Num 14:20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: Num 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Num 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Num 14:23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: Num 14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. This past thursday we here in the USA celebrated a day of Thanksgiving. Every school child knows the story of the Pilgrims but over the years the meaning of this simplified story has become watered down through commercialism and the simple fact that few of us have ever really suffered like the Pilgrims had and even fewer still having done so for their ideals. But that is not what I want to talk about today. Let me try to set the stage of what I want to talk about. The Israelites having lived in the land of Goshen in the country of Egypt for 420 years where they had become slaves to the Pharaohs, had been saved from that life by the mighty hand of God. They had lived through and seen the judgments brought upon Egypt. They had lived through and seen God, through Moses, perform miracles such as the Red Sea parted, poison water made fresh, food from the sky, quail flying into camp to feed them, a river pouring from a rock where there had been no water, they even heard the voice of God with their very own ears. Yet they still could not believe that God could and would take care of them , they forgot the grand miracles they had already seen. Now it was time for them to take possession of the promised land, spies had been sent out, and the report was back. All Moses had been telling them was true! BUT, and here was were they failed, they became full of fear based on the report that giants lived in the land and the cities were well fortified. They forgot what God had already done and were not grateful. Had the Israelites been grateful for the miracles given already they would not have so quickly relied on their own strength to conquer the peoples of the promised land. And that is what I want to talk about. I call it the "Power of Gratitude". A friend suggested that I send him an email every day of the things I'm grateful For. This simple, and at times redundant exercise changed something in me, especially when I started to use that list as the basis for my evening prayer time with the Lord, I began to see my world differently, I saw it bigger and better and I began to see God in a different light, not an unknown light, but one I had not experienced in some time. I began to see how God is in everything and everyone even those who do not believe in Him. I began to see just how much He really loves me and how much Love he has given me both for others and for Him. It is, I believe, the different spirit that God spoke of that was with Caleb. Caleb saw the giants too, but he also remembered how big his God is and saw that the giants were but fleas to God. My fears are even less than fleas to my God, my challenges nothing more than one more step closer to Him. The Power of Gratitude is in remembering the miracles of God and being truly thankful for them. Thanksgiving is not just a day for the Christian it is the way of life we have been called to. Saint Paul said it this way: Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. May God richly bless you and yours Les PS don't forget to check out my other writings at: http://tencommandments4life.weebly.com/
1 Comment
Today is the day the we in the USA celebrate a successful year in remembrance of our forefathers who had struggled against religious and economic control.
Geting ready for the move from country to town. Tons of work to get done, no time for writing right now but always time for God.
I dedicate my life to Him each morning and strive to talk with Him no mater how busy I am. I always try to remember that He gave Adam work and no matter how unpleasent that work might be He is in it with me just as He was with Adam. Sewer pipe is calling so guess I better get it done before it snows. God bless 11/02/2014 Jon 4:2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
|
AuthorI am Just a truck driver in this world but one of Gods Chosen in the next. Follow as I share my Journey through life Archives
May 2015
Categories
All
|