When I look back over the past year, I would have to say that there is so much to be Thankful for. Every single day is another gift from God to do the things that he has asked us to do. As Christians it is our job to share the infinite Love and Peace, that you receive with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I’m especially grateful that God showed me the things wrong that I had been doing, and allowed me to turn and repent from those things. In order for me to live the life that he has prepared for me, with things that are truly the desires of my heart. He created us so he knows things that we need, and want far greater than we do. 

My prayer on this Thanksgiving is that people would come to know Christ as their personal savior.  ”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Those are some heavy words right there… I once didn’t believe, but God kept me from going down a path of death and destruction. At this point I don’t know what people think when they reject Christ or the Bible. I would assume that they don’t even know they are doing it, they are just going along with life, and doing what seems natural to them. But, the fact is that what is natural to us is “Sin”, and that is what separates us from God. Every one is a sinner by default, and we have to humble ourselves before God. Allow Jesus to literally come in, and cleanse us.

Satan has done a pretty good job of keeping people out of the loop on what is really going on in the world, but it’s my obligation and the other true followers of Christ to let you all know what is really “poppin off”. When I accepted Christ it was like a feeling I had never felt before, and words will never be able to describe it. My eyes were literally opened to the way the world really is. I know a lot of Christians aren’t very good with words, and it seems like they condemn a lot of people, and this turns people away. But I implore you to get on your knees today, and ask Jesus to make himself real to you… 

So this Thanksgiving I am grateful for the gift of Eternal life that has been given to me, and for my family in Christ. I invite you to to accept Christ, and enjoy your “Free & Automatic” gift of salvation. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
   and lean not on your own understanding; 
 in all your ways submit to him, 
   and he will make your paths straight  Proverbs 3:5-6

Happy Thanksgiving! 

When you are blinded, you cannot see things as they really are, even though others around you see them clearly. You cannot experience the full reality of all that is around you. You may feel you are experiencing all that there is to life, yet you may be unaware that you are missing what God desires for you. You may even be in danger because your blindness and not know it. 

Paul warned that the “god of this age” can blind you to the reality of Jesus Christ. Christ’s presence can make a significant difference in your life. However, if Satan convinces you to doubt that Christ can do what He promised, he will have blinded you to the reality of what your life is really like and to what it could become. Others may see what your unbelief causes you to miss, but you will be unaware of it. Your life may be steadily moving toward disaster, but you will be oblivious to it. 

Christ comes to you as light (John 1:4, 5,9). He illuminates your sin so that you see its ugliness and destructiveness. He reveals Himself so that you can appreciate the glory of His person and the marvelous riches he brings. His presence lights your path so that you can see impending danger. Don’t let the god of this age distort your spiritual vision. Don’t be fooled into thinking that everything is as it should be when, in fact, you are missing out on so much that God wants to do in your life. Ask Christ to illuminate your life and let you clearly see your spiritual condition. 

In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  

2 Corinthians 4:4

“This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.” John 17:3

Knowing God through experience is radically different than knowing about God from a theology textbook. According to the Bible, you cannot say you know God unless you have experienced Him (Phil. 3:8,10). Biblical knowledge always involves experience. You may become discouraged because the truths you read about in the Bible are much richer than the reality of your own experience. 

If you have not experienced God’s  power at work in and through your life, do not settile for a secondhand knowledge of God’s power, rejoicing in what He has done in others. Jesus’ prayer was that you would come to know God and His presence in your life and experience. Don’t discount the power of God as described in Scripture simply because you have not experienced it. Bring your experience up to the standard of Scripture; never reduce Scripture to the level of your experience. Don’t settle for a head knowledge of God’s love. Jesus prayed that you would experience the depth and width and height of His love and that you would enjoy God’s full and unending love in the day-to-day experiences of your life. 

If you sense there are biblical truths that you are not experiencing, keep that truth before you and ask God to bring it into your everyday experience. Ask God if there are any adjustments you need to make in order to receive His promise. Don’t give up on the promises of God; stay with them until you are fully experiencing them. 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 KNJV

We live in the world, but we must not worship it. Our duty is to place God first and everything else second. But because we are fallible beings with imperfect faith, placing God in his rightful place is often difficult. In fact, at every turn, or so it seems, we are tempted to do otherwise. 

The 21st-century world is a noisy, distracting place filled with countless opportunities to stray from God’s will. The world seems to cry, “‘Worship me with you time, your money, your energy, and your thoughts!” But God commands otherwise: He commands us to worship Him and Him alone; everything else must be secondary. 

Pray this Prayer

Dear Lord, I am an imperfect person living in a imperfect world. Help me to ignore the temptations that seem to trip me up, and let me live a life that follows the footsteps of Your son today and forever. Amen

When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, ” The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7 

The warning of Matthew 7:1 is clear: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (KJV). Yet even the most devoted Christians may fall prey to a powerful yet subtle temptation: the temptation to judge others. But as obedient followers of Christ , we are commanded to refrain from such behavior. 

As Jesus came upon a young woman who had been condemned by the Pharisees as being a whore basically, He spoke not only to the crowd that was gathered there, but also to all generations when He warned, ” He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. (John 8:1-11) Christ’s message is clear, and it applies not only to the Pharisees of ancient times, but also to us. 

• Pray this prayer

Dear Lord, sometimes I am quick to judge others. But, You have commanded me not to judge. Keep me mindful, Father, that when I judge others, I am not doing what you have told me to do. You have forgiven me, so teach me to forgive others, let me love them, and let me help them… without judging them. Amen

Every life—including yours—is a series of successes and failures. celebrations and disappointments, joys and sorrows. Every step of the way, through every triumph and tragedy, God will stand by your side and strengthen you… if you have faith in Him. Jesus taught his disciples that if they had faith, they could move mountains. You can too. 

When you place your faith, your trust, indeed your life in the hands of Christ Jesus, you’ll be amazed at the marvelous things He can do with you and through you. So strengthen your faith through praise, through worship, through Bible study, and through prayer. And trust God’s plans. With Him, all things are possible, and he stands ready to open a world of possibilities to you…if you have faith.

“Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.” 2 Chronicles 20:20

• Pray this prayer today

Dear God, sometimes this world can be a fearful place, full of uncertainty and doubt. But You are always near and You can overcome any challenge. Give me faith, and let me remember always that Your love and Your power, I can live courageously and faithfully today and everyday. Amen