I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now look out cause here comes Christmas. This verse is a good one to prepare us for Christmas.
James 4:17
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
I have thought many times about doing good to others. Why is it that during Christmas we try to help others much more than we do at other times of the year? I guess that is why they call it the "giving season". This verse should really speak to us. I want you to stop for a moment and really think about it. If we know to do good and do not do it....we sin. Very simple but very deep. We can define doing good many different ways. Here are two ways that pop into my head. The first is telling people about Jesus. Sharing the gospel. It is not hard to do but we don't very often. When we don't share the good news according to this verse it is sin....wow! Second when we know someone is in need and we walk away thinking someone else will take care of it again it is sin. Do you see how deep this little verse can be? Take time to think on this today...it may change some things in our life!
Tom
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Origin of Thanksgiving
I am challenging you to read this story and to stand up before you family this Thanksgiving and remind them what this Holiday represents and why America was founded. Don't expect somebody else to do You do it!!! My friends it is time to stand up for God before it is too late!
Origin of Thanksgiving
"O that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" -Psalm 107:8,15,21 and 31
For Christians, Thanksgiving means more than just turkey and football. Most of us have a vague notion that this holiday began when the Pilgrims invited their Indian neighbors to dinner to thank God for his provisions. But there really is much more to the story.
The Atlantic crossing in the fall of 1620 had been an extremely difficult journey for the Pilgrims. For two months, 102 people were wedged into what was called the “’tween decks”—the cargo space of the boat, which only had about five-and-a-half feet of headroom. No one was allowed above deck because of the terrible storms. This was no pleasure trip, but only one person died during the voyage.
The Pilgrims had comforted themselves by singing the Psalms, but this “noise” irritated one of the ship’s paid crewmembers. He told the Pilgrims he was looking forward to throwing some of their corpses overboard after they succumbed to the illnesses that were routine on such voyages. But as it turned out, this crewmember himself was the only person on the voyage to become sick and be thrown overboard. God providentially protected His people. A little-known fact about the Mayflower is that this ship normally carried a cargo of wine; and the wine spillage from previous voyages had soaked the beams, acting as a disinfectant to prevent the spread of disease.
During one terrible storm, the main beam of the mast cracked. Death was certain if this beam could not be repaired. At that moment, the whole Pilgrim adventure could very easily have ended on the bottom of the Atlantic. But, providentially, one of the Pilgrims had brought along a large iron screw for a printing press. That screw was used to repair the beam, saving the ship and all on board.
After sixty-six days at sea, land was sighted off what is now Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But that was not where the Pilgrims wanted to be. They had intended to establish their new colony in the northern parts of Virginia (which then extended to the Hudson River in modern-day New York), but two factors interrupted their plans. The winds had blown them off course, but they also learned that some other Englishmen who wanted to settle in the same northern part of Virginia had bribed the crew to land them somewhere else.
Once again God was in charge and the Pilgrims were right where God wanted them to be. Had they actually landed near the Hudson River, they would have most certainly been attacked by hostile Indians. Instead, there were no Indians on Cape Cod when the Pilgrims made landfall there.
Many years before some local Indians had captured a Frenchman on a fishing expedition in that region. Just as he was about to be killed, the Frenchman told the Indians that God would be angry with them, would destroy them all, and would replace them with another nation. The Indians boastfully told him that his God could never kill them. However, when the Pilgrims landed in that same region, the land had already been cleared and the fields had already been cultivated, but those Indians who had prepared the land had nearly all died of the plague a year or two earlier.
Despite this provision of safety from the Indians, the Pilgrims barely survived their first winter on the Cape. Only four families escaped without burying at least one family member. But God was still faithful. In the spring of 1621, He sent Squanto to them, an Indian who could speak their own language and who offered to teach them how to survive in this strange new land.
Squanto was one of the few Indians from that area who had not died of the plague. He had been captured as a young man and taken to England as a slave. During that time he mastered the English language; and then had been freed and returned to his native territory shortly before the Pilgrims arrived. Probably the most important thing Squanto taught the Pilgrims was how to plant the Indians’ winter staple crop—corn.
The Pilgrims thanked God for this wonderful helper, but they also shared with Squanto the most valuable treasure they had brought with them from England—the Gospel. Squanto died within a year or two after coming to the aid of the Pilgrims, but before his death he asked them to pray for him that he might go to be with their God in Heaven.
Other Indians who Squanto had introduced to the Pilgrims were also impressed with their God. During the summer of 1621, when it appeared the year’s corn harvest would not survive a severe drought, the Pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer. By the end of the day, it was raining. The rain saved the corn, which miraculously sprang back to life. One of the Indians who observed this miracle remarked that their God must be a very great God because when the Indians pow-wowed for rain, it always rained so hard that the corn stalks were broken down. But they noticed that the Pilgrim’s God had sent a very gentle rain that did not damage the corn harvest.
It was that same miraculous corn harvest that provided the grain for the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving meal with their Indian friends and helpers. Today, many of our public school children are taught that we celebrate Thanksgiving because the Pilgrims were thanking their Indian neighbors for helping them; but the evidence of history shows that on that first Thanksgiving Day the thanks of both Pilgrims and Indians went to God for His great goodness toward them all. But the story does not end there.
Even though the Pilgrims hosted the first Thanksgiving dinner in America, the holiday itself actually has its origins almost 170 years later, after the Revolutionary War had been won and our American Constitution had been adopted. In 1789, Congress approved the Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. Congress then “recommended a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” to thank God for blessing America. President Washington declared November 26, 1789, as the first national day of prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord.
Another 75 years later, after the Civil War ended, President Abraham Lincoln established the last Thursday in November as a day to acknowledge “the gracious gifts of the Most High God” bestowed upon America. Every president did the same until 1941 when Congress officially made Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Now that you know the true story, this Thanksgiving make sure that your children learn it too. Let us all join with generations of Americans before us in giving thanks to God for blessing our country.
I am going home for Thanksgiving so I will be out of pocket for a few days. May you and your family have a great Thanksgiving and may God recieve the glory!
Tom
Origin of Thanksgiving
"O that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" -Psalm 107:8,15,21 and 31
For Christians, Thanksgiving means more than just turkey and football. Most of us have a vague notion that this holiday began when the Pilgrims invited their Indian neighbors to dinner to thank God for his provisions. But there really is much more to the story.
The Atlantic crossing in the fall of 1620 had been an extremely difficult journey for the Pilgrims. For two months, 102 people were wedged into what was called the “’tween decks”—the cargo space of the boat, which only had about five-and-a-half feet of headroom. No one was allowed above deck because of the terrible storms. This was no pleasure trip, but only one person died during the voyage.
The Pilgrims had comforted themselves by singing the Psalms, but this “noise” irritated one of the ship’s paid crewmembers. He told the Pilgrims he was looking forward to throwing some of their corpses overboard after they succumbed to the illnesses that were routine on such voyages. But as it turned out, this crewmember himself was the only person on the voyage to become sick and be thrown overboard. God providentially protected His people. A little-known fact about the Mayflower is that this ship normally carried a cargo of wine; and the wine spillage from previous voyages had soaked the beams, acting as a disinfectant to prevent the spread of disease.
During one terrible storm, the main beam of the mast cracked. Death was certain if this beam could not be repaired. At that moment, the whole Pilgrim adventure could very easily have ended on the bottom of the Atlantic. But, providentially, one of the Pilgrims had brought along a large iron screw for a printing press. That screw was used to repair the beam, saving the ship and all on board.
After sixty-six days at sea, land was sighted off what is now Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But that was not where the Pilgrims wanted to be. They had intended to establish their new colony in the northern parts of Virginia (which then extended to the Hudson River in modern-day New York), but two factors interrupted their plans. The winds had blown them off course, but they also learned that some other Englishmen who wanted to settle in the same northern part of Virginia had bribed the crew to land them somewhere else.
Once again God was in charge and the Pilgrims were right where God wanted them to be. Had they actually landed near the Hudson River, they would have most certainly been attacked by hostile Indians. Instead, there were no Indians on Cape Cod when the Pilgrims made landfall there.
Many years before some local Indians had captured a Frenchman on a fishing expedition in that region. Just as he was about to be killed, the Frenchman told the Indians that God would be angry with them, would destroy them all, and would replace them with another nation. The Indians boastfully told him that his God could never kill them. However, when the Pilgrims landed in that same region, the land had already been cleared and the fields had already been cultivated, but those Indians who had prepared the land had nearly all died of the plague a year or two earlier.
Despite this provision of safety from the Indians, the Pilgrims barely survived their first winter on the Cape. Only four families escaped without burying at least one family member. But God was still faithful. In the spring of 1621, He sent Squanto to them, an Indian who could speak their own language and who offered to teach them how to survive in this strange new land.
Squanto was one of the few Indians from that area who had not died of the plague. He had been captured as a young man and taken to England as a slave. During that time he mastered the English language; and then had been freed and returned to his native territory shortly before the Pilgrims arrived. Probably the most important thing Squanto taught the Pilgrims was how to plant the Indians’ winter staple crop—corn.
The Pilgrims thanked God for this wonderful helper, but they also shared with Squanto the most valuable treasure they had brought with them from England—the Gospel. Squanto died within a year or two after coming to the aid of the Pilgrims, but before his death he asked them to pray for him that he might go to be with their God in Heaven.
Other Indians who Squanto had introduced to the Pilgrims were also impressed with their God. During the summer of 1621, when it appeared the year’s corn harvest would not survive a severe drought, the Pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer. By the end of the day, it was raining. The rain saved the corn, which miraculously sprang back to life. One of the Indians who observed this miracle remarked that their God must be a very great God because when the Indians pow-wowed for rain, it always rained so hard that the corn stalks were broken down. But they noticed that the Pilgrim’s God had sent a very gentle rain that did not damage the corn harvest.
It was that same miraculous corn harvest that provided the grain for the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving meal with their Indian friends and helpers. Today, many of our public school children are taught that we celebrate Thanksgiving because the Pilgrims were thanking their Indian neighbors for helping them; but the evidence of history shows that on that first Thanksgiving Day the thanks of both Pilgrims and Indians went to God for His great goodness toward them all. But the story does not end there.
Even though the Pilgrims hosted the first Thanksgiving dinner in America, the holiday itself actually has its origins almost 170 years later, after the Revolutionary War had been won and our American Constitution had been adopted. In 1789, Congress approved the Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. Congress then “recommended a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” to thank God for blessing America. President Washington declared November 26, 1789, as the first national day of prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord.
Another 75 years later, after the Civil War ended, President Abraham Lincoln established the last Thursday in November as a day to acknowledge “the gracious gifts of the Most High God” bestowed upon America. Every president did the same until 1941 when Congress officially made Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Now that you know the true story, this Thanksgiving make sure that your children learn it too. Let us all join with generations of Americans before us in giving thanks to God for blessing our country.
I am going home for Thanksgiving so I will be out of pocket for a few days. May you and your family have a great Thanksgiving and may God recieve the glory!
Tom
Monday, November 23, 2009
Enjoy today!
James 4:13-14
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away
This is a clear warning that we need to live each day to the fullest. We are never promised another day. As this week brings another Thanksgiving be sure to enjoy the gathering of your friends and families to the fullest. Also and most importantly take time to share what this holiday is all about...Giving thanks to the Almighty God who has blessed us so much more than we deserve. I was thinking the other day about how many families celebrate Thanksgiving without ever taking the time to thank God..what a shame. So during your gathering enjoy! But also remember this time next year you or someone else at your gathering may not be there so tell them that you love them and take advantage of every second together!
Have a great Monday!
Tom
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away
This is a clear warning that we need to live each day to the fullest. We are never promised another day. As this week brings another Thanksgiving be sure to enjoy the gathering of your friends and families to the fullest. Also and most importantly take time to share what this holiday is all about...Giving thanks to the Almighty God who has blessed us so much more than we deserve. I was thinking the other day about how many families celebrate Thanksgiving without ever taking the time to thank God..what a shame. So during your gathering enjoy! But also remember this time next year you or someone else at your gathering may not be there so tell them that you love them and take advantage of every second together!
Have a great Monday!
Tom
Thursday, November 19, 2009
You are not judge!
James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
Here are two verses that get right to the point this morning. Basically verese 11 tells us not to speak evil of anybody else. If we do then we are judging that person. This is a big problem in today's society and it has even infiltated the church. Why do we talk bad about one another? There is absolutely no use in it as all it does is tear someone else down so we can feel better about ourselves. The verse also goes on to tells us if we speak evil we are also speaking evil about the law and judging the law...wow! The law is God's Word and we have no right or business speaking evil or judging God's Word. The verse goes on to tell us we then become judges and not a doer of the law. Previously in James he has told us we need to be doers of the Word not hearers so if we are judging we are not doing what God's word tells us to do!!! Stop and think about that for a moment. Verse 12 sums it up there is only one Lawgiver, who has the ability to save and destroy...that being God, so who are to to judge??? We have no right so why do we do it? Be on guard my friends and listen to what God is saying this morning. Don't judge or speak evil of others!
Tell some about Jesus today...it will bless them and you!
Tom
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
Here are two verses that get right to the point this morning. Basically verese 11 tells us not to speak evil of anybody else. If we do then we are judging that person. This is a big problem in today's society and it has even infiltated the church. Why do we talk bad about one another? There is absolutely no use in it as all it does is tear someone else down so we can feel better about ourselves. The verse also goes on to tells us if we speak evil we are also speaking evil about the law and judging the law...wow! The law is God's Word and we have no right or business speaking evil or judging God's Word. The verse goes on to tell us we then become judges and not a doer of the law. Previously in James he has told us we need to be doers of the Word not hearers so if we are judging we are not doing what God's word tells us to do!!! Stop and think about that for a moment. Verse 12 sums it up there is only one Lawgiver, who has the ability to save and destroy...that being God, so who are to to judge??? We have no right so why do we do it? Be on guard my friends and listen to what God is saying this morning. Don't judge or speak evil of others!
Tell some about Jesus today...it will bless them and you!
Tom
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Want to be close to God?
God gives us the answer to the above question in this verse:
James 4:8
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded
Oh if we would just listen closely to God. He gives os all the answers to life but we seem to have such a hard time grabing on to them. Draw near to God. How do we do that? Pretty simple really. How do you draw near to anyone? By spending a great amount of time with that person. Sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings. Communication! It is no different with God. We say we want to be close to God but are we willing to invest the time and energy? Prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship are all important to growing closer to God. A great relationship takes work on both parts. I know God is willing on His side are we on our side? The second half of the verse tells us we must get sin out to be in a good relationship with God. Remember God is Holy and Righteous so must continually cleanse ourselves to have the best relationship we can with our heavenly father!
So do you really want to be close to God? Then get busy and do what needs to be done and you can be!
Thank you Jesus for paving the way to friendship with God!
Tom
James 4:8
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded
Oh if we would just listen closely to God. He gives os all the answers to life but we seem to have such a hard time grabing on to them. Draw near to God. How do we do that? Pretty simple really. How do you draw near to anyone? By spending a great amount of time with that person. Sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings. Communication! It is no different with God. We say we want to be close to God but are we willing to invest the time and energy? Prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship are all important to growing closer to God. A great relationship takes work on both parts. I know God is willing on His side are we on our side? The second half of the verse tells us we must get sin out to be in a good relationship with God. Remember God is Holy and Righteous so must continually cleanse ourselves to have the best relationship we can with our heavenly father!
So do you really want to be close to God? Then get busy and do what needs to be done and you can be!
Thank you Jesus for paving the way to friendship with God!
Tom
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Submit to God
This is a verse I have known for quit a while now. It is very simple but yet very hard. Hear it is:
James 4:7
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
OK here is the truth. Submit to God and the devil will flee. Sounds oh so very easy doesn't it? Well it isn't. It is a spiritual battle everyday. We must be on guard at every second. I believe this is why God tells us to pray without ceasing as that will keep us in close contact with Him throughout the day. The devil is prowling around us just waiting for the opportunity to jump in and hurt our relationship with Gid. Now this word submit it hard for us humans to do. We don't like authority. We want to be in charge but that is what God desires form each of us. Giving all of our selves to Him. Did you catch that ALL of ourselves. He don't want just a piece here and a piece there...it is total submission. Have you done that? For me some days are better than others. Those are the days the devil usually gets the best of me because I did not submit totally!!! I pray you think about this devotion today. It can be done but we must be willing to give all of ourselves to God!
I love you all in the Lord...if I can ever be of service to you just send me a note!
Tom
James 4:7
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
OK here is the truth. Submit to God and the devil will flee. Sounds oh so very easy doesn't it? Well it isn't. It is a spiritual battle everyday. We must be on guard at every second. I believe this is why God tells us to pray without ceasing as that will keep us in close contact with Him throughout the day. The devil is prowling around us just waiting for the opportunity to jump in and hurt our relationship with Gid. Now this word submit it hard for us humans to do. We don't like authority. We want to be in charge but that is what God desires form each of us. Giving all of our selves to Him. Did you catch that ALL of ourselves. He don't want just a piece here and a piece there...it is total submission. Have you done that? For me some days are better than others. Those are the days the devil usually gets the best of me because I did not submit totally!!! I pray you think about this devotion today. It can be done but we must be willing to give all of ourselves to God!
I love you all in the Lord...if I can ever be of service to you just send me a note!
Tom
Monday, November 16, 2009
Who is your friend?
Another verse to day that will make you do some thinking!
James 4:4
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
What is it in us that wants the World to see us and love us? Why are we so obsessed in impressing others? I guess it all comes down to pride. This verse warns us about cheating on God. James calls those who do adulterers and adulteresses! Wow. He goes on to tell us that if we are friends it is enmity with God. What does enmity mean? Enmity is a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism. That pretty well sums up of how God feels when we put the World before Him. What has the world done for us that we would turn our backs on God? Absolutely nothing. What has God done that He deserves our complete devotion Absoltely everything! Even to the point of sacrificing His Son for sinners such as us...wow. Thank you God!
So it is our choice today...who is your friend? God or the world. Who are you trying to impress? That will give you the answer!
Have a great week!
Tom
James 4:4
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
What is it in us that wants the World to see us and love us? Why are we so obsessed in impressing others? I guess it all comes down to pride. This verse warns us about cheating on God. James calls those who do adulterers and adulteresses! Wow. He goes on to tell us that if we are friends it is enmity with God. What does enmity mean? Enmity is a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism. That pretty well sums up of how God feels when we put the World before Him. What has the world done for us that we would turn our backs on God? Absolutely nothing. What has God done that He deserves our complete devotion Absoltely everything! Even to the point of sacrificing His Son for sinners such as us...wow. Thank you God!
So it is our choice today...who is your friend? God or the world. Who are you trying to impress? That will give you the answer!
Have a great week!
Tom
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