Thanksgiving in Hope (Nov 27)

So, this past week, we thought about all that we have to be thankful for as we celebrated Thanksgiving Day. Some may say that they have very little or nothing to be thankful for, but I think if we look at our lives, and all that God has done, and all that He has promised to do, we actually do have many things to be thankful for. Anyway, I was in a situation recently where I found myself thinking about some things that I could thank God for. I also, in that same situation, found some things for which I had to hope. Maybe we’re thankful for one thing, but continue to hope for another. Maybe we’re thankful for one degree of answer to prayer, but continue to hope for something more complete.

So, I would like to take the opportunity in this lesson to make two points: First, do not allow your hope for something else or something more to preclude you from giving thanks for what you have. Second, find an attitude in your heart wherewith you can give thanks for that which you only hope for. Give thanks because you know that God is faithful and your hope is well placed.

1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Heb 11:1-2, 39-40, 12:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. ... (39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. ... (12:1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1Co 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

(Careful: to be anxious about, to take thought)

Faithful (Nov 13)

We, as the church, as a body of believers, and as a family, need to come together and be faithful in prayer and love for one another, believing that God will do a great work in His time. We must remain faithful.

Col 1:3-12 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (4) Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, (5) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (6) Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: (7) As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; (8) Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. (9) For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Pro 27:18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored.

1Th 5:6-28 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (7) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (8) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (9) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (12) And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; (13) And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. (14) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (15) See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. (16) Rejoice evermore. (17) Pray without ceasing. (18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (19) Quench not the Spirit. (20) Despise not prophesyings. (21) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (22) Abstain from all appearance of evil. (23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. (25) Brethren, pray for us. (26) Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. (27) I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. (28) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Out of Contact (Nov 6)

Yesterday, I was out biking on the trail. When I go biking, I always carry the GPS on the bike. It allows me to see where I am, but it also gives me helpful information such as speed, time, and distance traveled. Also, sometimes when I’m out, I’ll use the GPS to find geocaches. While driving, I’ll use the GPS to get to the location of a trailhead, often without knowing the route ahead of time. When driving, and to some extent, while biking, accuracy doesn’t matter too much. Low accuracy while finding a cache, on the other hand, can have a bigger impact. While I was riding yesterday, I noticed that the GPS was not getting a very accurate signal. I could pass over the same section of trail and the track on the screen would show that I was 50 or 100 feet away from my track the first time through. When that happens while driving, and you’re in a city or somewhere that has multiple roads or ramps that run parallel to each other, the GPS might mark you as being on the wrong road, which may affect the directions. Like I said, I noticed quite a bit of inaccuracy yesterday. Also, while driving home, the satellite radio was cutting out a lot. Even though it was a clear day, it seems that all of my devices were out of contact with the satellites.

So, when are we out of contact with God? Like the satellites were probably up there and working fine, God is always there and always available. But, like my devices were not talking to the satellites due to whatever reason, we can often times quit praying and close our ears and eyes to God’s voice and displays of truth. At one point during my ride, I rode through an old railroad tunnel. It was short one that you could see right through, but it was long enough to lose satellite signal completely. So, in life, do we crawl into a tunnel and completely lose touch with God?

God is speaking to us and calling out to us. But if we have our ears plugged and hide from His presence, we will miss out on His blessings and the life that He has prepared for us. Like the GPS without a signal, if we lose contact with God, we will lose our way and not hear His direction for our life or His guidance in what path to take.

Fortunately, God is always there and always available. When we lose contact, it is not Him hiding. It is us hiding in a tunnel.

Psa 139:1-24 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. (2) Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (3) Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (4) For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. (5) Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (7) Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (17) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (18) If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. (19) Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. (20) For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. (21) Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? (22) I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. (23) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (24) And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.