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I love Thanksgiving Day! How cool is it that we get a whole day to focus on what we are thankful for and how we’ve been blessed rather than focusing on all that is wrong in the world. It is impossible to be self focused and thankful at the same time. That’s where the commercialized Christmas gig goes awry. It often becomes self focused.
What if we looked at Thanksgiving as the outer court of the Temple and Christmas as sort of the inner court? The Word of God tells us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. What if we used this time of Thanksgiving to “enter in” to the Christmas Season? What if we really used this time to thank and praise God for all He’s done and then walked through the Christmas season focusing on who He is and realizing in a fresh way that He is with us?
May your day be filled with friends and family and your heart with Thanksgiving and praise, and tomorrow may your heart cry out, “O, come! O, come, Emmanuel!” as you prepare to celebrate the God who dared to come and rescue us!
One of the frustrating and scary things that has gone along with my paralysis is that I started losing sight in my right eye. My left eye has always been stronger. I never even wore a contact in that eye. But in the last few years my right eye started going downhill fast. It even got to a point that the doctor would not prescribe glasses, stating that it would only give me headaches and dizziness. I’m still not sure I understand that, but the fact is, my eye just kept getting worse.
It was getting harder and harder to see with that right eye. If something blocked my left eye, there was little I could see clearly. The letter E on the eye chart was even starting to blur. A contact was impossible for years because my left hand was paralyzed, but even with the return I’d gotten in it, contacts were very difficult to manage and when I did wear it, it was very uncomfortable for some reason and I could only keep it in for a short time.
Finally, I decided to look into laser surgery. I called the best known place in Charlotte and went through the initial screening. Unfortunately, I was turned away. It took me months to get the courrage to try another place. This time I got an appointment. The tests and exams took over two hours. I had so much astigmatism that it was difficult to get the readings that were needed. Finally, after several people worked at it, we got what we needed and I was able to see the doctor.
He told me that there was good news and bad news. The bad news was that my eyesight was 20/300 and that because of the astigmatism it could only be corrected to 20/40 or 20/30 and that it may take two procedures. I thought that that was great news!
I went in last Friday. The procedure took all of 10 minutes and by Saturday I was seeing with 20/30 vision! I was and am thrilled! I can’t believe how much I can see! My eyesight should continue to improve some over the next several weeks. There is still a little bluriness as the eye is still healing.
I’ve worked so hard to regain anything that I lost due to the paralysis. The thought of losing my eyesight, even in one eye, was so scary and discouraging at times! Even though this was no miracle, it was such an answer to prayer that I just can’t stop thanking God!! The surgery couldn’t have gone better and there has not even been any discomfort! I am truly grateful and wanted to share my good news. It’s hard to be a writer when your eyes are failing. This means more to me than I can express. Thanks God and thanks to Dr. Branner as well!
Luke 7:21 (Whole Chapter)
In that very hour Jesus was healing many [people] of sicknesses and distressing bodily plagues and evil spirits, and to many who were blind He gave [a free, gracious, joy-giving gift of] sight.
On this eve of election day in the good ole USA I know we are all thinking about the outcome of the election. A lot of you are praying for the nation tonight and some are praying that the guy they like wins. I really hate politics. I try hard to love the politician and hate the politics. I know there are some Christians who would like people like me to get a little more passionate about politics. I just wish people would be more passionate and less political about Christ.
My prayer tonight isn’t so much about which candidate wins, but more so that no matter who wins the election, that we truly have our trust in God. If our trust is in Him, we need not fear which man is in charge, nor will we be tempted to breathe a sigh of relief thinking that man will in any way save us. God is in control no matter who is president. Here are some scriptures to keep things in perspective.
- 2 Kings 18:21 (Whole Chapter)
Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. - Psalm 32:10 (Whole Chapter)
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. - Psalm 34:8 (Whole Chapter)
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. - Psalm 40:3 (Whole Chapter)
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. - Psalm 40:4 (Whole Chapter)
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. - Psalm 56:11 (Whole Chapter)
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. - Psalm 84:12 (Whole Chapter)
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. - Psalm 118:8 (Whole Chapter)
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. - Psalm 146:3 (Whole Chapter)
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. - Isaiah 31:1 (Whole Chapter)
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! - Jeremiah 17:5 (Whole Chapter)
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. - Jeremiah 17:7 (Whole Chapter)
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
We should all be thankful, no matter who we are voting for, that Jesus our King is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, but He (and now we) are of another Kingdom of a much higher order.
My friend Lisa Shea just sent this to me. I thought it was perfect for today!
Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
and God approves this message!
ISN’T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE
