Gratitude Really Does Change Everything

Today’s Truth

“Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).

Friend to Friend

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and so I’ve been thinking about gratitude a lot lately. What is it? When should we show it? What does God say about it?

Paul wrote the Thessalonians, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Most read that verse and think it rather nice. So we slap a sloppy coat of thanksgiving on life and go about our day. In reality, most of us are thankful for very little.

Notice the Bible doesn’t command us to feel thankful in all circumstances. Instead it commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” When I begin to praise God in a difficult situation, even if I don’t feel like it, many times the scales fall from my eyes and I begin to see glimpses of His glory sprinkled on the black backdrop of the situation like diamonds on black velvet.

Sometimes I don’t see glory in tragedy, but I still can praise God because I know He is there.

Gratitude changes the lens through which we see the circumstances in our little slice of time. Thanksgiving changes our perspective despite broken dreams, broken relationships, tumultuous circumstances, and unfulfilled longings.

As you praise God for who He is and thank Him for what He’s done, your perspective of Him grows larger and your problems grow smaller. As a result, you will experience a deeper sense of intimacy with God as the emotional gap between what you know to be true and how you feel at the moment closes.

Safety from the Storms of Life

In the past month, we in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee have had to deal with some historic hurricanes, catastrophic flooding, wind damage, power outages and nightmares come true. People have lost homes, businesses, family members, pets, and irreplaceable, precious possessions. Between Milton and Helene alone, it’s been devastating. Yet, through it all, those good people of faith in Christ have been courageously united with their prayers and firm belief that ‘no matter what’ God will definitely see us through. And, guess what; He IS! Countless, miraculous rescue stories are pouring in from all directions highlighting what the Psalmist said, “God is my refuge and strong tower.”

No matter where we may live or how secure we may feel, unless “God is our refuge” we are on shaky ground, at best. Is God your refuge? Is He your strong tower? Hurricanes or not, we all have to reckon with storms in life, sooner or later, of varying degrees, some may be absolutely overwhelming. The question is; what or who is our refuge when they hit?

My friend, God loves you and wants to invite you to step up into a life of deeper purpose, a life with new meaning. He has the best plan for your life. But, there’s no way you will ever discover it unless you make Jesus your refuge and strong tower. In Him, your soul will truly find the inner satisfaction and soul safety it deeply yearns for.

We live in world today of increasing fears, threats and enemies. People everywhere are worried about tomorrow. They are desperately trying anything to find ‘shelter from the storm’ in drugs, sex experiences, relationships, money, materialism, exotic travels, achievements, the bottle. Like the Rolling Stones used to sing, “Gimme Shelter.” If you want real, lasting shelter, your Heavenly Father is ready, willing and able to do that for you. His shelter is eternal. It is secure. It is trustworthy. It is in Him and it leads to that celestial refuge the Bible calls, “Heaven.” But, not everyone can go there; only those who are willing to make Him their refuge in the here and now. The Scriptures teach that religion is not enough, good works are admirable, but not enough either. Hoping for the best, being sincere, and trying to be a good person are all noteworthy, but they are still not the refuge God offers you now. Christ can be your refuge from this point onward, you don’t need to try and ‘clean up your act’ first. Make Him your refuge and let Him clean it up for you!

So, what are you waiting for? If you have unanswered spiritual questions that have been bugging you for years, good news! Turn your life over to Christ now and He will help you find those answers you’re looking for. Know this for sure, it’s not an accident or mere coincidence that you are reading this post now. God has directed you here for a life-changing, personal encounter with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. When God becomes your refuge, He becomes personal to you. You begin the relationship with Him He has created you for. This is your moment and your hour.

If you feel your heart tugged on deep inside, pray this prayer with me, “Dear God, I want You to be my refuge and strong tower. I believe Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again on the third day. By faith, I invite Him into my heart and life now. I turn from my own self-made refuges and take my refuge completely in Christ. In His name I pray, Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, please find a local church, as soon as possible, where you can be a vital part of. Share your new decision for Christ with the Pastor. They will help you grow in your new walk and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as you get into His Word. If you have any questions, email our office at the email on this website. May God bless you richly as you take refuge in Jesus and make Him your strong tower today!

Shine On!

Edward Stea writes, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12) John calls Him “the life that is the light of men,” “the light that shines in the darkness” (John 1:4-5). The light in us is His light, the indwelling Christ, the Holy Spirit within us. The apostle Paul speaks of “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). We have that light shining through our lives if our actions reflect the nature of Christ—His love, compassion, and forgiveness. His light shines through our attitudes, words, and deeds. When people see that our lives have been changed so that we have Jesus’ values and see the power of God at work in us, they will agree that we do have a great Savior. When they see redeemed people, they are more inclined to believe that we have a Redeemer. The Christlike life is the platform on which individual testimony becomes convincing.

The German atheist philosopher Nietzsche once said that if he saw more redeemed people he might be more inclined to believe in their Redeemer. Christians who do not have changed lives have a credibility gap. What good does it do to tell people how great our Savior is if they cannot see that we ourselves have been saved from sin? The Christlike life is the platform on which individual testimony becomes convincing.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

A scoffer who was as empty of truth as he was full of bluff derisively remarked, “Religion is all moonshine.” Unwittingly, he came close to uttering a remarkable similitude. The moon and Christians have much in common! What the one is to the physical world the other is to the spiritual. The moon shines with reflected light. It has no light in itself. It shines with the reflected light of the sun. So disciples (born-again believers) reflect the light of Christ. Apart from Him, we have no light to give. We can only give light as we forget ourselves in reflecting Christ….

So, the BIG question now is this, “How much Light are you allowing God’s Spirit to shine through your life? Is the mirror of your soul clear enough for others to see Christ in you, the hope of glory?” The less of me, the more of Him. How does this happen? Asking God to ‘shine His light’ to show you where our lives are hindering the reflection of the glory of Christ. Seeking God’s face in His Word daily by prayer and Scripture meditation. In a word, getting so real and serious with God that we surrender ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. We cannot reflect the light of Christ with our own efforts, try as we may. Only the supernatural Spirit of God can do that. The less of me, the MORE of Him! That’s where the JOY, the peace, the purpose and the power of real living is, in a surrendered life to Christ as Lord! God bless you with a greater revelation of Himself in Christ to you as you open your heart to His grace, His glory and His presence.

Every Great Ship is Tested on Rough Waters

The great actor Keanu Reeves reflects a biblical teaching whether he realizes it or not. Oftentimes, Christian believers will wonder, worry or wince at the “whys” of life; why did God allow this or that trial to come into my life? Why did God allow this lingering illness, this pain, this divorce, this hardship? Why did God allow my children to suffer so? Why didn’t stop my best friend from lying and hurting me? Why? Why? Why?

Interestingly, Job of the Old Testament asked those same questions. Yet, in the end, we see where God blessed him and restored his loses 10-fold! Perhaps not in this life, but someday our loving Father God will do the same for us. Christ-followers, for the past 2000 years have faced every kind of struggle, danger, persecution, trial and tribulation you can possibly imagine, and some you can’t. But, there is one thing that we can always count on, no matter what; the overcoming grace of God to help us meet every challenge that comes our way.

To be precise, God not only allows but sovereignly chooses to use the trials of life to make us into the people He has destined us to be. The Scriptures clearly teach this fact over and over again in the lives of most of it’s characters. This is why the apostle Paul proclaimed, “When I am weak, I am strong and I boast of my weaknesses that the power of Christ may rest on me.” What did he mean? He meant, life challenges have a special way of humbling ourselves, making us less self-dependent and more God-dependent for our strength and endurance. God in His mercy, love, plan and power takes these things we would never choose for ourselves and uses them to build the Christlike character He planned for each of the elect even before the foundation of the world. Yes, when we are down to nothing, God is always up to something!

So, as Keanu Reeves so aptly said, “Be thankful for the hard times, they only make you stronger” he was spot on, but especially for the Christ-follower today. No matter where you are now, no matter what you are facing, keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ not your circumstances! Be determined to learn through the teachers of trial. Sooner than you realize, you will be stronger, wiser and a better person for choosing the better path; the way of the Lord.

A Big ‘IF’

C.S. Lewis, the great Oxford scholar and famous writer of many classics such as the Narnia series (turned into movies) was a contemporary good friend of J.R.R. Tolkien (author of The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings). Lewis had a unique way of mincing no words and cutting to the chase his lucid thoughts on paper like no other writer of the 20th Century. Upon deeper reflection, his statement here is case in point. The whole issue of Christianity is frankly a crystal clear matter regardless of the modern day hoopla that seeks to cloudy the waters of responsible thinking. If the Bible is nothing but a glorified book of ancient religious fables, then it has absolutely little importance to us today. In other words, ‘no big deal.’ Many people presume this in a rather carefree if not careless existence. HOWEVER, if it is TRUE, then no other Book in the very history of mankind is more significant for us, even today in our fast-paced, technological world. Yet, one thing all must agree with; it can never be ‘moderately important’ and to casually see it in that manner is nothing less than trifling with one’s own eternal soul and destiny of which our whole lives are connected to in the ‘here and now.’ Food for thought. Pass the salt please.

God is Able!

Regardless of your need, God is MORE than able to meet it. You need a job? God is able. You need healing? God is able. You need a better relationship with your husband or wife? God is able. You need a spouse? God is able. Whatever your need may be, know this, GOD is Able! In fact, He is MORE than able. Draw near to Christ the Lord in prayer. Seek His face daily. Surrender your all to Him. He desires more than just meet your need, He desires a personal, close, daily relationship with you, one that is blessed and is a blessing to others as a witness of His power and grace and love in Christ our Savior! God is able!