What Are We Thankful For?

 

Once several years ago, before our Thanksgiving meal at my parents’ house Dad asked everyone there to think of and say something they were thankful for.  For several reasons it had been a great year for the family. 

There were high school and college graduations.  My brother’s two youngest children had grown closer that year.  Their big sisters were both away at college, so Gentry and Karlie learned to depend on one another more than they ever had before. 

Most of what we mentioned either centered around meeting certain goals or being thankful for our freedoms and our family.  That is until we got to my cousin’s four-year-old daughter.  Somehow we skipped over her as we went around the room, but she was not about to be overlooked.  She spoke up in a strong clear voice and said,  “I am thankful for God!” 

Was it wrong for us to be thankful for all those other things?  No.  As a matter of fact, most of us mentioned God’s help and guidance.  But it took the youngest person there to remind us to be thankful for the Heavenly Father Himself! 

Having an attitude of gratitude is a commandment; but it is also a blessing.  Like all of God's commands, being thankful is good for us.  It adds a certain beauty and richness to our lives.  

And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.  1 Chronicles 29:13

 Christ above all things - Robin

Appaloopy!

Mom and Dad were visiting my youngest brother and his family.  That night, Shannon (my sister-in law)  was in the living room with Dad and Mom.  I think the two girls were in their bedroom and John and Will were in another part of the house. 

John sent Will to ask Shannon if he should go ahead and give Will his bath.  (He was just a little tike at the time.)  Shannon said “Absolutely!”  Will goes back to my brother.  The next thing they hear in the living room is John calling “Hey, Shannon - what does appaloopy mean?”    

To say there are no absolutes would be to deny things we know to be true.  Numbers never change.  Our multiplication tables will always be the same.  A goldfish will die when it is taken out of the water.  We cannot deny that either.

Christians believe God is the one True and Living God.  Christ is the Son of God.  The Bible is the absolute authority for  Christians.  The Holy Spirit of God gave us the Bible.  In 1 Peter 1:21 we read  “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 

 There are some absolutes which contain God’s promises.  These give us a deep and abiding hope.  They are what we hold on to.  Other absolutes are scary.  When we read them, we should heed them as warnings.  

 Luke 12:8-9 contains  both types of absolutes.  “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.  But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” 

 “Whoever” confesses Christ before others is the absolute which gives us hope.  They will be confessed before the angels of God.  The verse says “whoever” - which means anyone who does this will receive this blessing.  

 The negative absolute is that “he who” denies Christ will be denied by Christ.  It should serve as a warning.  This absolute is also all inclusive.  It involves anyone who denies the Savior. 

 Here are a few more absolute truths.  Things we can hang our hat on.                                    Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:16

 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8

 One more lovely verse – full of promise:  “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”  John 8:51

 Christ above all things – Robin

Questioning Myself

Good morning!  Please remember Sunday - the first day of the week is also the best day of the week.  It is the Lord's Day and what better way to start the day than by worshipping our Heavenly Father!

I want to apologize for not sharing a post on a more regular basis.  I plan to post more regularly from now on.  

This is a poem I wrote yesterday.  

                                                        Questioning Myself 

When I pillow my head at night

do I think back through the day?

Did I do what was wrong or what was right?

Did I follow the Savior’s light,

or did I go my own way?

Did I ever even stop to pray?

So many questions to ask myself.

Did I seek Gods kingdom first

or was it something else?

Did I read God’s word or leave it on the shelf?

For what did I hunger and thirst?

Was at my best or at my worst?

 

Did I show others the Savior’s light?

My God has done so much for me.

But I wonder as I lay here tonight

if I fought faith’s good fight?

Oh, Lord please help me to see

just what you want me to be!

 

Father, tonight it is my prayer

if You choose to give me another day,

help me to be prepared

to stand against the devil’s snare.

Let me start tomorrow with a clean slate

And God, please help me keep it that way!

 

 2 Corinthians 13:5a - Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.

 Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness thirst for for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  

 1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

He who promised is faithful.  Now that is a promise worth holding on for!!!

 Christ above all things - Robin

It Just Fits

We have SO many blessings for which to be thankful. Those blessings alone give us great cause to be cheerful. Remember how much God loves us!

Psalms 94:18-19 - When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

It Just Fits!

A couple of weeks ago our extended family celebrated its newest addition. My sweet niece Kelsie, and her husband Chase had baby # 3. Her name is Theodora Kate. We will call her Thea. She is beautiful and healthy and we are so thankful!

Sometimes names just fit … the name and the person match perfectly. That becomes a gift on its own. When Kelsie showed pictures of her new daughter on Facebook, she and I had a neat (albeit brief) exchange.

I commented that her new daughter was a sweet gift from God and that she was precious.  Kelsie told me her name means “gift from God.” Of course, I didn’t know that when I made the comment – but when she told me that, I said it was just right. So Thea means gift from God. Somehow I think this child will always be a gift from our Heavenly Father. Her name will always be the perfect fit for her!

I know another young woman whose name just fits. She and her Mom are both very dear friends of mine. They are also faithful devoted Christians whom I respect. Today was the daughter’s birthday. Now, I have known her first and middle name for a good while. But today when her mother posted a Happy Birthday wish for her – I saw it in a totally different light.

What I saw hit me like a ton of bricks and I got SO excited. Her name is Carrie Faith. I don’t know what it was that made me think about it the way I did; but seeing her name made me think about what a perfect fit Carrie’s name is for her. Carrie Faith – carries The Faith with her wherever she goes!

I sent a message to her mom and asked her if she thought about that when she named her – if she did it on purpose. She said she never thought of it that way. Though she did have in mind if they named her that, she would always be strong in her faith. Well, she is! Carrie has a strong faith rooted and ground in love.

Yes, Carrie’s name just fits her. Thea’s name is perfect for her. Still we know the most important name any of us will ever wear is not our given name. The most important name we can have is the same name for anyone who desires it to be so. It is one we choose for ourselves.

That name is Christian. It honors our Savior. If we wear it, let’s make it fit.

"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." Acts11:26c

Christ above all things - Robin

The Pawn

Good morning .. let’s rise and shine today!  Today is “National Stress Awareness Day.”  We are all under stress from time to time, so considering the day let us be conscience of our stress factors and stay as healthy as possible.  When we operate at our optimum levels, we are able to do more good for God.  And that should always be our ultimate goal.

The Pawn

I was watching a cop show on television last night and reference was made to a pawn.  The speaker called one of the other men as “just a pawn” caught in the crook’s game.  To him this person was of little consequence. 

I got to thinking about this … and it just got to me.  Granted it was a cop show, and yes I guess people say things like that on shows like that.  The guy who said it though?   Well, he was supposed to be one of the good guys.  He was supposed to be a CIA agent.  OK, so a person’s goodness is not determined by their choice of a profession. 

I guess that means not every cop is a good person.  But we already knew that didn’t we?  On the other hand, not all of them are bad people either.  It is the same way for every profession.  Not every teacher who stands in a classroom is a good teacher – or for that matter, even likes kids. But a lot of them – most of them do. 

Not every nurse or doctor is compassionate.  Not every cashier is friendly when they check a customer out at grocery store.  On the other hand, not every doctor or nurse is callous and uncaring and not every cashier will double charge their customer. 

We cannot be so quick to characterize or “cubbyhole” a person – or a profession.  And we cannot be dismissive of someone either.  I don’t know much about the game of chess.  But I know the internet said it is the piece of the smallest size and value.  When we look at others the way Jesus looks at them – everyone has a great value.  We are all precious in His eyes. 

The second definition of a pawn is “a person used by others for their own purposes.”  I’ve known people who use other people.  Unfortunately, I once watched a mother coach a daughter on exactly how to act and what to say to get what she wants from other people.  We can’t be people users.  It is not what God wants us to be. 

It is better to be kind and gentle.  It is better to put other’s first.  Many young women are very physically attractive – and that beauty carries a certain amount of power.  Women should not use their beauty as a weapon. It is much better that the outward beauty be matched by a sweet inner beauty that will glorify God.  We should never want to use anyone …  to make them a pawn. 

Everyone is important in God’s sight.  We all have souls.  God loves every soul and He absolutely never ever wants anyone to be lost.  That is why He is so rich in grace and mercy toward us.  Or should I say we are rich because of His mercy and grace? 

God is all powerful.  He doesn’t need us – not really.  But He loves us and He wants us.  That makes all the difference and isn’t amazing that God in all His power and majesty would want us?  He does though. 

God wants us to be in heaven with Him, so He made the arrangements before the foundation of the world.  His Son would be (and is) the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  The Spirit inspired the scriptures so we would know the commandments of Christ and keep them. 

It is up to us to make that choice. 

Christ above all things – Robin