Thanksgiving Should Be Practiced Every Day!

Jerry Newcombe, D.Min.

“Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress. The disposition toward gratitude appears to enhance pleasant feeling states more than it diminishes unpleasant emotions. Grateful people do not deny or ignore the negative aspects of life.”

There are valuable lessons to be learned from the first Thanksgiving but the first grade class of Stone Bank Elementary School in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin won’t be learning them. Even though no one had complained, school administrators sent the following message to disappointed parents, “Out of respect for Native Americans, and the sensitivity of this time in our history, we are not going to reenact the first Thanksgiving story.”

The ingratitude of political correctness strikes again. They could learn a thing or two about the importance of Thanksgiving, not only in our nation’s history but in our daily lives.

The first Thanksgiving was actually a beautiful three-day celebration by the Pilgrims with their new friends, the Native-Americans—with whom they made a long-lasting treaty of peace. At harvest time 1621, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, this festival was a wonderful example of people of different cultures sitting down together and breaking bread. And they gave thanks to God, who made it all possible.

Rev. Billy Falling, author of My Cherokee Roots, is grateful for people like the Pilgrims. In an interview for Christian television, he told me, “As a Native-American, I thank God for the Europeans that brought us the Gospel and brought us Western Civilization.”

Falling observes, “Native-Americans were just as pagan as the rest of the world. They practiced cannibalism, they practiced devil worship, they practiced slavery, they practiced polygamy, they practiced all the sins of the flesh that the rest of the world practiced….they needed God just like the rest of the world.”

He adds, “It’s hard today to find a sweat [lodge] where you can go as a Native-American and go inside and smoke out your sins, but it’s easy to find Native-Americans in any congregation in the United States, worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ because of the Europeans. And I thank God for that.”

Granted, much later, terrible things happened to Native-Americans at the hands of Europeans and Americans. Very unChristian things. But it does not make sense to blame the Pilgrims for that.

That would be like blaming the Wright Brothers for all the airplane accidents in history.

Meanwhile, the Pilgrims were onto something by their practice of gratitude. Gratitude is good for us. Even modern psychologists are discovering this.

While ingratitude comes natural to us, and often it is the norm, it’s also true that some people can find ways to be grateful—even in difficult circumstances (like the Pilgrims)—while others might be in paradise, yet they find all sort so of nitpicky things to complain about.

Gratitude does not come naturally. “Give a man everything he wants,” declared Immanuel Kant, “and at that moment, everything will not be everything.”

When something bad happens, what is your immediate reaction? “Oh great.” I must confess how often that has been my instinctive reaction—a complaining one.

Two psychologists, Robert Emmons of the University of California, Davis and Michael McCullough of the University of Miami, said: “Gratitude is the ‘forgotten factor’ in happiness research.”

Their research found: “Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress. The disposition toward gratitude appears to enhance pleasant feeling states more than it diminishes unpleasant emotions. Grateful people do not deny or ignore the negative aspects of life.” In short, the grateful focus more on what they have, not what they lack.

Too often we focus on the negative—even if, overall, we have many reasons to be positive. I remember years ago hearing Jerry Lewis being interviewed on the radio, and he described a scene in Europe, where he was being warmly received by this huge crowd. People were standing and wildly cheering him. But he noticed “that one guy.” That one guy in this sea of humanity that was giving him this great reception. That one guy wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t standing. He had his arms crossed. And Jerry Lewis said that he should have felt great. Here were all these people cheering him on. But his mind focused instead on the one guy who wasn’t clapping (for whatever reason).

My wife and I have often observed to each other (jokingly): “I’m not complaining. I’m just stating facts.”

The Bible tells us that we should give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. What is God’s will for your life? To be thankful! Grateful for the Lord has done for us and to us for all eternity through Jesus Christ.

Footnote: James Kennedy once observed that gratitude is “the Christian’s magic wand.” It transforms everything.

I am grateful for the tradition of Thanksgiving in this country. The Pilgrims chose gratitude over bitterness. Half their number had died several months before the harvest. Rather than grousing, they chose to give thanks. And now somehow this beautiful American holiday is becoming politically incorrect.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 

Ted

Who Do You Trust To Sustain You?

Psalm 27:14  "Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD."

When I was in the army during the Vietnam War era, I heard many guys talk about how a real warrior depends on himself. I saw movies that said the same thing. The funny thing is that when you are in the middle of a fire-fight I will never forget the guys who suddenly remembered to pray the words, "God if you get me outta here alive I'll serve you the rest of my life," or something similar because not one of them meant it at the time. I found myself saying those same words with no intention of meaning it...but God remembered. In the fall of 1972 I found myself in Bible College! Not a direction I had planned to take when I got out of the army. David, was a warrior, a poet, a singer, etc. Many men of war were the same way. There was song I loved in chapel and sang it with a whole heart. The song was The Lighthouse. I find myself singing it today at times when I am troubled because I remember like a ship in danger on the sea at night, if it hadn't been for the lighthouse I too would have ended up on the rocks of life. God's word and that song gave me courage to face the troubles that come my way in life. David was such a man. He knew who his God was and God called him "a friend." My friend if you have troubles, I challenge you to wait on the Lord. He has the answer and if you are one of his, He will deliver you! 

The psalms of David, which were penned thousands of years ago have as much relevance in todays, anti-God, Christ-rejecting sinful world, as they did in the time of David's trouble.

David had been betrayed by one of his best friends and his soul was in deep distress. He was restless and complaining, oppressed by wicked men and distracted by a multitude of threats from his evil enemies. He was overwhelmed by trouble, broken-hearted with grief, anguished in heart and in deep emotional distress.

Like many believers today, David was fearful of his growing number of enemies, overwhelmed by his many troubles, and sinking into a bottomless slough of despond.. and yet despite his overwhelming difficulties, David was enabled to turn his eyes on the Lord, and to cast his burdens upon Him - David knew that God would sustain him through every difficulty he faced, for God will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Today we too are increasingly overwhelmed by terrors and threats without, which cause many fears and fainting within.. but throughout the Word of God we are reminded not to fear, for the Lord our God is with us, whithersoever we go, and we are encouraged to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that no matter what dangers and evils threaten me, and no matter what terrors and difficulties come near me, that I may cast all my burdens upon You, knowing that You will sustain and strengthen me.. and knowing that in Christ I need never be shaken by terrors or threats.. praise God that greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

Knowing Jesus-The beginning of wisdom!

See you next blog,

Ted

Metaphors and Similies That Have A Deeper Meaning

2Cor 5:3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.

Because there are many anomalies in the Christian faith, Paul often set out the truth of our great Salvation and the glory that is ours in Christ in a very systematic way. For instance, he points out that the suffering we undergo for Christ's sake, brings with it great reward, and equips us for the ministry of comfort - in that when we are weak in ourselves we are strong in the Lord, but when we are proud of our self-sufficiency, we will suffer a tremendous fall.

Paul also used many metaphors and similes in his teaching, and in this section, he shows how things that appear permanent in this world are passing and will fade away, while spiritual things, which are unseen and indefinable are both secure, permanent and everlasting. 

In this chapter, Paul moves from comparing the distresses of Christian suffering.. with the joys of our future glory in heaven. He contrasts our earthly body with the new heavenly body, which will one day replace this old dying frame. He points out that he would prefer to put off his mortal body - to die and go to be with Jesus, rather than keep on living in this fallen world and a dying body.

He wanted to show that death is not the end of life but the start of a glorious and eternal future AND that this body of ours is nothing more than a temporary lodging place. It is like an old, deteriorating tent that can be taken down at the end of our life-journey and will one day be replaced with a new dwelling place - a glorious body, just like Christ's resurrection Body.

He likened our mortal frame to an old tent - a temporary covering for the soul, on our brief, journey through life. He explained that one day this mortal body will be discarded, at the point of death, in preparation for a new, eternal body, where we will receive a permanent and immortal body. As believers, we have a promise from God that we will one day receive an incorruptible body - a body like Christ's resurrected body.. a body of flesh and bone.

He wanted us to know that in the eternal ages to come we would not be a spirit without a body. We will not become an unclothed, disembodied spirit, with no physical covering. As part of the new creation in Christ we will one day be given a new body - a permanent, immortal body - a body that will never die and one which will be like Christ's glorified body. We will one day have a new covering - a building from God - an eternal dwelling in the heavens - a body not made with hands.

When God created the world, he built man's earthly body from the dust of the earth. Adam was the federal head of the first creation - the old creation in Adam... but by faith in Christ, we are born into the new creation - with Jesus as the Federal Head. When man disobeyed God, sin entered the world. The first creation was cursed and death was the result of sin. And death places its icy fingers around the throat of every human being, as a result of Adam's fall.

Because of sin and death, we groan in this body, and desire to put on our new, heavenly dwelling place. Because of our mortality, this earthly body will one day be destroyed and return to dust. Because of sin and death, we have many physical limitations. We get sick and become disabled. We have problems with joints and organs that become painful, malfunction and eventually expire and die. 

Because of sin and death, we do not want to be unclothed and naked. We want to be clothed in our new, eternal, bodies.. so that mortality may be swallowed up by immortality and death may be enveloped by life... and the encouraging truth in verse 3 is that having been born-again into the family of God - by faith in Christ, we have an assurance that when we pass from this life into the next.. we will be given a new, glorified state. We will be housed in a literal body. What a tremendous hope. Praise His holy name.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ we have an assurance that we are not only forgiven of our sin and have received the gift of eternal life, by faith, but are part of the new creation in Christ and have passed from death to life. Thank You that in Him we will not be found naked, but have received an inheritance in heaven and will soon be clothed with a new, eternal body, that far surpasses this frail, dying frame. Thank You for sending Jesus to be the propitiation for my sin and thank You that by His death and resurrection, sin and death have been defeated. We praise You for the wonderful assurance that our bodies will also be resurrected and we will be complete and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ - spirit, soul, and body. Hallelujah! Praise His holy name, AMEN. 

Knowing Jesus-the beginning of wisdom!

See you next blog.

Ted

Trusting God's Faithfulness...through Prayer

Nehemiah 2:4 - "Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven."

Nehemiah was a Jewish exile, who lived in the Persian city of Suza. He held the responsible position of cupbearer to the king, but Nehemiah was a man of God, who was also a man of prayer. He gives us some wonderful insight into powerful, prolonged and effective prayer - "for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much".

When the news reached his ears from the remnant in Israel, that the walls surrounding Jerusalem remained broken and in ruins, and its gates were burned to the ground, Nehemiah sat down and wept for a number of days. He fasted and mourned for many days and prayed fervently to the God of heaven. Although many exiles had returned to the Holy City, they had failed to rebuild the city wall and sanctury of God.

Nehemiah was deeply grieved that the Holy City of God was still lying in utter ruins, following its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar. He confessed his sin before the Lord and the sins of the entire nation. He acknowledged they had acted corruptly toward God, and not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances He gave through His servant Moses. "I confess the sins we have committed against You." he cried, "both I and my father’s house have sinned".

In His prayers, Nehemiah pleaded for God's mercy on his nation, his city and the people of Israel, reminding the Lord of His never-failing faithfulness, and precious promises to His people. "You are a God Who preserves His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments", was his pleading prayer. Nehemiah reminded the Lord that Israel was still His covenant people.

For four months he prayed about the distressing condition of the Holy City. He pleaded with the Lord for forgiveness and mercy, and his grief over Jerusalem was reflected in his service to Artaxerxes, the king.. who questioned him by asking "Why is your face sad Nehemiah..even though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart".

Those in the emperor's service knew very well that any display of emotion or pain, anger or sadness should be kept hidden before the king and his court. Nehemiah knew that men had been executed for exhibiting such emotions in the presence of a king, and he became 'overwhelmed with fear'. However, Nehemiah explained that his sadness of heart was on hearing that the city, where his ancestors were buried, lay in ruins and its gates destroyed by fire.

Artaxerxes did not dismiss his servant's grief as irrelevant, but was moved, by God, to find out if there was any way that he could help him in his distress, and so we read, "Then the king said to me, "What would you request?"  Despite being very much afraid, Nehemiah, was a man of prayer, who sent a quick, but silent prayer-arrow to God, for both wisdom - to speak the right words before the king, and for grace in his master's eye.

Although Nehemiah was caught in this dangerous situation, he was so saturated in prayer and accustomed to calling on the name of the Lord, that he was spiritually equipped to shoot his silent supplication to God.. so he prayed to the God of heaven. Nehemiah was in fellowship with the Father, for his sins were forgiven and confessed up to date, and so he was well able to come to the throne of grace for mercy to find help at this time of need.

He had spent months pleading with God for the restoration of Jerusalem's walls. He had no doubt reflected much on what could be done to restore the dignity of the Holy City. His quick prayer arrow that sped its way to the Lord was founded on months of prayer, fasting, confession of sin and pleading his case to God. Nehemiah did not know that God was preparing the heart of Artaxerxes, to respond favourably toward his servant, and his answer, to the king, was inspired by God... because it was founded on the effectual fervent prayers he had offered over many months.

"If it pleases the king", was his quick response, "and if your servant has found favour before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it."Then the king said to me," How long will your journey be, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time. And I said to the king, "If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress, which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go " And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me".

It was not because of his cup bearing skills that Nehemiah found grace in the eye of the king, but because he trusted the Lord, and had a relationship with the God of his salvation. God's ear was attentive towards his servant because he was a faithful prayer warrior, who was consistent in his intercessions, prayed continually with all prayer and supplication and trusted God to fulfil His promises to His people.

The praying man or woman may not know how their prayers will be answered, but those who wait on Him and maintain close communion with their heavenly Father, will be used by God, in wonderful ways. God does not always answer prayer in the way we expect, but will always carry out His plans and purposes for His greater glory and for His servants' eternal joy. 

In Nehemiah's life, we see that the supernatural work of God being carried out, in answer to the faithful prayers of His servant, for when plans are conceived in prayer.. prayer is the foundation on which God's answer rests. May we practice powerful, prolonged and effective prayer and be ready to be used by God to fulfil His plans for our life.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for men of prayer like Paul and Nehemiah, Daniel and the Lord Jesus, Who have become such examples to follow in the important ministry of prayer. Teach me how to pray without ceasing and to pray effectively. Help me to develop a practice of powerful, prolonged and effective prayer and use me in whatever way You choose to carry out Your plans and purposes in my life. Thank You that Your ear is ever open to our cries, whether they are simple, silent arrow-prayers or long-term, persistent pleadings... and thank You that we have access to the throne of grace - for mercy to find help in time of need - in Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.
Knowing Jesus is the first step to wisdom!
See you next blog,
Ted

...and The Light Shines In Darkness

John 1:5

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Lord Jesus came into the world as the incarnate WORD of God, to reveal to the depraved mind of man, the truth of God's eternal love and His perfect holiness. He came into the world as LIFE.. to breathe 'new life' into the lifeless spirit of man, that lay dead in trespasses and sins, and with no hope in the world. He came into the world as the LIGHT of the world, to illumine the blackened soul of man, who in his foolish pride had sought to be as God.

It was through sin that darkness entered the heart of man, and it is through the Light of God's Son, that sin and death and darkness was overcome . He came as the Light that never be extinguished, in the heart, soul, and mind, of those who place their trust in the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel of John was written to introduce the Lord Jesus Christ to fallen man, as the eternal Son. He came as the incarnate Word and was born as the perfect Son of Man. He came from the Father to show us the Father.. for whoever has seen the Son has seen the Father, and Whoever has the Son in their heart, has the Father also... for Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, and He sent His Son into the world to reveal Himself to us.

For the first four verses in John's gospel, the Word is introduced to us as the living, breathing, human Word of God, Who was in the beginning with God, and through Whom all things came into being. That same eternal Son is Life and Light. That same perfect Son of man is the true Light that was given by God to shine Light into the darkness of man's soul, and the darkness was incapable of extinguishing the pure Light of God.

Man did not comprehend the enormity of what had happened in Bethlehem some thirty years earlier and throughout His ministry, men continued to misunderstand the Man, His ministry and His message. The depraved mind of the unsaved cannot understand the Light, for the god of this world has darkened their minds and blinded their soul.

When the Lord Jesus came into this world as the Light of Life that lightens every man that comes into the world, they did not comprehend Who He was or why He had come. He came to His own kingdom and His own people, but they did not receive Him. They rejected God's anointed. They were ignorant of the truth that "Jesus was the Light that shines in the darkness - BUT  the darkness is incapable of extinguishing it."

The evil schemes of the wicked one cannot quench the Light of Christ, for Satan is an enemy that was eternally defeated through His shed blood on the cross of Calvary. It is impossible for the darkness of Satan, sin, death, and hell to overcome the glorious light of the gospel of God. Darkness cannot overpower Christ's light, nor can it quench its illuminating rays.

Although the evil principalities of darkness will do all in their power to frustrate its almighty strength, the Light of Christ has already overcome the powers of darkness, and its penetrating rays will continue to invade the dominion of evil, with every soul that confesses Christ as Lord.

The opening statement of John's gospel lays out, in all its beauty, Who Jesus is and why He came. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of the most High God, who existed from eternity past and is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit. He is the very essence of God and united in purpose and power. He came to this world as The Light that shines in the darkness, YET the darkness could not comprehend it.

God is Spirit but Christ came to earth as a mortal Man to become our kinsman-Redeemer, for He is God of gods and Light and lights - but He is also Man of men. Only through the Man, Christ Jesus can men receive Peace with God and the Peace of God. Only in Him is Hope and Joy and Life everlasting, for God the Father decreed that God the Son should come to shine the Light of God's Life and Love into the world, so that all who believe on Him could be enlightened by the truth, reflect the light of His love and be enlivened with His life... but He was rejected as a result of man's sin.

Christ Jesus is that LIGHT that has been shining from eternity past, and it is only through Him that God's light and life and love and hope and joy and peace will flow, for God has decreed that Christ is all in all. May we bathe in the glorious light of His love for the eternal ages to come, and may we reflect His light in this darkened world and permit His love to flow through us to others - until I am nothing and He is everything.

My Prayer

Thank You, Father, that the Light of Jesus has shone into my heart, for I trust Him alone as my Saviour and Lord. May the light of Your love shine through me, to others, for Your praise and glory, until it is not I that shines in my life, but the light of Christ shining through me. This I ask in Jesus' precious name, AMEN.

See you next blog,

Ted

Happy are the Unhappy...

Happy people are unhappy people, because Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” In the Beatitudes, the word “blessed” that Jesus used is interchangeable with “happy.”

To put it another way, happy are the unhappy.

“Well, that makes no sense at all,” you’re saying. “Either you’re happy or you’re unhappy.”

No, before you can truly be happy, you first have to be unhappy. You have to see your real state before God, which is a sinful state. And you have to mourn over that state.

Also, the word that Jesus used here for “mourn” is the most severe of nine Greek words for grief that we find in the Scriptures. It’s reserved for mourning the dead. While this verse applies in principle to all who mourn, let’s look at it in context.

Let’s go back to the previous beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3 NKJV). It’s a little scary to see what sinners we really are. But when we cry out to God and mourn over our condition, then we will find comfort.

As commentator Warren Wiersbe has pointed out, “It is as wrong to mourn when God has forgiven us as it is to rejoice when sin has conquered us.”

It’s better to mourn now and laugh later than to laugh now and mourn later. When you really mourn for your condition and repent of it, you can experience the true happiness that God wants you to experience.

Have you ever shed a tear over a sin in your own life? Have you ever done something you were ashamed of and wept over it?

The Bible tells us that godly sorrow will produce repentance (see 2 Corinthians 7:10). This can be a good thing, because that mourning can produce tangible results.

from  Pastor Greg Laurie

Count Your Blessings

By Rob Pue, Publisher Wisconsin Christian News

“But now think of THIS: Jesus Christ, our Lord, REVERSED that curse and conquered sin and death for us as He wore that crown of thorns on His head! Truly, those who murdered Him knew NOT what they were doing — and Satan perhaps even thought he had ‘won.’”

In these times of trouble and tribulation, with all that’s happening in the world today, it’s easy to succumb to a spirit of hopelessness, despair, and grief — for the deceived, lost and perishing people around us, and yes, even for ourselves. It’s especially grievious when those deceived, lost and perishing are people we know and love. Perhaps even our own spouses, children and grandchildren.

We look around and see how Satan and his demons seem to be in charge of everything now, and how truth is now regarded as “hate speech,” having fallen in the streets long ago. We see how successful the enemy has become at twisting hearts and minds, and fundamentally changing our society and culture and the entire world all around us, and it’s easy to become discouraged. There are so many lies, so much hatred, so many who have departed from the faith and chosen instead to follow doctrines of demons. Yes, it can become very disheartening.

But here’s what I KNOW:  “God’s Word is truth” (John 17:17). And the Bible He has given us, from Genesis to Revelation is FILLED with all we need to know about the history — and the future — of this world. It is FILLED with all we need to know to live our lives as God’s own children, to raise OUR children to know and love Him, and to learn to disciple others and share the Good News of the Kingdom and Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross with them as well. It’s also FILLED with warnings about what NOT to do, how NOT to live in this world… as well as instruction on how to fight the spiritual battles that threaten to ensnare us every day. In short, God’s Word is FILLED with everything we need to equip us to live here on this earth and to prepare us for eternity. We need no other instruction than that which He has already graciously given.

Having said that, I’d like us to consider today, just how much JOY, PRAISE, and BEAUTY we also find in God’s holy Book. And though it’s easy to take our eyes off of our Creator and dwell on the negative, there are virtually countless Scriptures that talk about God’s goodness, His peace, the Comfort of the Holy Spirit, and especially giving thanks.

Just as WE appreciate it when our earthly children are THANKFUL to us for all we provide and do for them, our Heavenly Father wants US to be thankful to Him as well. And we have SO MUCH to be thankful FOR! You know, you cannot be discouraged or depressed AND THANKFUL for all the many blessings you’ve received from the Lord at the same time… it’s just not possible. So I encourage you to be THANKFUL today… and every day to the One who Created us, and this amazing “habitat” called “Earth” that He designed as our temporary home.

I’m reminded of the old hymn by John Oatman, written in 1897, titled “Count Your Blessings.” It goes like this:

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost; Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

   “Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, and you will keep singing as the days go by.

   “So, amid the conflict whether great or small, do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you, to your journey’s end.”

Oftentimes, when I find myself loaded down with burdens and cares, I’m not able to sleep at night, or to calm my troubled mind. So I spend time in prayer and then I begin to count MY many blessings. A word of caution here: if you DO this — (begin to count your blessings) — instead of helping you fall into peaceful sleep, oftentimes I find myself UNABLE to name all the many blessings God has so graciously given me, and I find I’m actually so filled with thankfulness and wonder and awe at what God has done for ME, I’m too excited to sleep after not very long!

I think of God’s beautiful Creation — the entire universe, designed and set in motion and sustained by His mighty hand. Through a powerful telescope on a dark, starry night, I’ve seen with my own eyes the rings of Saturn, and other planets, close up; not to mention our own moon — created by God and placed in just the right spot to not just light our way at night but also to help sustain life on our planet.

And this beautiful, wondrous earth. I have been blessed to be able to see and enjoy more of it in my lifetime than I ever thought I would… I’ve been to the highest mountain peaks in North America (and played in the snow at those summits with my kids on my birthday in August) …as well as the lowest point called “Death Valley.” I’ve swam in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, I’ve been to tropical rain forests and desolate, wind-swept deserts. I’ve seen the raging rivers and the awesome power of Niagara Falls. Living in Wisconsin, I’ve spent much time taking in the splendor of the Great Lakes. I was even blessed to pilot a steamship part-way across Lake Michigan one time.

I’m constantly amazed at God’s creation. Just the sheer BEAUTY of it is beyond description. And I often wonder what Eden must have been like, before the fall. When everything was perfect. As incredibly beautiful as our earth is today, none of us can even begin to imagine what it once was — and will one day be again — when the New Heaven and New Earth appear.

Before Adam sinned, everything was perfect. But once mankind disobeyed God and brought sin and death upon us, our earth began producing thorns and thistles. There were no thorns before that… just beauty and perfection. I think of what Christ did on that old rugged cross for those who repent and call upon His name… and how His tormentors tortured Him so cruelly before nailing Him to that Tree… they even went “the extra mile” by fashioning a crown of thorns and jamming it into His head. Think of that: THORNS… the very thing that was brought upon this earth by our own disobedience and unbelief. Those thorns were part of the curse when God cursed the ground because of OUR sin.

But now think of THIS: Jesus Christ, our Lord, REVERSED that curse and conquered sin and death for us as He wore that crown of thorns on His head! Truly, those who murdered Him knew NOT what they were doing — and Satan perhaps even thought he had “won.” But God worked even that wretchedness together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Yes, He wore the crown of thorns — He bore the curse and He REVERSED the curse for all who will repent and turn to Him.

Yes, I’m very thankful for this beautiful world God made for us. And all the animals and birds and flowers He filled it with for our pleasure. Each one an incredibly amazing, unique creation. Some of you know I am a bird-lover; if you just look at the incredible design of BIRDS alone — the many different ways each one is designed… some colorful and bright, “painted” with such creativity and splendor by the Master Craftsman Himself. Some with unbelievable eyesight… I’ll always remember the time I was out on a lake watching in awe as a Bald Eagle soared high overhead, circling. Suddenly, he swooped down, just above the surface of the lake, and before my eyes, snatched a fish from the water and flew it home to his Eagle family for dinner! Yes, God let me see that. Amazing.

Some birds don’t even fly — they swim, like penguins. But each one is beautiful, and each is designed with everything it needs to live and survive, and each is FED by the hand of God.   Now think of all the other animals the Lord made; then think of the “lillies of the field!” Some designed to be our food; some just for the pure beauty of seeing them, because God LIKED them!

And I have to wonder, looking around JUST AT CREATION, how anyone could ever even question the fact that there is a God in heaven who made all this. Romans 1 tells us, “the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead….”  Yes, those who doubt God are indeed, without excuse.

The human body is also a miracle of Creation. There is nothing else like it, designed for our souls to live in on this earth, but also blessed with the senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Did you ever consider God did not HAVE to give us all these things? But He wanted us to be able to experience ALL these wondrous aspects of His creation — and in the New Heaven and New Earth, I can only imagine the wonders He has in store for our new, restored bodies!

Then, think of the changing seasons. The warmth and beauty of summer. The spectacular colors and crispness in the air at harvest time. The restoration time when the world sleeps during the winter, and then the rebirth that comes in the spring.

If you look around, you’ll see there is such BEAUTY and MAGNIFICENCE in this world that God provided for our earthly home. It’s hard to believe there are so many who continue to hate Him, deny Him, persecute those who love Him and seek to destroy all that is beautiful, lovely, and good.

Yes, there is great beauty, but also great ugliness. One one side, you have the things of God and His incredible creation, His amazing design for mankind. You have the natural family, one man and one woman, designed to be united for life in holy matrimony, a covenant union, producing beautiful babies that we are to nurture, train up and teach all we know about our Heavenly Father, teaching THEM to honor and revere their Lord too. On the other side you have darkness, evil schemes, greed, lies, deceit, treachery, sorcery, demonism, hedonism, and death. Spiritual warfare continues and daily we are to put on the armor of God that we might stand firm in our faith and resist the wiles and temptations of the enemy.

And again, the work of spiritual warfare — which we are ALL, as Christians, CALLED to engage in, serving as a restraining force against evil in this world — is much easier for us when we count our blessings and remain THANKFUL to God for each one. Psalm 95:2, “Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!” Psalm 106 and 107 both begin with the same words:  “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His steadfast love endures forever.”  And in case you didn’t catch the gist of those Scriptures, look at all of Psalm 136!

Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!” And we all know Philippians 4:6 and 7, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

And continuing on in Philippians, in Verse 8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

We have so much to be thankful for. Yes, the world around us may be dark and growing darker every day. We may very well be at the closing end of days here on this earth, and we may be precariously perched on the precipice of the Great Tribulation, when the wrath of God is unleashed on all those who hate Him. But while we are still here, while we still have breath in our lungs, there is still good work for us to do. And our job is to BE His Church, to BE the salt and light of the world, to serve as His restraining force against the evil of the enemy, to preach the Gospel and make disciples, and to ALWAYS be thankful to our Creator and Sustainer and to praise Him in all circumstances. There is no greater calling and no greater purpose.

When the enemy of our souls has you discouraged and depressed — again, simply begin to count your blessings and name them, one by one. Thank the Lord for all He’s given you, and then with a grateful heart for the privilege of serving your King, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back to work. Use your talents wisely, because there comes a day, perhaps soon, when no man will be able to work; so let us be about His business as good stewards of the faith and press on, rejoicing always and thanking God for His abundant love and grace toward us. Let there never be found among us any hint of grumbling or murmuring or ungratefulness. Our Lord has made us His own children, and we’ve been blessed beyond all measure. Thank Him, every day, and let’s do EVERYTHING we do as service unto our Lord.   I pray you and your loved ones will have a blessed and happy time of Thanksgiving this year — not just for a day, but every day, as you work to minister to and serve all those around you!

Your brother in Christ,

Ted