Then Solomon determined to build a temple for the name of the Lord, and a royal house for himself.
2 Chronicles 2:1
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Today as I read this verse talking about Solomon, and the fact that he determined to build a temple for the name of the Lord, it made me stop and think about something that you and I might take for granted. That something is? God's presence. God's presence and the fact that He is available in our lives every moment of every day!
The above verse tells us that Solomon, who is famous for his wisdom concerning his response to God determined that it was necessary to build a temple for God's name and therefore a place for His presence to abide. He knew how important it was to have a place to meet with God and he determined to make a place where God could be praised, worshiped, and blessed.
As I read this verse and saw the word 'determined' in relation to Solomon's desire and its purpose to give God a place to dwell it caused me to wonder about us today. It caused me to think about all the work and all the preparations and the cost that was involved for this to happen in Solomon's day. Then it brought to mind this verse in Matthew 6:19-21 were Jesus was teaching His disciples. ...Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Solomon's heart was to have a place to be in the presence of God. He threw every resource he had to that endeavor. So what about us today? Do we treasure the presence of the living God enough to NOT just give Him the place that He deserves BUT to actually treasure it? Do we treasure the sacrifice that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit made to make His presence available to us 24/7? They made it possible for us to be in His presence every moment of every day! They made all the preparations. They provided the cost necessary to give us way to treasure meeting with Him. Do we take His presence for granted? Do we spend more time throughout our day ignoring Him than we do appreciating Him? Do we treasure the gift of His presence in our decisions and actions and throughout our day or do let the activities, trials, and temptations destroy and or steal His presence as the treasure of our hearts? Are we as determined as the guy who is famous for his wisdom to meet with the living God? Do we make sure to treasure Him throughout our day or do we take Him for granted?
Can it be said, "That we are a generation that is determined to meet with Him?" Are we the generation that Psalm 24:6 is talking about? ...This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah
Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the true treasures from heaven. And the thought of the day ... Is time in their presence the treasure of our hearts?
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
When Morning Dawns...
What was he doing here?
He was exhausted. He had toiled all night, and he had been blissfully close to being finished with cleaning his fishing net. Why he was sitting here, listening to this man talk, he wasn't quit sure.
But the sound of his voice wasn't making him sleepy, so that worked in the man's advantage.
The man had just hoped into his boat, and asked him to push out a little from the land. Push out? Alright then.
Peter had done just what he, uh, Jesus, had said.
Jesus turned to him, and Peter sat up straight. The long night was taking a toll on him, but everything Jesus was saying was...well, interesting actually. Really interesting.
"Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
Peter blinked once. Then twice. Maybe the lack of sleep had muddled his hearing? He waited to see if Jesus would elaborate, but all Jesus did was tilt his head toward the deep.
"Master, we toiled all night, and we caught nothing!" Peter coughed. "But at your word, I will let down the nets." What was he saying? What was wrong with him?
Peter pursed his lips together, and started rowing the boat out into the deep. Jesus smiled at him slightly. It wasn't condescending, or nervous. It was the kind of smile that pulls at someone's heart, and makes them think, "They understand me. They know me. They care for me."
"I don't understand...." The words rolled off his tongue.
"You will." Again, it wasn't mean or judging. It was knowing.
Peter laid his paddle down, slowly stood up, and carefully dropped the net into the water. He looked over his shoulder at Jesus, wanting to know what Jesus was going to say about that.
What was he doing here?
Peter's head swiveled back to the net at the sound of it scrapping against the rough wooded side. The net had started tugging, and was being yanked back and forth. Peter leaped forward, and grasped the edge of the net just before it disappeared over the side of the boat. He braced his knees against the side of the boat, and intertwined his fingers into the net. He was holding on for dear life!
He looked over his shoulder at Jesus. He was laughing and smiling, and reached over to help Peter hold onto the net. His laughter continued to dance across the water towards the people. "You're going to want to call for more help!"
Based on Luke 5:1-6
Really put yourself in Peter's shoes right now. Imagine it. You are dead bone exhausted. Your
feet hurt, and your back feels like someone beat you with a nine-iron golf club. Everything around you feels kind of fuzzy because you are just that tired. Then some man, whom you've never seen before, walks up, hops into your boat, and instructs you to push out from shore.
Um, okay?
Then he tells you to go to the deep, let down that net, and prepare for the catch of a life.
Right...
He had been out all night. He knew there was nothing out there. He was tired and done.
And that's when Jesus showed up to change everything.
One of my favorite verses of all time is Psalm 46:5
"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns."
When morning dawns...
For Peter, it was morning. It was the start of a new day, and that's when Jesus showed up and said, "Let down your net." Most of the time, we give up while it is still night. While it is still dark, and the fish are not nibbling, and our backs hurt from sitting all funny and hunched. If we give up now, then when morning breaks, and God says it's time, we will have already gone home. We would say, "No. I'm done, Lord. Send somebody else."
Peter even tried to tell Jesus that it was a dumb idea. He said. "Master, we toiled all night, and we caught nothing!" If in Peter's sandals, would we have said this, "But at your word, I will let down the nets."? Despite what Peter knew to be true, he listened to Jesus. This was the first encounter he had with Jesus, and the first of many strange things Jesus would ask him to do.
But he did them.
You need to know that morning is coming, and when it does, God's going to be there, and he's going to tell you to drop your net. However you may feel now, you need to know that is coming. What will you say? Will you give up because the night was long and cold? Or will you trust what He's saying? Will you let down your net for the catch? Perhaps you've already given up and left. We want signs and reassurance before we are willing to continue, but Peter did what Jesus asked of him despite his own doubts. The world changed because Peter was willing to do as Jesus asked without any proof it would work. What about us?
All the assurance you will ever need, is right here.
"God is in the midst of her (him, you, me); she (him, you, me) will not be moved; God will help her (him, you, me) when morning dawns." Psalm 46:5
Despite it all, wait it out, and let down your net. Because He's here, and His help is coming.
V. Joy Palmer
He was exhausted. He had toiled all night, and he had been blissfully close to being finished with cleaning his fishing net. Why he was sitting here, listening to this man talk, he wasn't quit sure.
But the sound of his voice wasn't making him sleepy, so that worked in the man's advantage.
The man had just hoped into his boat, and asked him to push out a little from the land. Push out? Alright then.
Peter had done just what he, uh, Jesus, had said.
Jesus turned to him, and Peter sat up straight. The long night was taking a toll on him, but everything Jesus was saying was...well, interesting actually. Really interesting.
"Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
Peter blinked once. Then twice. Maybe the lack of sleep had muddled his hearing? He waited to see if Jesus would elaborate, but all Jesus did was tilt his head toward the deep.
"Master, we toiled all night, and we caught nothing!" Peter coughed. "But at your word, I will let down the nets." What was he saying? What was wrong with him?
Peter pursed his lips together, and started rowing the boat out into the deep. Jesus smiled at him slightly. It wasn't condescending, or nervous. It was the kind of smile that pulls at someone's heart, and makes them think, "They understand me. They know me. They care for me."
"I don't understand...." The words rolled off his tongue.
"You will." Again, it wasn't mean or judging. It was knowing.
Peter laid his paddle down, slowly stood up, and carefully dropped the net into the water. He looked over his shoulder at Jesus, wanting to know what Jesus was going to say about that.
What was he doing here?
Peter's head swiveled back to the net at the sound of it scrapping against the rough wooded side. The net had started tugging, and was being yanked back and forth. Peter leaped forward, and grasped the edge of the net just before it disappeared over the side of the boat. He braced his knees against the side of the boat, and intertwined his fingers into the net. He was holding on for dear life!
He looked over his shoulder at Jesus. He was laughing and smiling, and reached over to help Peter hold onto the net. His laughter continued to dance across the water towards the people. "You're going to want to call for more help!"
Based on Luke 5:1-6
Really put yourself in Peter's shoes right now. Imagine it. You are dead bone exhausted. Your
feet hurt, and your back feels like someone beat you with a nine-iron golf club. Everything around you feels kind of fuzzy because you are just that tired. Then some man, whom you've never seen before, walks up, hops into your boat, and instructs you to push out from shore.
Um, okay?
Then he tells you to go to the deep, let down that net, and prepare for the catch of a life.
Right...
He had been out all night. He knew there was nothing out there. He was tired and done.
And that's when Jesus showed up to change everything.
One of my favorite verses of all time is Psalm 46:5
"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns."
When morning dawns...
For Peter, it was morning. It was the start of a new day, and that's when Jesus showed up and said, "Let down your net." Most of the time, we give up while it is still night. While it is still dark, and the fish are not nibbling, and our backs hurt from sitting all funny and hunched. If we give up now, then when morning breaks, and God says it's time, we will have already gone home. We would say, "No. I'm done, Lord. Send somebody else."
Peter even tried to tell Jesus that it was a dumb idea. He said. "Master, we toiled all night, and we caught nothing!" If in Peter's sandals, would we have said this, "But at your word, I will let down the nets."? Despite what Peter knew to be true, he listened to Jesus. This was the first encounter he had with Jesus, and the first of many strange things Jesus would ask him to do.
But he did them.
You need to know that morning is coming, and when it does, God's going to be there, and he's going to tell you to drop your net. However you may feel now, you need to know that is coming. What will you say? Will you give up because the night was long and cold? Or will you trust what He's saying? Will you let down your net for the catch? Perhaps you've already given up and left. We want signs and reassurance before we are willing to continue, but Peter did what Jesus asked of him despite his own doubts. The world changed because Peter was willing to do as Jesus asked without any proof it would work. What about us?
All the assurance you will ever need, is right here.
"God is in the midst of her (him, you, me); she (him, you, me) will not be moved; God will help her (him, you, me) when morning dawns." Psalm 46:5
Despite it all, wait it out, and let down your net. Because He's here, and His help is coming.
V. Joy Palmer
Monday, December 1, 2014
"Amazing Grace"
Grace - Kindness; Unmerited Favor! Isn't it amazing how some respond to the grace of God at work in their lives and others don't?
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Matthew 7:13
Sunday, November 30, 2014
"Bread of Life"
Jesus took bread, blessed it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Mark 14:22-24
Lord, the only words that come, are ...Thank you! With all my heart ... Thank you! Thank You for Your body that was broken and Your blood that was shed. Thank You for being our bread of life!
God Bless!!!
Staff of Snack Time devotions
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Next Thanksgiving...
This week, we have heard time and again to be thankful for the things that we have in our lives. There is no other time like this in any other part of the year. Celebrities come out of the woodwork to remind us of all the things that we have to be thankful for.
Most of us are thankful at this time of year. It's the holidays. We remember our family and friends. We get together just to spend time with one another.
But in the midst of this wonderful time of year, I would like us all to take a moment. Think about the ways that God has worked in our lives since last year. Then, think about all the things that you want to be thankful to God for NEXT year.
I'm not saying to write a wish list, like "I want to win the lottery". Make a list of the truly important things that you want to see happen in the next year, like an expansion in your ministry, or maybe a new job. Maybe you want to add a new family member, or see your spouse's lifelong goal be realized.
These are all examples from my own life, things that I truly want.
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and he will help you." Psalms 37:4,5
If the things that you see on your list are things that truly weigh heavily on your heart, it is time to commit them to Him. I'm not saying that overnight these things are going to happen, and sometimes we don't get the things that we want right now. But if it is something that you fervently desire, the absolute best thing that we can do is to give it to God and to let Him take it. I have given my hopes and desires to Him, and He has given them back, refined and better than I thought possible.
If you truly are a follower of Christ, then it's time we start acting like it.
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1
Do you have the faith that He can do these things for you?
Sam
Most of us are thankful at this time of year. It's the holidays. We remember our family and friends. We get together just to spend time with one another.
But in the midst of this wonderful time of year, I would like us all to take a moment. Think about the ways that God has worked in our lives since last year. Then, think about all the things that you want to be thankful to God for NEXT year.
I'm not saying to write a wish list, like "I want to win the lottery". Make a list of the truly important things that you want to see happen in the next year, like an expansion in your ministry, or maybe a new job. Maybe you want to add a new family member, or see your spouse's lifelong goal be realized.
These are all examples from my own life, things that I truly want.
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and he will help you." Psalms 37:4,5
If the things that you see on your list are things that truly weigh heavily on your heart, it is time to commit them to Him. I'm not saying that overnight these things are going to happen, and sometimes we don't get the things that we want right now. But if it is something that you fervently desire, the absolute best thing that we can do is to give it to God and to let Him take it. I have given my hopes and desires to Him, and He has given them back, refined and better than I thought possible.
If you truly are a follower of Christ, then it's time we start acting like it.
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1
Do you have the faith that He can do these things for you?
Sam
Friday, November 28, 2014
"The Valley Of Elah" Part 4
"Then he took his staff in
his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook,
and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling
was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. So the Philistine
came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield
went before him." 1 Samuel 17:40-41
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Today, in part four we are going to look at the second clue that shows that David knew that God was going to show Himself strong. In part three we looked at the five smooth stones as the first clue these two verses contained and the second comes in what is stated next. I think it is important to note for that very reason. It is what he does next. He doesn't wait! He chooses his weapon and he simply goes. The next words say, ...and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him."
He picked out his stones, put them in his pouch, and with his sling in one hand and his staff in the other he went down into the valley to take the giant on. Stop and think for a moment, In verse 16 it says, "And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening." Morning and evening he would come out and issue his challenge. Not all day long. Morning and evening. He didn't stand there all day in the heat in his armor. Morning and evening he would come out. The Bible tells us that David took Saul's armor off, went, got his stones, and then, then he went down to drawn near to the Philistine. He went down and waited for the Philistine to come. He wasn't just answering the challenge at this point he was making it!
David went and drew near first and then it says, so the Philistine came, and as he drew near he got a good look at who had come down. He got close enough to see who dared to challenge him. 'then he started drawing near to David,...And when the Philistine looked about and saw David he disdained him for he was but a youth, ruddy and good looking." verse 42 This was any other day for Goliath. He didn't know when he made his morning challenge that there was a new arrival in the Israel's camp that had heard it. He didn't know that this day was different and someone was going to respond. For forty days he had challenged and for forty days no one responded. He wasn't hanging out waiting. That is why it makes a point of saying 'So the Philistine came' and then it talks about him drawing near to David. First he had to come back out. He was sent for because someone had come down into the valley from Israel's camp. Someone had answered the challenge. Someone was in the Valley of Elah waiting and as he drew near he realized that he had come back out to fight a boy with a staff in his hand. It says that he was angry because of it and 'disdained him.' If he had been in the valley waiting and watching David come down he would have seen all that and wouldn't have had to drawn near before he knew.
David went down to take the battle to the one who would defy His God. He didn't wait for Goliath's next scheduled challenge. He didn't wait and allow him another opportunity to spread fear or to defy God. He went on the offense! No hesitation. No waiting for the enemies next move. He picked his weapon and then with his confidence inas God to deliver he immediately stepped out in the strength of His God, or in this case down into the Valley of Elah.
What about you and I? Do we understand that the battle is the Lord's? Do we go on the offensive to prevent the enemy from doing harm. Do we even know what our weapons are? Do we understand that just because the enemy puts on a good show of strength for forty days, morning and night, that it doesn't mean he can't be defeated? Are we on the defense because we see the enemies strength or are we like David? Do we go on the offense because we know the strength of our God?
"... and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:18-19
Remember the Valley of Elah and what happened there! The battle is the Lord's and He alone is our deliver. Trust Him!
-----------------------------------------------------
Today, in part four we are going to look at the second clue that shows that David knew that God was going to show Himself strong. In part three we looked at the five smooth stones as the first clue these two verses contained and the second comes in what is stated next. I think it is important to note for that very reason. It is what he does next. He doesn't wait! He chooses his weapon and he simply goes. The next words say, ...and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him."
He picked out his stones, put them in his pouch, and with his sling in one hand and his staff in the other he went down into the valley to take the giant on. Stop and think for a moment, In verse 16 it says, "And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening." Morning and evening he would come out and issue his challenge. Not all day long. Morning and evening. He didn't stand there all day in the heat in his armor. Morning and evening he would come out. The Bible tells us that David took Saul's armor off, went, got his stones, and then, then he went down to drawn near to the Philistine. He went down and waited for the Philistine to come. He wasn't just answering the challenge at this point he was making it!
David went and drew near first and then it says, so the Philistine came, and as he drew near he got a good look at who had come down. He got close enough to see who dared to challenge him. 'then he started drawing near to David,...And when the Philistine looked about and saw David he disdained him for he was but a youth, ruddy and good looking." verse 42 This was any other day for Goliath. He didn't know when he made his morning challenge that there was a new arrival in the Israel's camp that had heard it. He didn't know that this day was different and someone was going to respond. For forty days he had challenged and for forty days no one responded. He wasn't hanging out waiting. That is why it makes a point of saying 'So the Philistine came' and then it talks about him drawing near to David. First he had to come back out. He was sent for because someone had come down into the valley from Israel's camp. Someone had answered the challenge. Someone was in the Valley of Elah waiting and as he drew near he realized that he had come back out to fight a boy with a staff in his hand. It says that he was angry because of it and 'disdained him.' If he had been in the valley waiting and watching David come down he would have seen all that and wouldn't have had to drawn near before he knew.
David went down to take the battle to the one who would defy His God. He didn't wait for Goliath's next scheduled challenge. He didn't wait and allow him another opportunity to spread fear or to defy God. He went on the offense! No hesitation. No waiting for the enemies next move. He picked his weapon and then with his confidence inas God to deliver he immediately stepped out in the strength of His God, or in this case down into the Valley of Elah.
What about you and I? Do we understand that the battle is the Lord's? Do we go on the offensive to prevent the enemy from doing harm. Do we even know what our weapons are? Do we understand that just because the enemy puts on a good show of strength for forty days, morning and night, that it doesn't mean he can't be defeated? Are we on the defense because we see the enemies strength or are we like David? Do we go on the offense because we know the strength of our God?
"... and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:18-19
Remember the Valley of Elah and what happened there! The battle is the Lord's and He alone is our deliver. Trust Him!
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Thank You!
He was running.
Back to Jesus.
"Hallelujah!" He jumped over a bush and darted around a rock. "Praise God!"
A young child innocently wandered directly into his path, and an older man snatched him away just before his feet could crush those small hands. "Watch were you are going!"
Tsara turned around but kept jogging backwards! "I'm so sorry! I have to go, though!" He pushed faster and further, praying he wouldn't be too late. "Thank you, Lord!"
Ah ha! There he was!
He ran right up to Jesus, and flung himself face-first at his feet. "Thank you, Lord! Thank you for healing me! I am cleansed, and it's because of you! Thank you. Thank you. Praise the Lord for He is good!" On and on he went. Truthfully, he couldn't seem to stop. Tears of gratitude mingled with the dirt, and the resulting mud coated his face.
A hand gently touched his back, and Jesus was smiling at him. He offered his hand, and Tsara grasped it. With Jesus' help, he stood up, tall and whole.
"Thank you, Lord." Without thinking, he flung himself in Jesus' arms, and Jesus returned the spontaneous hug.
When he finally drew away, Jesus spoke. "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?"
Based on Luke 17:15-17
Yesterday I posted a kid's blog that I had written about two weeks ago about this thankful man. Then my pastor spent some time on this same man on Sunday. I don't consider that a coincidence. One out of ten lepers said, "Thank you." I'd be willing to bet that's a pretty accurate statistic of the world in general, as well.
I don't know about you, but I want the first words out of my mouth when something good happens to be, "Thank you, God!" Without His hand in my life, I would be a spiritual leper - unclean and alone. I need to give thanks to Him because He IS good!
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 107:1
In honor of Thanksgiving and my Lord, that is exactly what I am going to do. I don't ever want to be one of the nine who never thanked the Lord. I want to show my thanks...
So today's blog is going to be a little different.
Dear Lord!
Thank you for all the ways you have provided for us this year! Thank you for healing us, touching us, and meeting us where we are!
You are not some angry old man in the sky waiting to zap us. You are not some ignorant care bear who turns a blind eye to us. You are the perfect parent. The everlasting Father. Our righteous Lord. You love us without fail, without condition, and without limit. You discipline us when necessary, but you never hold out on the grace and mercy. You Lord, are the reason I have anything to be thankful for this year. Without you, and the way that you have held me in your hand, I would have absolutely nothing. Even in my weakness, I have everything in you.
You have given my friends and family. Life. Food. Toilet paper (seriously, I cannot thank you enough for toilet paper).
Lord, you gave your life for me. Thank you.
Amen.
P.S. Lord, I want to thank you for all the readers who have blessed us so much in the last two years. Their thoughts and comments have made this such a joy for us, and I want to ask that you show them your love in a special way this year.
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V. Joy Palmer
Back to Jesus.
"Hallelujah!" He jumped over a bush and darted around a rock. "Praise God!"
A young child innocently wandered directly into his path, and an older man snatched him away just before his feet could crush those small hands. "Watch were you are going!"
Tsara turned around but kept jogging backwards! "I'm so sorry! I have to go, though!" He pushed faster and further, praying he wouldn't be too late. "Thank you, Lord!"
Ah ha! There he was!
He ran right up to Jesus, and flung himself face-first at his feet. "Thank you, Lord! Thank you for healing me! I am cleansed, and it's because of you! Thank you. Thank you. Praise the Lord for He is good!" On and on he went. Truthfully, he couldn't seem to stop. Tears of gratitude mingled with the dirt, and the resulting mud coated his face.
A hand gently touched his back, and Jesus was smiling at him. He offered his hand, and Tsara grasped it. With Jesus' help, he stood up, tall and whole.
"Thank you, Lord." Without thinking, he flung himself in Jesus' arms, and Jesus returned the spontaneous hug.
When he finally drew away, Jesus spoke. "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?"
Based on Luke 17:15-17
Yesterday I posted a kid's blog that I had written about two weeks ago about this thankful man. Then my pastor spent some time on this same man on Sunday. I don't consider that a coincidence. One out of ten lepers said, "Thank you." I'd be willing to bet that's a pretty accurate statistic of the world in general, as well.
I don't know about you, but I want the first words out of my mouth when something good happens to be, "Thank you, God!" Without His hand in my life, I would be a spiritual leper - unclean and alone. I need to give thanks to Him because He IS good!
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 107:1
In honor of Thanksgiving and my Lord, that is exactly what I am going to do. I don't ever want to be one of the nine who never thanked the Lord. I want to show my thanks...
So today's blog is going to be a little different.
Dear Lord!
Thank you for all the ways you have provided for us this year! Thank you for healing us, touching us, and meeting us where we are!
You are not some angry old man in the sky waiting to zap us. You are not some ignorant care bear who turns a blind eye to us. You are the perfect parent. The everlasting Father. Our righteous Lord. You love us without fail, without condition, and without limit. You discipline us when necessary, but you never hold out on the grace and mercy. You Lord, are the reason I have anything to be thankful for this year. Without you, and the way that you have held me in your hand, I would have absolutely nothing. Even in my weakness, I have everything in you.
You have given my friends and family. Life. Food. Toilet paper (seriously, I cannot thank you enough for toilet paper).
Lord, you gave your life for me. Thank you.
Amen.
P.S. Lord, I want to thank you for all the readers who have blessed us so much in the last two years. Their thoughts and comments have made this such a joy for us, and I want to ask that you show them your love in a special way this year.
V. Joy Palmer
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