Thankful 3...

I am thankful for correction.

I remember learning to type...way back then.  We had correction tape.  It was a lifesaver.

I keep a bottle of White-Out in my desk drawer.  It comes in handy.  Often.

We are learning to depend on spellcheck. And as we do, we become less cautious and aware of mistakes.

I had my bite corrected in order to be rid of headaches.  My teeth were not lined up correctly, and it caused pain.
Surgeries are performed regularly to correct problems.
I wear glasses to correct vision problems.

The list is endless.

Corrections are often not pleasant but are necessary and beneficial. But corrections are not really corrections if they aren't done with an ideal standard.

Spelling has a standard.  We have dictionaries.
Vision has a standard.     We want 20/20 vision.
Our bodies have a standard. We want them maintained in the original design.

We are wise to be easily corrected.  Behavior. Attitudes. Actions.  There IS a correct way to live, and even though we  choose to deny or refuse it,  it is the standard.  We will all be measured by it eventually.

"This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God, or responded to correction. Truth has perished, it has vanished from their lips." (Jer. 7:28)

"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, whoever ignores correction leads others astray."
(Prov. 10:17)

"He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame. Whoever heeds correction is honored."
(Prov. 13:18)




"Bless is the man You discipline, O Lord, the man You teach from Your law." (Ps. 94:12)


I purpose to hear and heed the first Word of correction.... to be easily corrected. I do not want to be re-taught, yet when I do not learn easily, I purpose to be thankful that He does not give up or allow me to slip further away from Him.

Thankful 2...

I am thankful for reasoning.

I think about the line from Forest Gump, "I am not a smart man..."  

I'm not the smartest or most educated person you know, but I can reason.  I can think about things and make sense of some things.  Certainly on some levels anyway.

Understanding the concept behind a matter makes a lot of difference.  Knowing the 'why' of doing something instead of just the 'how'.  In teaching hair cutting or hair coloring, I emphasized the laws of color and the principles of shape.

It does limited good to learn ONE haircut.  When you learn the principles behind the steps of that one design, when you learn why those steps have that particular end result....then you can use the principles in endless ways.

I think of dozens of examples...and I am reminded of one example that changed history.

Adam and Eve.

While I am thankful for my ability to think and reason, today I purpose to use that reasoning only within the parameters of God's design and His will.

When God says 'do' or 'do not', He says it because His reasoning is perfect.  I need not understand it or even try to reason it out for myself.  It is always always always in my best interest to simply obey and follow His reasoning and rest my own in the matter.

There are ample opportunities to exercise mine.....

Thankful 1.....

It is again the season of Thanksgiving.  And I again issue a challenge.....

Make it your purpose to develop the habit of thankfulness.

I have heard that it takes ten days to develop a habit.  That means we can develop a habit of thankfulness between today and turkey day !

What is it you are thankful for today?

I challenge you to look beyond those broad responses like health and freedom.  Even though we should all indeed be thankful for those things.  My challenge is to be more specific....





Today, I am thankful for words.


I am thankful to be able to use these things we call 'words' to communicate by voice, by sign language, written on paper, transferred thru technological machines across the entire globe....

Words are powerful.

They are a gift of God that empower and connect us.

They build up, but can also tear down.
They encourage, but can also defeat.
They communicate love, but can communicate hate.

I am thankful for words, and I purpose today to use them in positive ways.

Sand...

When our boys were little, we hauled sand almost every year.  They loved to play in it, build roads, pile it into mountains, and dig lakes.  They were always frustrated because their lakes wouldn't hold water...

I've spent a lot of time on lake shores, but I had never spent much time on a beach before last summer.  We visited our son's family and made a day trip to the New Jersey shore. Miles before we arrived, I began to see sand.  The trees began to get smaller and scrubbier.

Standing on the edge of that massive body of water, my bare feet could almost feel the current of water pushing thru the sand.

Today, I am back visiting New Jersey.  But this time there will be no visit to the beach.  Instead, I am drawn to the news programs as they show the devastation of the recent monster storm, Hurricane Sandy.  The houses built on the sandy beaches have been washed away, their foundations of sand unable to withstand the power of the wind driven water.

I am reminded of the song we sang in Vacation Bible School when I was a child.

"The foolish man built his house upon the sand.....the rains came down...the house came crashing down...."

I don't mean to call those folks foolish. I don't presume to judge or criticize.  I would love living in one of those beach houses.  It is a beautiful place, a beautiful environment....but it is vulnerable.


Water pushes thru sand and sand moves with it.  It just does.
Sand washes away..  It just does.

My heart breaks for the devastation on those sandy beaches from hurricane Sandy.

 I purpose today to not build my life on what can be pushed and washed, or blown away by circumstances on this planet.  I purpose for my life to be lived on The Rock of ages....

"For in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in HIS dwelling, He will hide me in the shelter of HIS tabernacle, and set me high upon a rock."
( Psalm 27:5 )

And I thank Him again this morning for the safety we have enjoyed during hurricane Sandy, so close to those beautiful sandy beaches here in Tabernacle, New Jersey with our son and his family.

And I pray for all those who suffer and grieve as I sit here untouched.... God help them.

Answers...

God answers.  I know He does.

During the past few hours, He has said 'Yes' to my requests.

To mine....yet for so many others, it seems there was not a yes.

It is the age old question.  Why do bad things happen, even to good people?

Again my mind turns to the story of Job.  Again I determine to look ole' Job up when we all get home to God's house and thank him for his faithfulness.  I want to personally thank him for being used by God SO many times to encourage and admonish me.  I want him to know that his suffering so many many years ago did not go without purpose.



I do not want to be like Jobs friends.  I don't presume to know why this tragedy has happened, other than this world is suffering from years and years,  layers and layers of sin and rebellion.

The ground was cursed because of disobedience and rebellion in the Garden.  We have damaged our earth home and caused consequences we don't even recognize.  Yet God IS still on His throne, He still has power that is unequalled....far beyond the small display we have seen in the recent storm!!

I do not challenge His authority, I do not accuse Him....yet I struggle with why we were not touched by what has devastated so many.

The storm did not harm us.  But it was not because of any good thing in me, or any of us in this house.
The storm did not harm us.  And that was exactly what we requested.
The storm did not harm us.  Yet so many were indeed harmed.

Did they pray?

Surely there were prayers said....by someone......

Warning...

We have been made aware of a coming storm.   Warnings are a constant on any radio or TV you turn on.

The store shelves have very little of the basic supplies and food items.  It is interesting to see what people hoard in times like this.  We are much more likely to go to 'needs' than our usual 'greeds'.  

Water and bread are two items at the top of the list. 

Medicines that are essential for managing a health condition..

Blankets that contain body warmth...

Light, whether battery operated lanterns and flashlights, or candles....

We have had days of warning.  I 'think' we are ready.  Whether we are or not remains to be seen....

Man has been given warning since the Garden incident.  Oh that we would all heed that warning and respond to it as we seem to all respond to this visible storm.  

"The wages of sin is death" ( Romans 6:23 ) And we all fit in that wage bracket.... (Romans 3:23)

I find myself constantly reflecting on the seemingly monumental things that are going on on our planet home.  Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Floods, Tornados, Hurricanes....

I've came to New Jersey expecting to see the glory of my Creator displayed magnificently.  But I was expecting colorful leaves.... It is not the first time that He shows up in a way I did not expect.

My Father does not lose His cool.  He does not lash out in unrestrained anger.  He is not mean and nasty....  

He is holy.  He is just. He is loving and patient, but He will not contend with sinfulness forever. (Isaiah 57:16)


There are those that thing these are signs of His wrath.  Perhaps they are.


I have experienced His comfort and perfect peace in storms before.   I know His comfort and Presence in this storm.

I am somewhat comforted by the resident of Uz.

Wealthy.
Big family.
Shunned evil.
Respected and reverenced God.
Blameless.
Protected.
Blessed.

Yet devastated in a series of storms and tragedies.



Father, I thank You once more for the blessings of Your Hand, and for Your protection. Lord God, You are perfect and holy, and I am not. Father God, as the storm rages in our midst, my desire is to accept the adversity of life as willingly as I accept and embrace Your blessing.  I purpose in my heart to be like Job, to remain firm in my integrity, never doubting Your love, never failing in faith. (Job 2:9)

You, Lord, are our essential.
Wrap us in Your Presence.
Be our Light as never before....
You, Lord, are our Peace in this storm.

Hallelujah.

Prayer...

　

Father, we who call ourselves by Your holy Name come seeking Your Face. Long have we enjoyed the blessings of Your Hand. Make our blinded eyes see the rebellion in ourselves so that we are truly humbled before You. Make our eyes see the wicked ways in our own lives. Lord God may we no longer seek only the blessings You provide, but with undivided hearts seek Your Face. (2 Chron. 7:14)

Holy Father, you have been merciful to the sinful and rebellious, You have given grace and a way of pardon and restoration, but You command repentance. Father, I pray we may be brought to true repentance without further suffering. For each individual and for our nation, I pray that we might have fresh realization of our own personal sin and truly turn from it. (Acts 17:30 )

　

Lord, stir Your Holy Spirit within every Christian in this land. Motive each person to seek You as never before. Father our security is in You. You are king. You are ruler. I fervently ask that You show Yourself and make Yourself heard in each Christian heart and mind. Oh God, may we seek You and follow Your leading BEFORE we find ourselves in trouble. (Ps. 32:6-7)

Father, You are sovereign over times, season, and all powers. Only by Your permission does any ruler sit in authority. (Daniel 2:20) Reveal to us when we are decieved and have believed lies. Oh God, help us to see the truth of what is happening in our world. Help us to recognize the signs around us, just as we recognize the signs of storm clouds in the sky. (Luke 12:54-56)

Our Creator God, fear and reverence of You is where any and all knowledge begins. Give our leaders fresh fear and reverence for You and Your Word. Enable them to hear and understand Your Will, increase their learning, give them wise counsel, and a desire to bend their will to Yours. (Prov. 1:5-6)

　

Lord, those who have followed You have “ subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. “(Heb. 11: 33-34)

　

Now Lord God, strip away human pride in our leaders, remind them that only thru You can any lasting thing be accomplished. Mere man can do nothing, but thru You, all things are possible. ( Phil. 4:13)

Our God, do again what you did in the days of old. Astonish us as You rule and reign in our midst. (Hab. 1:5)

And Father, as You bring judgment, as You surely must….remember mercy. (Hab. 3:2)