True Thankfulness

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

--1 Chron 16:34

Tomorrow, and through the rest of the weekend, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving in true American style. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, pies, cakes, and, in our family, baked mac-n-cheese. Our families will gather around large tables, spreading into living rooms and sofas, old-fashioned TV trays (if you can remember those,) and laugh and reminisce of past times. Shoot, some may actually give thanks to God over the meal before they eat.

I wonder, though, if we are truly thankful, or are we merely enjoying that long holiday weekend full of too much food and football? Do we ever actually stop and ponder what being thankful really is?

Some things I can honestly be thankful for, every day, not just on the fourth Thursday of November each year:

• A Savior who went to the cross to save me and pay for my sins, so I would not have to
• The God of all things who created all, including me, and loves me so much that He opened up the veil so that I can have regular communication directly with him
• Family. All of them. I am blessed with two loving parents, a brother and two sisters, a beautiful and loving wife, four children and their spouses (making that eight kids – wow,) and four grand children with another coming this next spring, in-laws that I adore, and extended cousins that I get to see far too little of.
• My church family, without whom I would not be who I am today
• My business family, the ones I count on to help me be successful in all of my professional dealings
• Sunrises and sunsets, promises anew each morning and peace in the evenings.
• The ability to share these thoughts with any who will read them.

See, there is much more to the American Thanksgiving holiday than just food and friends. We need only look around and see those who suffer without, the ones we blindly pass each day going about our business. We can, and should, be thankful in any, and all circumstances that we find ourselves. Things may have been tougher than we would have liked at some point, but so what?

Anyway . . . may God bless you and yours as you ponder what you have to be thankful for.

'Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!  For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!  Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!' -- Psalms 100:1-5

Because I Live in a Fallen World . . .

Am I living in a fallen world, as the Bible teaches? To answer this in my own mind, I only need look around me at those things that surround me in my daily life.

The assault on my spiritual well-being is real, and it grows stronger as I grow closer to my God. Whether through the attentions and intentions of persons who revolve among my sphere of influence, or the "artistic" themes that I am bombarded with through music, film, print and the web, the prince of darkness prowls the paths of my life, searching for any opening in my mind to cast doubt, sow seeds of discontent, or claim a stronghold upon my body and mind.

I have given myself to Christ. My life is His, as I have died to self and claimed a new life in eternity with Him. That said, even my faith can be attacked, and is being attacked constantly. The enemy is certainly loose in the world, and he will use any means to take me from the hand of God.

Realizing that there really is a spiritual war happening all around me is the first of the many steps I have taken to protect myself and my loved ones, my home and work, my friends and my church.

Next, I am beginning to see that the things that I have sought for entertainment have been systematically bent toward evil intentions. Some not so blatant, but they are apparent to me nonetheless. Allowing a foothold into my mind for the devil to grasp is something I seek to prevent. Not an easy thing in the world I live in now.

Even more distressing are the people that the enemy uses to pierce my defenses. Often, those closest to me are the ones who, unknowingly, assist in opening those doors that should be closed to the evil that seeks to destroy. Satan will use anyone and any circumstance against me, if I am unaware. Family, friends, business associates . . . all trigger my desire to be accepted, to be welcomed, and be viewed as wise and successful in life. That need to present a front is what most weakens my defenses.

Follow Isaiah's admonition:

“You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, "No one sees me"; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me." But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing. Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror. You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you. Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before! Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have done business with you from your youth; they wander about, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you.”-- Isaiah 47:10-15 ESV

Now contrast that with James' promise:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” -- James 4:7 ESV

It does seem so simple, does it not? It is simple, but oh so hard to live in submission sometimes. For me to "submit therefore to God" is to admit that I am not able to live properly in front of others without the Holy Spirit guiding me. It means that I must daily give up my selfish desires and live for His glory. It means that I give all I am to being the shining example of God's Love and mercy; and, when I fail at that, keep moving forward exemplifying His strength through forgiveness.

So, I choose now to surround myself with His people, wherever possible. I attempt to block out the sounds and images of the world at large that would open my mind to the devises of Satan, failing often, but continually striving. When called, I answer, praying that I may be bold and courageous in His sight.

Because I live in a fallen world, and because my flesh is sin, I have only one choice if I am not to become as the world demands: to live as Christ has commanded, and when I fail that, to pray His forgiveness and continue forward in His light, and stay strong in the fight.