Today is Thanksgiving. It is a special day set aside for the purpose of giving thanks to God for all that He has done for us in our lives here on this earth. Even in the midst of all of the chaos and uncertainty in today's complicated world, we can still be very thankful for many reasons.
First, I am so very thankful (every day, in fact), for Jesus saving me from the punishment I deserve because of my sins. Christ's sacrificial death on the cross is a gift of mercy and grace, offered to us by the Living God. Mercy is God withholding what you (I, we) deserve. Grace is God giving you (me, us) what you (I, we) don't deserve.
I am so very grateful to God for the blessing of my family. My role as a wife and mother has joy that no other "career" could ever be compared with. It is a sacrificial role at times, but one that also gives many of the greatest joys!
I am so very grateful to live in a country where liberty, independence, justice and freedom still reigns. As my former post stated, God's Hand Was In Our Nation's Founding. But He has made us stewards over this nation and what we do to preserve such freedoms is crucial to our survival.
Because of nefarious individuals who have untold amounts of wealth and power and are, unfortunately, out to destroy this nation; any or all of these freedoms could be gone tomorrow.
But God has a bigger and better future for us anyway, for we are encouraged to be "not of this world."
Jhn 8:23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
Those who trust in, and believe in God's Son, Jesus Christ, have our Living Savior and God's Word of Truth in the Bible to comfort us - no matter what kind of trials and tribulation we may experience here on earth.
After all that Jesus Christ has done for us, it is right to give Him thanks AND PRAISE not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of our lives! The word "praise" appears in Scripture 237 times in 206 verses in the NKJV.
1Ch 29:13 "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.
Hbr 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name.
Last Sunday, I had written about not being conformed to this world, but be transformed through the power of Jesus Christ in a post called When Changing Your Mind Could Save Your Life.
Paul's words in Romans 12:1-2 tells us to be "living sacrifices." Paul told the Romans (and he tells us) that protection against conformity and power to be transformed can happen only if we sacrifice ourselves:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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 12:1-2
What a fabulous verse to live by!
We have seen what sinful men have done in this country, and to our nation, over decades worth of heavy drifting away from God's Commandments in the Bible. However, I have also seen God working in my life in such a way that allows me to have peace despite all the turmoil going on in this nation and around the world.
Dr. David Jeremiah informs us:
In this verse (Romans 12:1-2) God has given us two commands. Obeying the second command gives us the power to obey the first:
* DO NOT be conformed by the power of the world around you. That power comes from Satan.
* DO submit to the process of transformation. The power to do that comes from God and His Word.
[O]ur overarching need is to learn how we can live positive, optimistic lives concerning our future while living in a disintegrating society that threatens to take us down with it.
For more details about the means by which this transformation is accomplished, please click on the video sermon link at When Changing Your Mind Could Save Your Life.
Also see: You Can Know God Personally.
Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your time with family and friends! May God bless you and your loved ones today!
~Christine
4 comments:
Christian mentioned these words: “DO submit to the process of transformation.”
Jesus the Messiah delivered me from the bondage of homosexual behavior (including my thoughts and feelings). I practiced habitual homosexual sin as an active and passive lesbian for more than 20 years.
I also willfully practiced the sin of drunkenness (called alcoholism by some and presently called alcohol dependence by the medical model today) for more than 30 years. Jesus the Messiah delivered me from drunkenness.
Today I am free from intentional sin in my life. My journey has not been easy; however, I know with no doubt in my mind (that continues by the GRACE of GOD to be transformed on a daily basis) that the best years of my life are ahead of me.
You are simply and purely beautiful Christine as you continue to submit yourself to God as a female created in his image to be used a willing vessel to shine the LIGHT of his glory. Keep shining my friend… along with the others who are marching step by step and side by side.
This is sent with much love to you, your family and your worldwide readers on this very special American traditional holiday called Thanksgiving. (ss)
Yes, my dear friend! Transformation is an ongoing process. When we come to the realization that Jesus can transform us from ANY sinful behavior, the mercy and grace bestowed upon us is the greatest love of all!
When one experiences such a gift, how could we keep it to ourselves? We want to shout it to the world!
Did you hear about Tim Tebow, a young professional football player in the NFL who is a brother in Christ? He was recently criticized for "wearing his religion on his sleeve" - or something similar to that type of mocking judgment. His response was priceless!
He responded by asking the critic (paraphrased here), 'If you had a wife, would you tell her once that you love her? Or would you tell her every day? That's how I feel about Jesus Christ. I want to share my love for Him every day.'
Awesome!
I appreciate what you share here at this blog. Many people are being blessed by our Lord and Savior via the information that you share about your personal transformation!
They are coming to the realization that they do not need to continue to be slaves to a certain kind of sin that the world embraces - but God's Word condemns. Being released from it through the power of the Holy Spirit is something that any man/woman could NEVER achieve on their own. Jesus transforms! Jesus heals! What a great God we serve!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving Susan!
Love & Belief,
~Christine
Hi Christine,
No comments on the blog, but I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving (late) and thumb's up on your new photo. I haven't had the ambition to keep up my own blog, but I am guest-blogging over at Education Watch International in between other projects. Keep fighting the good fight!
Hi Gary!
Hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
It's been a long time since you have visited this blog. Glad to see you back! I will check out "Education Watch International" - it sounds like a really good organization!
God's Blessings to you,
~Christine
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