This past Thanksgiving was a blast. I had the opportunity to spend it with my wife's family from Richmond. They arrived Wednesday night/Thursday morning and didn't leave until Sunday afternoon. I am thankful not only to have married my wife, but also to be part of a wonderful family. I told my wife that since day one, they made me feel as if I was born into this family and I never felt like an outsider.
A few highlights that blessed me tremendously:
1. Most of the young men in the family have a hunger for God. That brought great joy to me, because the Word said blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
2. Saturday afternoon all of the little cousins went to see Happy Feet 2. I was overjoyed looking at them enjoy the movie. By the way, the movie was pretty good.
3. Sunday morning, we all worshiped together at my church. That was a tremendous blessing as well.
I'm looking forward to our trip to Richmond. God Bless!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Let us give thanks
As we enter the week of Thanksgiving, take an inventory of your life and give thanks. I would encourage you to give thanks to friends, family members, co-workers, employers, pastors, and elders. Don't forget about the people that serve you by collecting your trash, police officers, bus drivers, teachers, doctors, and others. Most of all give thanks to the Lord.
However, many times it's difficult to give thanks because we spend a lot of time focusing on what we don't have and don't like. If we're not careful, we can let our hearts become more ungrateful than thankful.
Webster defines ungrateful as showing no gratitude.
Today my Pastor Billy Johnson encouraged us to give thanks from 1 Thessalonians 5:18. When I reflected on my level of gratitude, I haven't been thankful. I might be thankful, but my failure to express my gratitude, is still showing no gratitude. However, how beautiful it is to hear the words thank you. Think about it, when you take the time to say thank you and express gratitude, it leaves your heart in a wonderful place.
This week thank the Lord for giving you life. Thank Him for being humiliated for you. Thank Him for being spit on and punched in the face for you. Thank Him for being mocked for you. Thank Him for being pierced in His side for you. Thank Him for wearing a crown of thorns for you. Thank Him for being crushed by God the Father for you. Thank Him for being crucified for you. Thank Him for standing before God the Father as if He was sinful for You. Thank Him for dying in your place. Thank Him for coming back to life for you. Thank Him for giving you salvation.
Because in our life we have all spit in God's face with our sinful lifestyles, we've mocked him, we've pierced Him with our complaining, if given the opportunity we would have pressed the crown of thorns harder on His head and caused Him more pain. Yet Romans 5:6 says "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." You and I have all lived ungodly lives, and if you are a Christian and you intentionally sin before God, you grieve Him more than the unbeliever.
Brothers and sisters, give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
However, many times it's difficult to give thanks because we spend a lot of time focusing on what we don't have and don't like. If we're not careful, we can let our hearts become more ungrateful than thankful.
Webster defines ungrateful as showing no gratitude.
Today my Pastor Billy Johnson encouraged us to give thanks from 1 Thessalonians 5:18. When I reflected on my level of gratitude, I haven't been thankful. I might be thankful, but my failure to express my gratitude, is still showing no gratitude. However, how beautiful it is to hear the words thank you. Think about it, when you take the time to say thank you and express gratitude, it leaves your heart in a wonderful place.
This week thank the Lord for giving you life. Thank Him for being humiliated for you. Thank Him for being spit on and punched in the face for you. Thank Him for being mocked for you. Thank Him for being pierced in His side for you. Thank Him for wearing a crown of thorns for you. Thank Him for being crushed by God the Father for you. Thank Him for being crucified for you. Thank Him for standing before God the Father as if He was sinful for You. Thank Him for dying in your place. Thank Him for coming back to life for you. Thank Him for giving you salvation.
Because in our life we have all spit in God's face with our sinful lifestyles, we've mocked him, we've pierced Him with our complaining, if given the opportunity we would have pressed the crown of thorns harder on His head and caused Him more pain. Yet Romans 5:6 says "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." You and I have all lived ungodly lives, and if you are a Christian and you intentionally sin before God, you grieve Him more than the unbeliever.
Brothers and sisters, give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Fear of the Lord
You may have heard of the phrase "the fear of the Lord". Are we to be scared of the Lord? What does this fear looks like?
The Bible has a few verses that can give us some insight.
What is the fear of the Lord?
Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.
Proverbs 9:10- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Summary: The fear of the LORD is to hate evil, it's a fountain of life, it's the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.
What are the benefits of fearing the Lord?
Proverbs 10:19 - The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.
The Bible has a few verses that can give us some insight.
What is the fear of the Lord?
Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.
Proverbs 9:10- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Summary: The fear of the LORD is to hate evil, it's a fountain of life, it's the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.
What are the benefits of fearing the Lord?
Proverbs 10:19 - The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Proverbs 19:23 - The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
Proverbs 14:23 - In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.
Psalm 128:1 - How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.
Summary: The benefits of fearing the LORD is prolonged life, satisfying sleep, strong confidence, and being blessed by the Lord.
What are the consequences of not fearing the Lord?
We can see the warning in the verses above: Your life will be shortened, sleepless nights, lack of godly confidence, and a lack of wisdom.
Brothers and sister, I hope that you would grow in the fear of the Lord.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)