Thought #60

The blessings of Calvary's blood are inexhaustible!  "We come whenever distressed by guilt, disturbed by fears, assailed by Satan, stressed by want, and faced by death."  Jesus' blood is the answer to every need.  Praise! Praise! Praise!  Let's not forget to apply it to all the "dailies" of our lives.  Our heavenly Father is ready and waiting.

Thought #59

Our Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood to give us life abundant.  We trust in it for it procures peace with God.  We prove it and enjoy the blessed results.  We plead it and find mercy in time of need.  We rejoice in it for it is our source of comfort, consolation, and joy.  We come by faith.  Blessed assurance!

Thought #58

"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him (Jesus) (Isa. 53:10)."  Jesus was not a helpless victim of wicked men.  It was God's plan to crush Him.  God's pleasure has to do with His will which often includes very unpleasant circumstances, but He knows it is best in light of eternity.  The Lord never makes a mistake.  Always for His glory and our good and in that order.

Thought #57

"If we are a believer, we glory in the redemptive work of Christ's shed blood for us on the cross of Calvary.  We have daily, momentary blessings that we are apt to not appropriate when we get caught up with the dailies.  Let's ponder--it cleanses us from daily sin, it speaks peace to our fretted heart, it heals our wounded conscience, it perfumes our service for our Master.  "Upon the cross my Savior hung, shedding His precious blood:  and every drop is like a tongue pleading my cause with God."   (Unknown)

Thought #56

"Our work is solemn, therefore we dare not trifle.  Our task is difficult, therefore we dare not relax.  Our opportunities are brief, therefore we dare not delay.  Our paths are narrow, therefore we dare not wander.  Our prize will be glorious, therefore we dare not faint."     Selected

Thought # 55

 "Do little things as though they were great because of the majesty of Jesus Christ.            Do great things as though they were little and easy because of His omnipotence."          Blaise Pascal

Thought # 54

"God will look you over, not for medals, diplomas, or degrees, but for scars."  Sheldon

Thought #53

 Look within and be depressed; look about and be distressed; look above and be at rest.

THANKSGIVING — 2015

“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

God’s good hand provides everything that we need and much more every day! What is at the top of your “thanks list” to God? Things or God Himself? Health or God’s treasures? Happiness or His joy? And the list goes on.

The NIV instructs us in verses 16, 17, 18 of 1 Thess. chapter 5 how to be able to offer paeans of  thankfulness: “Be joyful always, pray continually” and one more, “give thanks in all circumstances.”  Ouch! How? We can thank Him for His presence and strength that will carry us through the deepest distress. Remember: God is not dead.  At the same time remember:  God has purposes to be accomplished that are beyond our wildest comprehension.

Another commentary presents Romans 8:28. If that verse is reliable, and we know it is, then a Christian ought to be able to “praise the Lord at all times, in all circumstance, and for everything, just as long as in doing so we do not excuse sin” (Believer’s Bible Commentary).

“Giving thanks to God should be the Christian’s native emotion.”

God provides us with wisdom, strength, power, infinite love, and unmerited grace. He also gives us talents and abilities to enjoy things of this life. Every mercy He gives increases our obligation to Him. Thanksgiving is never out of season!

“In everything we should give thanks; let us acknowledge that for the Christian, all things are ordained by His wisdom, subject to His will, sanctified by His blessing, according to His promises, and flowing from His love. All our blessings come through Jesus, and all our praises must ascend through Him, for our Father only accepts what is presented in the name of His beloved Son” (James Smith, The Remembrancer).

Martin Rinckart, the German author of “Now Thank We All Our God,” lost his wife in the severe epidemic of 1637. He was driven to despair to find food and clothes for his children. Yet he triumphed to pen, “O may this bounteous God thro’ all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts,  And blessed peace to cheer us.”  Note the first stanza expresses God’s “countless gifts of love.” The last stanza is a doxology of praise to the  “all powerful, eternal, triune God.”

A paraplegic, wheeling himself among the busy crowd was asked how he could sing in his condition. He answered with a smile, “When I stopped at what I had lost and concentrated on all I had left, I found much for which I could rejoice and be happy.”

The grand finale: “To God be the glory—great things He hath done.”