings and the provision we have been given. It was started by a couple of different groups of people that had varying doctrinal beliefs that came together under their common belief in Christ to escape religious tyranny that was happening in England. They came together as"Pilgrims", trying to find a new place a "promise land" where they could worship freely without interference from the government. They were met with many tragedies along the way, but pushed on under their common Thread. They came together with the so called"heathens", that helped to teach them how to survive in this new land, and they had a big party and feast to gives thanks for the harvest. They came together and shared their first fruits together and no one was left out, status didn't matter, skin color didn't matter, clothing styles didn't matter. What mattered is that they came together in unity with a common bond and a common focus, to give thanks to the Creator of all things and for the abundance He provided them.
So today is not only a day to hangout watch football and eat turkey. It is a day set aside as a memorial to give thanks to Abba for all He has provided, it is a day to be shared in unity with others expressing the heart of the Father and His love for all of us.

Colossians 2:7 "Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

because He loves

This is one of those mornings where I went to read a couple of verses and ended up reading the whole chapter. The parts where the psalmist talks about how awesome the act of creation was really spoke to me. Having a reminder of how we were created to be in relationship with Him, that was His intent from the beginning we as people are the only things that He fashioned with His own hands, then He held us in those same hands and breathed His life and Spirit I to us. Pretty stinking awesome if you ask me. It also amazes me that after so many centuries of the people He created to love and be in relationship with turn their back on Him that He continues to love and make a way for them to come back to Him. Many times I see Him more like the father in the story of the prodigal son, as he sees his son coming home, he forgets that his son basically disowned his family, he doesn't care that the stinks and is filthy . In fact he covers the filth and throws a party. This is the heart of the Father that we need to show the world.

Psalm 33:1-22 "Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You."

Monday, November 4, 2013

kids and fruit...not what you think

It's an awesome thing to see and hear about your"kids" walking out their destinies and using the gifts that Abba placed in them and realizing their identity in Him. When you can bear fruit that bears fruit there is success and His Kingdom will be added to.

3 John 1:2-4 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers. In fact, I greatly rejoiced when [some of] the brethren from time to time arrived and spoke [so highly] of the sincerity and fidelity of your life, as indeed you do live in the Truth [the whole Gospel presents]. I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living their lives in the Truth."