God Will Set Your Course as You Thank Him

We found a restaurant yesterday. Actually, it’s been in Mena a long while. But it’s been bought by someone new and they’ve renamed it and done some extensive changes inside and out. When I walked inside with friends I felt such a calm peaceful atmosphere.

Once we sat down a woman came and shared some information about the restaurant. We were intrigued to meet “Sophie”. We were expecting an elderly woman! Much to our surprise we were greeted at our table by a beautiful woman from Cambodia. She looked like she was in her 30’s. Youthful and radiant with a smile to match. She told us a little about her life in Cambodia.

We prayed together, our group and Sophie. First we prayed for her. Then she prayed for us. Then she thanked the Lord for the rain. It was sweet, simple and God breathed.

We did not set out looking for a divine appointment. We just got in the car, talked about eating and then Danny drove to the little café. We also thought this divine appointment was us to her. But no it was reciprocal at least if not entirely about her to us.

Most, if not all of us, have either been through something rough, are going through it or will go through hard times. For those of us camping on Iron Mountain in Mena Arkansas, 48 hours plus of rain is a hard time. We’re sick of it! We’re mildewed. We’re wet. We’re penned up and chilly. That’s our hard place.
And then you meet someone like Sophie, who as a young child survived the Cambodian Death March, losing family members and having to be grown up at such a young age. Then she thanked God for the rain! And we grumble at the very thing she gives thanks for.

All of us are going to go through things. We’re going to have hard times, hard places and hard decisions. We may not have to walk a horrendous death march, but we’re going to have to travel to the valley of the shadow of death. We will have to let something go we loved or let someone go we cherished. Will we thank God for the rain? Will we smile a heavenly smile because we know that God is getting us through it? Will we let anger, resentment, unforgiveness all go and embrace the truth that God is with us? More so, can we say God even has purpose in it? Will we stick with Him even when we don’t see anything good in sight?

Oh beloved, God knows. He really does. No one else on earth may know the extent of your situation, but God knows. And because He knows, you can know that He is with you. And because He is with you you can rest in His promises, rely on His wisdom and live in the light of His love. If you will let Him, He will take your darkest hours and make them shine like the sun. You may not see His purpose now, but it’s there. And when you get through this to the other side and you are right in the center of His perfect will, don’t forget to look back and thank Him for the rain.

God loves you and He’s for you. And that, beloved, will give you a thankful heart as you learn to lean on Him and let Him set the course of your life to live for His glory alone.

Psalm 71:7-8 My life is an example to many, because You have been my strength and protection.
That is why I can never stop praising You; I declare Your glory all day long!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Psalm 116:16-17 O LORD, I am Your servant; yes, I am Your servant, born into Your household; You have freed me from my chains. I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Give Thanks and Receive Joy!

This past week-end, I bet I heard thank you a hundred times, at least. Most of the students who came through the meal lines were eager to say those words. And our youth evangelist, Jerod McPherson, came through to thank all the volunteers for their generosity. Not once, but several times.

To be told you are appreciated is akin to being given a huge present! Each thank you lights up the face of the recipient and causes them to hold their shoulders a light straighter and return the gift with a smile! Appreciation lightens the load. Gratefulness eases burdens and cares. Would we have continued to serve the Lord had the students not said thank you? Of course. Would we have kept being volunteers if Jerod had not taken the time to come by and speak to each of us personally? Of course. Because we serve a risen Lord, and He’s the one who gives us our reward.

But the special, continual thanks made for more joy, more strength, more eagerness! It also incites us to return the favor. “You’re welcome!” “Thank you!” and more are given as thankfulness gifts are exchanged.
Perhaps you’ve been under a load of troubles, bondage or care. You’ve tried to keep working, keep striving, keep earning your rewards but the load is getting so heavy that you’re just about to sit down and give up. After all, why should you do anything that garners no kindness? Maybe you figure it doesn’t matter to anyone because no one has said a thing to you. Remember, God’s thankfulness isn’t a matter of being perfect, gathering possessions or having things work out the way we want. Rather, thankfulness is an attitude of the heart.

Oh beloved, you matter incredibly to God! And, because you matter to Him, what you do matters as well! Because He has given you everything you need for life and godliness – everything – then it only stands to reason that thanksgiving and praise and glory and honor are due to the One Who made it all possible. Run to the Lord this morning and give Him the glory He is due! Give thanks to the One Who gives you breath and strength to be His hands and feet in this lost and dying world. You may be the only one who seems to know or care what you’re doing, but God sees it all. And, because God sees you, He rewards you as well. His rewards are peace, joy, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, self-control and more. Who else can take an ungrateful heart and replace it with thankfulness? Only the One Who loves you and cares for you eternally. If you’re looking for applause, look into Jesus’ Wonderful face! If you’re holding back on thankfulness, look at the same Precious face! God loves you and holds you securely in His heart forever!

Psalm 50:14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe.

1 Corinthians 16:18 They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

Ruth 2:12 May the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

True Rest is Found in Christ.

It’s the week of the big move for one of our daughters and her family.  They didn’t have all their things moved the other night, so they stayed over with us. That night Blakely woke up disoriented and frustrated. When I got him a drink of milk and tried to take him back to our bed, he said “I want to sleep in my own bed”.  I thought it was cute and was going to take him to the extra room but he went back into my room. He refused to get in the bed though, and slept on the floor for a couple of hours. The next morning his mother told me she had asked him to lay down and that they would pick him up and put him in the new bed. He had gone to bed thinking he would wake up in his new room so he was of course disappointed.

No one wants to go to bed thinking something wonderful is going to happen only to wake up to disappointment, discouragement or a severe change of plans. While the adjustment can be hard, the Lord ultimately has good plans for you.

Oh beloved, is your mind reeling this morning?  Are the circumstances you are waking up to beyond your control? Maybe your heart is broken or your feelings are hurt.  You had a plan. You felt good. Things were looking up. You’d like to refuse to move on.  Never fear! Though your outward circumstances can change in an instant, your inward state of mind can remain steadfast, peaceful and calm.   Rejoice as you run to His Word and see that all He asks is for you to follow Him. That is where True Rest is found! He loves you and He has promised to be with you all the days of your life.

 

I Peter 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation!

Psalm 91:1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 138:8  The LORD will work out His plans for my life— for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.

Psalm 112:17 They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

Hebrews 6:19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.