Happy Thanksgiving

What are you thankful for? I mean, really. What do the people around you know that you are thankful for? Does my life and yours show others that we are grateful for anything? Far too often Christians are known for what they are against or for what they are mad about. That is just flat out wrong. It is time to let the world know what we are excited about and what we are thankful for!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB) --- in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I recently told a story about a lady who was going through a tough time in her life. One day as she was in the bathtub God brought a thought to her mind. "What am I thankful for?" She asked. At that moment she looked around the bathroom and began to thank God for everything. I mean everything from the toilet to the toilet seat, from the rug on the floor to the blinds on the window.

That may be a strange story, but it shows us a great point. God intends for us to be thankful in everything. And I mean everything. Even in the stuff that is not so easy to be thankful for. I heard one man say (and you have heard this before), "I complained about my feet hurting until I saw a man who had no feet". We have so much to be thankful for. It all begins with and ends with God. He has blessed us. He has loved us. He has held us and helped us for a long time. Isn't it time to let Him and others know we are thankful?

Psalm 136:26 (NLT) --- Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

Take a few minutes today and tomorrow to express your thanks. Tell someone you are thankful for them or for something they do. Speak up about being thankful to God. Let people hear you.

Here is another way to be thankful: look around you and see who you can bless. Heck, it could be that this person needs a plate of leftovers or maybe even to be invited over for Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe their yard needs some help because of all the leaves. Maybe they need a call or even someone to pray for them this weekend. Whatever it may be, going out of our way to serve others is another way to show that we truly are grateful for who God is and all He has done for us.

God never intends for us to live life alone. He made us for fellowship, to enjoy each other. Do that this Thanksgiving.

By the way, every time I time I think about you and write these devotions, I say something like what Paul said. And I mean it ...

Philippians 1:3 (NLT) --- Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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