Wednesday's Word - Thanks In Giving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

As I sat and thought about Thanksgiving, of course I didn’t want to take away from the traditional understanding of why we celebrate. No. Not the pilgrim story, but the idea that God has richly blessed us with such abundance. Even if we think on times gone by and the ups and downs of life. We still can’t help but realize that it’s not the “stuff” that counts and there are still reasons to be thankful.

I also couldn’t help thinking of the Words of Scripture – Acts 20:35 … It is more blessed to give than to receive. It never ceases to amaze me of how true we know that is, even though we can so easily get caught up in receiving. Trust me, I’m not saying that receiving I bad, far from it. We receive and it blesses us. And when we’re blessed, we’re equipped to be a blessing to others.

A couple of years back, I spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Valdosta with my aunt who really went BIG with the dinner and everything. It was a great time with family and friends. And then something happened; A woman and her children pulled into hotel parking lot with car trouble. She called to her family that was expecting her and they were on their way. Wouldn’t you know it, they broke down too!
We had more than enough to give and we were all so much more blessed as we could share with and bless these passersby’s.

Here’s the Word:

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

So enjoy your time with family or friends or whatever your situation. And if you can consider yourself blessed at any level, be thankful. And even more than that, you can show your appreciation. Show your Thanks in giving.

In Him,
Cros

Wednesday's Word - That Sinner-tainment

Hello All,
I have a few friends who blame today’s moral ills on things like
Facebook and Twitter and reality television and stuff like that. My
personal take on it is this: I don’t think it’s these things in
particular, but something does raise my concern. I think that all
these things point to the idea that we’re becoming more
consumer-minded than pursuing-minded. Christ said that we are to be
His witnesses. We are to be watchmen on the wall. We are to warn and
inform. I think we’re getting sidetracked and constrained by
entertainment. There are people in a meeting right now discussing ways
to convince you that their next “big” thing is exactly what you need.
Things that will entertain you. And I may sound quite radical for
this next statement but here goes: I think we’re being exploited. Do
you realize that we have a nature that’s tainted? We have desires that
are bent away from their original intent. And it’s exactly that which
makes it make sense that somehow whatever is pushed in front of us in
the name of entertainment , will be gobbled right up. And on an even
touchier subject, there are churches that have gone the way of
entertaining rather than equipping. It’s a sad thing because
nowadays, it’s what we look for in a “good” church.
You think if we really cared about our neighbors or sharing Christ
with the lost that we could really care about housewives in Atlanta
are up to?

Here’s the word:

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with
sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather
around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears
want to hear.

A word of caution; I’m not saying turn off Real Housewives of Atlanta
or any show because it means you aint saved if you don’t. This is
about taking an inner look at the things that entertain you. And also,
I’m not saying I’m not guilty, I’m just sayin. This is about
encouraging.

So I’m encouraging you to have a heart for people. To be available to
help them. To even seek them out. There may be some things that are
taking up your time from getting around to doing these things. And I’m
not here to impede on you liberties which I’m grateful in Chris for
indeed. But make sure you’re not caught up in fruitless things that
neither help you nor others. Remember, it’s somebody’s job to keep you
on the couch that sinner-tainment.


In Him,
Cros

Wednesday's Word - For Will Drive

Hello All,

Last week's word was kinda big - Big in such a way that the topic can be expounded upon on so many levels that I need to reserve the right to revisit it at almost any given time. Such as today. Also, I've gotten feedback on aspects of it that had never entered my mind. I may have to touch on a few of those in the future as well.

Today, I want to expound on the places to put our blocks. The building sites. There are not only, but at least four building sites that are the recipients of the "good" blocks in our will barrows. Last week I statyed pretty much on the idea of the local assembly of believers, and the people/positions God has put in place to help us get our will in line with His. But that's not all there is. Not by a long shot. The following building sites emphasize how important it is to have proper will-alignment.

These aren't ordered by any kind of importance so keep that in mind:

There's the eternal - It's almost too hard to fathom that we can affect real things in the eteral state (other than repentance for salvation), but God's Word is true:

Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Heaven as a building site? Not only possible, commanded. The importance of that revelation driving our will can't be overstated.

Another buildint site is the local assembly which I touched on last week - God obviously wants the Church to be an expressive outreach of Christ's Love to the lost and to the building up of His people:

Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The next building site hits closer to home, because this site is the home. God has a Will for your family or those who you find yourself in close relationship with:

Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

So even on your job with your boss, your will should be driven to build the God would have you to. Do you have the proper building blocks?

Last, but by no means least, is you. You are a building site. And just as there are others that are sent to build into you, you can be driven by the Truth of God's Word to remove bad blocks and get good blocks and build them into you.

2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Like I said, this is HUGE and I'm trying to keep these fairly short. But hopefully it give you something to think about. And if you're driven, let me know what's on your mind - give me something to think about. Thing is, it often saddens me that so many of us have opted out of being part of God's building plans. Sometimes I think our will-barrows are too heavy with useless blocks. Maybe we just need motivation to push. Hopefully, understanding these building sites will get us excited for "will" drive.

In Him,
Cros