We all can give advice based on our opinions, experience, and our perspectives of the truth. But should we? We need to be very careful when we are receiving or giving advice. Did you pray about it? Is it aligned with the Word of God? Did you consult with the Holy Spirit? Is this advice coming from the voice of God? If we would only ask ourselves these questions before we give advice, and be in obedience to what we hear from God, then we will know what to say or even if we should say anything at all.  

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27)

Hearing God speak is a blessing we receive as His children. The voice of God will give us direction. The voice of God will give us clarity. If we listen to the Holy Spirit, we cannot go wrong. It is vital that we focus on hearing the Holy Spirit and being led by His voice only. Scripture says there will be many false prophets and teachers. Remember even the devil knows scripture! He tried to use it to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:5-6) We must know His voice because correct and sound doctrine is crucial to our salvation and growth in the knowledge of His grace. This is how we grow into spiritual maturity.

This world does not hold the answer to our deepest cry for intimacy and peace with God, or the enjoyment of His presence and power in every area of our lives. Only Jesus knows and only through Him, will the help of the Holy Spirit can we enter into the Kingdom of God. His way is the only way out of darkness. His voice is the only truth.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:16)

“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us: whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (1 John 4:6)

We can learn from Moses, who did mighty things through God, but still fell short in the end. Toward the end of his life, Moses hit the rock twice in disobedience, and yelled at the people out of anger and impatience. Despite his years of service, Moses’s disobedience kept him from entering the promised land. (Numbers 20) Moses misrepresented God. He did what he wanted and not what God had instructed him to do. This should be a lesson to us that when we hear the voice of God, we should be obedient.  

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 1:6)

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” (Ephesians 4:15)

When we give advice it should come from a place of love that is always based on God’s Word, not our opinions or emotions. Also when we seek spiritual advice from a friend or spiritual leader, we must make sure that person is in tuned with God and is giving us God’s truth and not their truth.  

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raise against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Sometimes we may not want to hear godly advice. We want to hear what we want to hear, to make us feel better or to feel justified. And it may help us feel better temporary, but when we receive God’s truth, which is the only truth, we are set free forever! Love and Blessings…

“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. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:33)

People talk a lot about joy and peace during the holidays. However God meant for us to have joy and peace throughout our lives. In order for us to do so we need to understand just what joy and peace is and where (who) it comes from. I learned a long time ago that joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness is the feeling you get when things are going well, it is based on your circumstances. Joy is a deep and enduring state of our soul that no circumstance, event, or human can steal away from us. It’s delighting in God and choosing to rejoice in all things. Because our circumstances don’t rule us, our mood swings are nonexistent. This doesn’t mean we are always in a “good mood” but we can remain in an unexplainable place of contentment. Joyful people don’t allow misery, sorrow, sadness, or despair to rule their thoughts or guide their actions. Joy can cause our heart to smile even if things on the outside seem to be falling apart.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

The worlds definition of peace depends on who you ask. Most will agree the absence of problems or difficult people will give them peace. Now who can live in this world without either of those? Jesus Christ can provide us with an inner peace that does not depend on what’s going on around us or difficult people. Peace isn’t tied to circumstances. Peace is a deep well of confidence that God is who He is and that He will do what He says He will do. True peace can only be found through a relationship with our Father and from resting in the promises of God. Jesus can give us peace even through hardships and trials.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John:16:33)

This world is unpredictable, we never know what it may throw at us.  When we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, joy and peace envelop our life. When we make Jesus Christ the focus of our lives, He will speak peace to our souls and put joy in our hearts that this world cannot take away. Love and Blessings…

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7)

” Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties.” ___C.S. Lewis

TAME THAT TONGUE!

If we let our tongues run loose, God help us! Our tongue gets enflamed with anger, resentment, gossip and the like. The tongue is like a match ready to be lit! Learning how to tame the tongue is possible if we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us on when, where, and if we should speak. The Bible says we should be slow to speak. (James 1:19)

“For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:7-10)

DON’T JUDGE ME!

People are eager to give their opinions about others life and choices, especially on Social Media. It has become a favorite pastime to post cruel and rude comments on others post. Where is the compassion and empathy for others? Every day we have an opportunity to be a light in the world, let’s not waste those opportunities by making snap judgments about others. We are all under God’s law, which is good and perfect and just and loving. When we follow God’s law, we live according to his design. Anything else we make up ourselves, and who are we to make judgments according to our own standards? 

“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery” also said, “do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery , but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judge by the law of liberty. For judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 10-13)  

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge you another?” (James 4:12)

PRESEVERE UNDER TRIALS!

Your spirit is saved by faith in Christ’s sacrifice, and your soul (empowered by the Holy Spirit)) is saved by faith and endurance. (Luke 21:19). That doesn’t mean you are saved by works, but it means your perseverance is vitally rooted in your salvation. Our faith only grows stronger when tested by trials. The choice to keep trusting God in the midst of the trial brings His blessings. True believers “bear fruit with perseverance.” (John 15:1-4)

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED!

There are two days you should never worry about: yesterday and tomorrow. The past is remembered but you should not live there. The future gives us hope, but tomorrow is not promised. Therefore we should live in the moment, the present. Be thankful, love, and cherish each day as if it is your last. Most importantly, every moment and with each breathe we take we should be seeking and searching for God.

“You say “Today or tomorrow we will go to the city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you should say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. “As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16)

LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

It is easy to love those who return that love. The thing is Jesus did not say love only those who love us. His desire is for us to love others as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39) He loves us, unconditionally. He loved us enough to die for us even though we are not worthy. So why is it that we get to decide who is worthy of our love? We live in a world where there is jealousy, hatred, comparison, and the devil is running rapid. But just because we live in it, does not mean we have to be a part of it. (Romans 12:2) We can motivate each other into acts of love and good works, starting with ourselves. Instead of praying for God to change the person in order for us to love them, we can pray for God to give us a heart to love them. Sometimes difficult people are placed in our lives to teach us how to love like God, unconditionally. Everyone who calls themselves a follower of Christ is called to walk in love.

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.” (James 2:8)

SEEK GOD FIRST!

We pursue many things in this life. Fame, wealth, beauty, and love just to name a few. We seek these things presuming they will bring us happiness. However these things can shift depending on time or circumstances. Everything that we chase here on earth is temporary. The steadfast pursuit of seeking God first is the only source of true joy and eternal satisfaction. If we seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, He will provide everything else we need. (Matthew 6:33) He will give us the desires of our heart. (Psalm 37:4) God is our Source and everything else is a resource provided by God.

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up in honor.”  (James 4:7-10)

So there you have it my people, like it or not. Some hard truths not from me but from The Epistle of James. Early church tradition identifies him as the half-brother of Christ. In his letter to the twelve tribes, he identifies himself as “a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This letter have been called the how-to book of the Christian life. You could say James was sounding a wake-up call to all us Christians: “Get your life in line with what you believe! If we are honest, we all have been guilty of being out of line at some point in our lives. James references key points from the Sermon on the Mount and calls on Jesus’s followers to live wisely. James combines the wisdom of Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life of devotion to God. How do we do that? By seeking God and being obedient to His will. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) Love and Blessings…

At the beginning of each new year we begin to make resolutions, set goals, and make plans. The past two years with the pandemic, some of our plans had to be postponed or stopped completely. Unfortunately it looks as if this may be the case this year. The good news is even though our plans may change, nothing can stop God’s plan for our lives. I used to get upset when things did not go as I planned. I always had a plan B. God doesn’t need a plan B. When we surrender our lives to God we are not bothered by disruptions in our plans because we know who is really in charge. There is nothing wrong with planning if we are getting direction, advice, and guidance from God. God’s plan comes with total submission to His will and authority in our lives. Most of the time, our plans are self-satisfying, temporary, and usually separate us from God. God’s plans are always best for us. God’s plan for our lives are peace, prosperity, hope, and a future with Him. Even when we follow God’s plan, there will be detours on the road we travel. We will find obstacles, persecution, hurt, pain, rejection, and suffering. The difference is the Holy Spirit will be there with us, guiding and comforting us through it all. I believe when troubles come our way, and it is not in our plan, we do not know what to do so we panic. However, once we give our life to God and submit to His plans for us, we can be content and have peace in the mist of our troubles. People will wonder why you are still smiling, praising, and worshiping when the world seems to have gone crazy. It is because you know that all things are going to work out for your good. You will no longer stress or get depressed when your plans fall apart, because you know God has something better lined up! I no longer need a plan B. I know God’s plan for me is not only eternal, but full of hope, joy, and peace, even in the mist of life’s storms. No pandemic or devil in hell can stop the plans God has for me! What do you do when God’s plan does not align with your plan? I suggest you go with God’s plan; it is always better! I just finished a devotion that tells a simple, yet powerful truth. Life. Is. Not. About. Us. It is about God and His kingdom. It’s not about our happiness, because happiness comes from the outside in (not like joy, which comes from the inside out). When we joyfully surrender our mind, will, and emotions to Christ and grow in the knowledge of God, life takes on a new meaning. If you want your life to count, then give your life completely over to God. This year let us make sure our plans are in alignment with God’s plan. We want to be in total surrender to Him! It is not about carrying out our will on earth but fulfilling God’s will for our life on earth. Love and Blessings…  

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  

“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91 9-11)  

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)  

Sometimes we put on a smile when that is the last thing we feel like doing. Our feelings are real but there are times we try to hide them because we don’t want to hurt, worry, make anyone angry, or to be judged. So instead of expressing ourselves, we pretend and hide behind a smiling face. Sound familiar? The good news is we can always get in the presence of God and express ourselves, reveal our true feelings, and as the saying goes, let our hair down.

Unlike us humans, God is not fooled by our attempts to disguise our true feelings and put on a false smile. The fact is, He already knows how we are feeling so there is no need to be pretentious with God. We can bring Him our hopes, fears, doubts, even our anger. God knows us better than we know ourselves. When we need a place to express ourselves without fear of reprisal or judgement, we can get into the presence of God. In our Father we will find mercy, not punishment, comfort, not reproach. When we come into His presence, the Holy Spirit will activate our spiritual being which trumps our physical feelings. This safeguards us against acting on our feelings the worldly way. And instead we are able to operate Christlike in spite of our feelings.  

I truly wish we could open up and let people know how we feel all the time, but realistic we live in a world that makes it hard. If you have even one person in your life that you can express yourself unconditionally, then you are blessed. However, if you don’t, do not be discouraged. Those of us who know Jesus always have Him to open up to.

When Jesus walked this earth, He had to deal with feelings just as we do. That is why He understands. Jesus had His disciples and followers, but they didn’t truly understand His mission or who He really was until after His death and resurrection. Who did He talk to about His feelings? The Bible tells us He was always in prayer with our Father in heaven. Before He was to be crucified, Jesus asked God that His assignment be taken from Him. His flesh was not “feeling” suffering and dying on the cross even though He knew He would rise again. But immediately after asking, Jesus also being Spirit said, “Your will, not mine.” Jesus prayed until God strengthened Him and waited until His feelings were in line with the Father’s will before leaving the garden. That is what happens when we take our feelings to God. Sometimes God does not take the situation or problem away from us. He knows the outcome will be for our good just as Jesus dying was for our good. What He will do is strengthen us, calm us, and be with us as He bring us through. Life’s trails and storms will wreak havoc on our feelings. But passionate prayer gives us and outlet to express them and bring them in line with God’s will. Then we pray as Jesus did,  “Your will, not mine.” Jesus never let His physical feelings interrupt His spiritual walk. He was always about His Father’s business. Brothers and sisters, we can go to God in prayer, expressing ourselves without fear of condemnation or judgement. In return He will give us peace and He will work everything out for our good. Love and blessings…

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, move this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:42)

“Trust  in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“And  we know that in all things God works for the good(A) of those who love him, who[a] have been called(B) according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, It profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.
Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

___Girlfriends In God

This Christmas give the gift of love. Love and Blessings…

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:34-40)

If you are reading this, you are blessed. First blessing of the day, God breathed air into your lungs! Christmas not even here yet, and look at God, another priceless gift, life! And for those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God has given us eternal life! You just can’t beat God’s giving!

Man operates on the principle of shortage but God has no limits. God does not have to bless others at your expense, nor does He bless you at anyone elses expense. There is a portion that God gives to you which no man can touch because it has your name on it. He has contacts and blessings you do not even know of which are reserved just for you. God made the skyways big enough for every bird to spread their wings. He also made it so that there is enough blessings for each of us to soar. So the next time someone else is blessed, don’t be discouraged or jealous, be happy for them. Then shout out with expectation, I’m next in line for my blessings!

And remember we are blessed to be a blessing! God blessed you and woke you this morning, bless someone else with some love, laughter, and a smile. Love and Blessings…

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,  you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. (2 Corinthians 9:8-10)

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

We know that communication is important in any relationship. So how can we claim to have a relationship with Jesus and not communicate with Him? When we pray, we open ourselves up to the Spirit, recognizing Him for who He is. If we pray continuously, it strengthens our relationship with our Father in Heaven. The Bible says we should pray without ceasing. Whether we are in need or not, regardless of our circumstances, we should pray. If everything is good, we tell Him how thankful and grateful we are. We know that we can depend and call on God when we are in need, but we can also commune with Him when we are not. How would you like it if someone you are in a relationship with only talked to you when they needed something? Besides getting to know Him better, consistent prayer and spending time with God releases favor and blessings in our life’s. In Matthew 6:5-8, when Jesus is teaching on prayer. He did not say “if” you pray, He said “when”  you pray. The scriptures shows us that even with all He was doing, Jesus  spent much time in prayer with His Father. As should we.

There is nothing the devil dreads more than when we pray. He will try distracting us to keep us from praying. He loves to see us running around “busy”,  doing the “Lords work” as some like to say. So busy there is no time to set aside for God. A quick blessing before meals, and maybe a prayer before bedtime will have to do. Too busy to have a relationship with God. Satan laughs at our busyness. He loves it when we are more concerned with religion than a relationship with Jesus. He does not fear when we are eager and earnest Bible students and know the Bible from front to back. So does he. He is not bothered when we show up at Church on Sundays. He shows up there sometimes too. But how he trembles when we pray! Why? Because he knows prayer is powerful! He knows when we pray, we get closer to Jesus, and he can’t touch us with his tricks and temptations. We are covered under God’s promises in Psalms 91. Sisters and Brothers you want to scare the devil, pray without ceasing! Love and Blessings…

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Are you familiar with the song “How I Got over” by Mahalia Jackson? It says sometimes I look back and wonder how I made it over. There are days when we all wonder how we made it over and sometimes wonder if we can keep moving forward. We get through one challenge and here comes another. Before we can even grasp the concept of losing a loved one, we have to grieve the loss of another. And let’s not get into the troubles of this world today. We jump over one hurdle and just as we feel our feet adjusting to walking the path again, a new hurdle emerges. All the while we are trying to live a life that pleases Christ, our Savior. I finally found the secret on how to make it over, in spite of circumstance. Well it’s not really a secret. The Bible tells us from chapter to chapter and scripture to scripture how to make it over life’s challenges.  

God’s Word gives us the answers on how to make it over. The first thing we must remember and believe is 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” in Christ. And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.” God’s promises us that He is our strength, He will never leave us, He have plans to prosper us, He will fight for us, He will give us peace, and He will love us. You don’t have to believe me, grab your Bible and read it for yourself. The only thing we have to do is accept God’s gift of salvation and have faith in His promises.

Sounds so simple, right? So why is people still struggling with life trying to make it over day after day? Why are they stressed and overwhelmed? It helps when we stay focused on God. I try to glance at the world and what’s going on but keep my gaze on God. The Bible puts it this way in Colossians 3:1-2, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Jesus said in this world we would have trials and tribulations. (John 16:33). It was not easy for Him here on earth as a man, nor has it been easy for anyone that has followed Him, then or now. There are people right now who are being persecuted for their beliefs and worship. Just as we know there was a purpose for Christ’s pain and suffering, we know because of Christ there is purpose in our pain and suffering as well. We don’t rejoice because of the suffering, but because of God’s goodness. We suffer for the sake of divine glory.  

But the good news is God is all-powerful, His power is not restrained, limited, or inhibited by anyone or anything on earth. So If God is for us, (and He is) who can be against us?(Romans 8:31). There is nothing we face that takes God by surprise. No enemy is too strong for Him to conquer. No prayer is too difficult for Him to answer. And when we get tired or overwhelmed think of the Prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-21). Right after God used Elijah to show how amazing He is, the queen of Israel, Jezebel, threatened Elijah’s life. You would think he would have no fear after what he just witnessed God do on Mount Carmel. Yet Elijah was human. He was a regular man like us who just got tired. He sat under a tree and said, “I have had enough Lord.”  That’s exactly how this world can make us feel sometimes. We sometimes want to say I have had enough Lord. We want to go sit somewhere and have a pity party. But look how God responded to Elijah’s moping, He said, “get some rest, eat some food, go back the way you came, and find the others who serve me to support you.” And that’s exactly what He will do for us. He will refresh, renew, and send us help when we need it!

The promises of Romans 8:28 that God works for our good “in all things” is encouraging when we are facing challenges. If our hearts and motives are pure and we truly seek to do God’s will, then there is nothing too difficult for us as we depend on His strength. Keep your focus on God and believe in His promises. Standing on God’s promises is how we make it over! Love and Blessings…

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14)

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)AMP

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.” (Romans 5:3-5)  

“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love [him] and [who] are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)

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“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”
(Psalm 100:4)

The event on which our modern American Thanksgiving celebration is based began as a three-day harvest celebration in 1621—sometime between September 21 and November 11, the exact days being unknown. Two years later, in 1623, an actual Thanksgiving Day celebration was held. While the original three-day event was more of a “festival” than a “day” of celebration, it suggests a worthy template: not relegating thanksgiving to a single day of the year.

Indeed, a psalmist in the Old Testament admonished his readers to “Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day” (Psalm 96:2, emphasis added). While it is certainly good to set aside a day or days to celebrate God’s goodness, and to give thanks to Him, His blessings are not limited to one day of the year. Gratitude and thanksgiving as a lifestyle are appropriate “from day to day” since that is the pattern of His blessings. As long as God’s blessings continue to flow, so should our thanks flow accordingly.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving today, give thanks to God that His blessings and compassions “are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23).

Paslm 96:1-13

“The habit of celebrating the greatness and graciousness of God yields an endless flow of thankfulness, joy, and zeal.”
J. I. Packer