Archive for the ‘Guest Post’ Category

A Pastor’s Struggle with Mental Health: May is Mental Health Awareness Month

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FINDING THE INSIDE SMILE AGAIN

Dear Pastor Jeremy.

It’s been a while since I reached out to you with a word of encouragement. Though you do not seek it from man, I acknowledge your hard work as you seek to glorify God through your ministry. It is not easy. You are called to study the divine scriptures and to walk the road with others as they navigate their way through sorrow, pain, and trials. It is my prayer that this letter will empower you through the mighty working of the Holy Spirit to minister His truth regarding a pressing need all too common and all too overlooked.

Everyone is so busy these days trying to stay afloat in stormy seas of family relationship, personal difficulties, work challenges, and financial matters. I too have found that everything on my to-do list for the day cannot be accomplished in the hours given. It has left me feeling overwhelmed and emotionally drained. Because you desire peace and victory for me, I need to let you know how I am feeling.

I have attended church for as long as you have. I listen intently to your messages each week and find great comfort for my depression in the Scriptures you share passionately. How present Jesus has been as I walk the unpredictable road of my mental health-related issues and intense counseling sessions.

Next to my bowl of cereal in the morning is the anti-depressant medication I must take before I finish my coffee.

By three in the afternoon, my energy is running on fumes. As the sun sets in the evening, so the anxiety rises to take its place. And as my head hits the pillow, they who are hidden in the darkness empty barrels of the toxic sludge of PTSD and wounded memories in my mind.

God has brought me a long way on the road to healing, but sometimes I still attend church with a warm smile on the outside and unsettling heaviness on the inside. I rise in God’s grace to serve Him and His people, but often at the same time I fear the darkness I can see approaching from a distance.

Smiling on the outside is easier than smiling on the inside.

A service can go well without it being well with one’s soul. I know God wants me to smile on the inside. He wants me to rejoice. He knows too that depression isn’t a coat that can be taken off and stored in the closet.

There are some days that are so hard, and praying is difficult. I barely say anything. I carry my Bible under my arm and sorrow in my heart as I enter the sanctuary. Though I am still quite young, there are times when I feel very old on the inside. I desire to know God and experience Him afresh, but so often I struggle to do so because it feels like my eyes are stinging from the coarse grains of sand the storm of mental-health struggles has kicked up about me.

But Pastor, I’m not giving up. Don’t get me wrong, there is no confidence in the flesh.

No neuron or muscle, talent or accomplishment serves as a cure to soothe the inflammation of the mind and restore the missing inner smile. If I gave up, where else could I go? Where else could “we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?1 Christ is our Truest Friend. He is the only dependable Friend of the church. I love God because He first loved me. I have tasted the Living Waters and have lost my desire for the cup of the world. I sing the hymns and choruses of old because they confirm what God has done in me. Partaking at the Lord’s table with Him is truly a sacred time. If I walked away from church and from serving God, then I would deny the confidence that “… I will see the LORD’S goodness while I am here in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).2

I know you are aware of the struggles Christians face as they live as Christ’s ambassadors on the earth. You have preached often about the bitter experiences of Joseph, David, and Paul. You haven’t been afraid to take your congregation through the pages of Job and Hannah’s story. You’ve encouraged the children of God to “have a cup of tea” with Thomas, Peter, and John.

I’ve seen you at times wearing an outward smile. I am not foolish enough to believe you have it all put together.

Each precious soul in the body of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ needs to find and keep their inward smile – a joy that is not dependant on good times or feeds off outward enjoyment of things. The church needs to return to the safest arms and warmest heart. He will not reject us though we come still wearing the heavy coat of depression to worship Him. The Shepherd knows how to carry His lambs and how to break the jaws of the wolves that stalk the flock.

When that darkness envelopes me, I have found Psalm 43:3-4 most uplifting: “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God-the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!” 

It doesn’t take a professor of Theology to understand where a broken heart and troubled mind can go to be counseled, comforted, and restored.

I’m learning that the only way I will find my inner smile is to follow God’s light and truth to the place where He restores it anew. It leads to a place where I am touched by the Master’s hand. It is a place where holy acoustics convey the Father’s heart and words with perfect clarity. Though I suffer outwardly and emotionally, I do not need to ask Him to call me home. All that matters is that He calls me “beloved.” How often, dear Pastor we forget that God still Is everything He was, and that because He restored the inner smile of Joseph, David, Paul, Job, Hannah, Thomas, Peter, and John, He will do it for His bride today. I know it is your testimony too. May we all submit to His holy work and good plan as we work the corners of our mouths by flexing the muscles of faith.

Dear Pastor Jeremy, I encourage you to spend time in this Psalm. Follow His light and truth. Look into the matter thoroughly. I know you’ll be encouraged.

In Christ’s service
Pastor Jeremy

Jeremy Dykman is a pastor with a heart to serve God and a calling to share God’s Word with others. He was born in South Africa and spent thirty-nine years in Johannesburg before moving to Canada with his wife and two sons. Jeremy has recently released a book detailing his personal journey with depression. Room 13B is available through your favorite retailer.
 
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1 What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Lyrics: Joseph Medlicott Scriven. Music: Charles Crozat Converse. Published in Sing His Praise by Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, Missouri, (1991).

2 Scripture quotation taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. NLT® Text Edition: 2012. Copyright © 2012 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois.

Jesus Was On My Airplane!

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We are delighted to bring back one of our most popular series! 

We’ve put out a call to our incredible authors, asking for written pieces on topics of their choosing.

Rose Spiller, together with Chris Paxson, founded Proverbs 9:10 Ministries and writes books on theology and how to study the Bible!

The Bible Blueprint

No Half-Truths Allowed

The Final Exodus

We are thrilled that Rose contributed her skills and knowledge to our newsletter, and think you will be too!

So without further adieu, here is Rose’s piece, written just for us to share with you!  

 

Jesus Was On My Airplane!

Okay, maybe I took a little artistic license with the title of this post to get your attention since the truth is that Jesus, being Omni-present, is on everybody’s airplane every time!

But sometimes, He decides to make His presence known! On a recent flight, God used the flight attendant to show me that the “emergency talk” you hear on airplanes is not just about how you should respond in an air crisis.

The first things that is always pointed out on the airplane are the emergency exits. One should always note, though, that the best exit may not be the one in front of you. God, too, has given us an emergency exit – it’s called prayer!

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." No matter what situation we find ourselves in, our first response should be to find the emergency exit and go to God in prayer. Once we have handed it over to Him, we can feel safe knowing that He will handle the situation by always doing what it is for our spiritual good and for His glory. We need to remember though, that the best exit from our situation may not be the one that is in front of us; it may be one behind us and that makes it difficult to see with our forward-facing tunnel vision.

Step two, an oxygen mask will drop from above.

We are always cautioned to put our own mask on before assisting someone else with theirs. Friends, this is the Word of God! Only God’s Word has the life-giving, life-transforming, life-saving message we need for our very existence!

And as 2 Timothy 2:15 warns us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” We need to have our own mask firmly in place (knowing God’s Word) before helping others with theirs!

Step three, your seat cushion is also a life preserver.
Pick it up and hold on tight! Is there any clearer picture of Jesus?! Romans 10:9 tells us, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It is not enough pick up the seat cushion (confess that Jesus is Lord), you need to hang onto it tightly (believe in your heart).

Only then will you be saved!

And the last step, should the lights go out in the plane, there are lights along the aisle that will illuminate allowing you to see where you are going. This is the Holy Spirit!

Ezekiel 36: 26 – 27 says, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

We are all born dead in our sins and in the darkness of that sin state.

It is only by the illuminating work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit that we are able to see what Jesus has done for us and that our way is made clear. And after He regenerates our hearts, He indwells in us sanctifying us, guiding us so that we are able to find our way. God doesn’t just send us up in the air on our own. He has graciously and mercifully put a complete rescue plan in place for His people so that whatever may
occur while we are flying through life, in Him, we will be equipped to handle it!

You can follow Rose and Chris on their website Proverbs 9:10 Ministries, or on Instagram, or Facebook.

 

 

The Real Saint Patrick – According to a Northern Irishman

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Saint Patrick

Musings of an Irishman

Who was the real Saint Patrick? A collection of resources. 

With it being St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to write a little something about the man who inspired the holiday. Although there is much speculation about who St. Patrick was and what he did, there are some indisputable facts that many people do not know.

Ambassador author John Holmes describes the life of St. Patrick and explains the many trials and triumphs that St. Patrick faced throughout his life in his book, Saint Patrick: The Man and His Mission. In the opening preface of his book, he explains:

“St. Patrick is among the most famous figures in history. He is forever linked, and rightly so, with Ireland and the Irish people. Around the world innumerable places, churches, colleges and institutions carry his name and yet surprisingly few individuals have anything more than a slight knowledge or understanding of the man himself. You would be hard-pressed, for example, to find anyone, even in our halls of learning, who could quote something that Patrick has said. It is true that in recent years some well-researched books on Ireland’s patron saint have been published but it would appear that most of these have a limited circulation and are not widely read.

Patrick belongs to the fifth century; to times and conditions far distant from ours. Our knowledge of society in Ireland in those days is limited indeed, for virtually nothing remains of the materials needed to construct some kind of detailed history. By nature of the case it must also be admitted that there is a multitude of questions about Patrick which cannot be answered with complete confidence. There is a multitude of questions which can never be answered – at least not in this life.

We can, however, be reasonably certain about many things and there are areas where the scholars are in general agreement. The historical basis of this little book rests on such material.”

In one of the first chapters of his book, Holmes explains how it is almost impossible to give an exact date for St. Patrick’s birth due to the rarity of records during the time; however, it is widely assumed that he was born in England around 390 AD. He was born into an aristocratic and religious family. Around the age of 16, he is believed to have been captured by Irish raiders and taken across the sea to Ireland as a slave. According to legend, Patrick worked as a shepherd near Slemish Mount while in captivity. After six years of slavery, he escaped confinement, obtained his freedom, and returned home to England and his family. Little did he know (upon his return home) that one day, he would be called back to the land of his captivity to preach the gospel of salvation to the people of Ireland. Today, many remember him as the man who used the shamrock (clover) to explain the holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I believe it is only fitting to share the writing of St. Patrick entitled, The Confession of Patrick, which can be found within Holmes’ book.

“I pray those who believe and fear God, whosoever deigns to look at or receive this writing which Patrick, a sinner, unlearned, has composed in Ireland, that no one should ever say that it was my ignorance if I did or showed forth anything however small according to God’s good pleasure; but let this be your conclusion and let it so be thought, that – as is the perfect truth – it was the gift of God. This is my confession before I die.”

As we enter St. Patrick’s Day this year, let us remember the love that he had for the Lord and the vision he sought to fulfill by ministering in Ireland. In closing, let us remember the words (so similar to the feelings of St. Patrick that they could have been sung by him) from the old Irish hymn, Be Thou My Vision:

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun.
Heart of my own heart, whate’er befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

 

To learn more about Holmes and Saint Patrick: The Man and His Mission, visit HERE.

 

And learn more about some of Ambassador’s other Irish titles including:

A Little Irish Love Story

The Titanic’s Last Hero

A Shiver of Wonder

Favorite Flavors of Ireland

Flavors of Ireland

The Shamrock and Peach

Treasures in Heaven: Earth is Not Home

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A devotional by JJ Gutierrez

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The cabinet.

I sat quietly and stared at the glass cabinet that set on the back wall of my dining room. This cabinet housed a special treasure of mine. A treasured I inherited nearly thirteen years ago from my grandmother. A treasure that beheld heartfelt memories and I was sure the safest place for it was on the shelf, behind the glass where no one could accidentally break it. This treasure, much like a chest filled with gold, diamonds, and colorful gems, came in many vibrant hues too. Some with beautifully painted elaborate flowers; others with a simple but elegant design. My favorite one was part of a set…six small teacups and one teapot. On the front of each cup was a swan peacefully resting in the water. Grandma used to fill my little cup with tea, ice water, or on occasion, she would surprise me with soda pop. Many days were spent at her oak kitchen table giggling, chatting, and maybe even shedding a tear or two while we sipped from her antique collection of teacups.

The memories.
As I pondered those precious memories I continued starring at the cabinet. I thought about the tea party I was hosting. It was a celebration with my mother-daughter tween bible study group and I wanted the afternoon to be extra special. Building a strong mother-daughter bond is especially important to me because I have three daughters of my own and I didn’t have a deep connection with my mother. My heart’s desire is that every little girl would know and feel the love and support of her mom–that she is important and worth spending time with–that she is a gift from God and a blessing. Sharing my treasured teacups with them would mean all those things and more.

The loss.
However, since grandma went to heaven these cups have never left their home in the glass cabinet. Occasionally I take them out to clean off the dust and I’ve packed them up a few times during a move to a new house, but mostly they just sit lifelessly. No new memories of laughter, conversation, or tears. The thought of pulling my treasure out of the cabinet felt scary, but the more I stared at them the more they begged to be used. I wondered how I would feel if one slipped off the table to its fatal ending. Would I mourn the loss of grandma again or would I shed tears of something I could never get back? It was going to take courage to put this precious possession on the table for the mother-daughter tea party.

The realization.
The day came for the gathering. I decorated the table with a burlap table cloth, floral place settings, and all the necessities for a tea party — plates, spoons, tea bags, and of course, sweet treats. I glanced one again at the cabinet where my treasures rested and considered what my grandmother would want me to do. Would she want them kept safe in the cabinet or would she want me to share the teacups with these precious girls and their moms? The answer to that question was easy and without hesitation, I picked them up one by one, washed them off, and set them carefully at each place setting.

The table
The table was perfect, and when the girls and their moms arrived we sat around the table sipping tea, laughing, sharing, and connecting. As I surveyed the room it was then I realized I had mistaken what the treasure was all these years. My grandmother’s teacups weren’t the gold coins in the treasure chest. The treasure was the person holding the teacup, the conversation that was taking place, and the gift of time that was being given to each other as we slowly sipped tea. I was taken back by emotion and it reminded me `of the Bible verse: “Don’t store up your treasure here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your heart is,
there your treasure will be.” (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT.)

The timeline
I’d wasted over thirteen years trying to keep my teacups safe because I thought they were the treasure. But the true treasure is not found in earthly, perishable things; my grandmother’s teacups will not stand the test of time nor pass from this life into eternity. My heart was misplaced and I was focused on the physical cups. I was missing out on the true treasure my grandmother had given me: her time. That day I learned those brewing flavorful tea leaves, adding sugar and honey, stirring, and sipping with my bible study group was a method to facilitating the ever-lasting treasure of building relationships. There is no measurement great enough to adequately size up the value of strengthening the mother-daughter bond. Each sweet little girl and her mom — they are the eternal treasures who are loved dearly by God Himself, and I am filled with joy that my grandmother’s teacups could participate in such a life-giving day. Letting go and having the courage to share my grandmother’s antique teacup collection revealed that the treasure my grandmother left me was so much more than pretty cups in a cabinet! The legacy she left me was that of sharing, caring, and loving — treasures that can never be stolen away, broken, or destroyed.

What treasure have you kept tucked away because you’re afraid to use it? Will you have the courage to pull it out today? There might be a greater, eternal treasure awaiting you…will you have the courage to find out?

 

Many Blessings,


JJ Gutierrez
Author, Speaker & Ministry Leader
Chickening IN-from FEAR to Courageous FAITH
www.jjgutierrezauthor.com
IG and FB @jjgutierrezauthor

Heaven’s Music: A Mother’s Musings

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Heaven’s Music

by Judy DuCharme

 

My second child, a boy, had just been born. He would be Christopher Lee and we couldn’t be happier. I was still a little groggy from the C-section as my husband, our pediatrician, and my surgeon all came in to see me. As they took my hand, I got nervous.  Christopher had been born with Down Syndrome. As tears and shock took over, I asked, “Can he go home with us?”

Yes, he would go home with us, but the concerns of having a special needs child were new territory. How did this happen? Why? What would the future hold? The glorious joy of a new child slipped away to be covered with apprehension. Friends and family came to see us.  It was all a blur. People from church came to pray for Christopher – I loved that. I loved my son, my baby.

The second morning in the hospital I awoke with the awareness that a song was coursing through my being. The song woke me up . . . in more ways than one. I heard in full melody, “Awake my soul and sing of Him who died for me . . .”  (from the hymn ‘Crown Him with Many Crowns’) It was loud within me. I knew in that moment that fear could not be my controller. I had to put my trust in God for Christopher and for me. I had to praise Him for what He would do in my son.

Chris is now 40. He works part-time but is a full-time participant in life. He’s healthy, a good worker, a fair communicator, an excellent swimmer, has a good sense of humor, and is a consummate Green Bay Packer fan. Most of all though, he is a praiser. In all his ways, he acknowledges God and has a song of praise to go with every situation. He owns more worship CDs than most people and knows the song and the artist.

And still, I remember when times are great and when times are a challenge to awake my soul and sing of Him who died for me. And I am thankful for that constant reminder.

The Woman Behind the Words

Discover more about Judy and her award-winning books here. A Door County native, Judy divides her time between Door County and sunny Florida. When she isn’t crafting tales in her head, she is spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. Judy’s author interview can be found on Ambassador International’s YouTube page. 

 

Forgiveness: Letting Go

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Forgiveness – Let it Go

There it was again. I was out walking, enjoying the day, and my mind reached down and pulled up that hurtful memory like a cow pulling up its cud to chew. And chew I did. I was there again. I rehearsed what they said, what they did. It was simply wrong. It wasn’t true or right. I saw their expression. It hurt. It made me mad. My body tensed. All the words I should have said coursed through me.

Finally, I said to myself, “That was five years ago! WHY am I thinking about that now? I thought I forgot that.” Obviously, I had not. As I settled down and focused on why I was remembering so vividly rather than what I was remembering, I had the thought that perhaps I needed to forgive.

The word forgive comes from the Greek word aphiemi which means to release or send away. Bottom line: it means to let it go.

Unforgiveness puts us in a prison of torment. They say it’s like preparing poison for the person you haven’t forgiven and then drinking it yourself, not understanding why they don’t change.

Unforgiveness makes us ugly. We think we are unaffected, except for what they did to us. The truth is we become difficult to be around. Perhaps we are always the victim, promoting the poor-me attitude. Perhaps we put up a wall so no one else can hurt us or deceive us. We also may get aggressive, just to make sure no one has the opportunity to do anything against us.

Forgiveness sets us free. Most of us think it lets the other person off the hook. Not so. It does not deny what they did or that it was wrong. They will have to answer to God, to themselves, and perhaps the civil/criminal court of law. But we can be free of their sin’s control over us. That person may not even know anyone was offended. It’s possible their comment or action was inadvertent. And, certainly, it may have been on purpose, mean-spirited, and downright evil. Either way, forgiveness sets us free from those chains.

Forgiveness is the highest order of life.  If you forgive constantly, if you make a habit of letting it go, life is a joy.  It destroys the stumbling blocks of anger, frustration, resentment, bitterness, and wariness that seem to place themselves right in your path. You have the opportunity every day to take offense, but it will be poison in your veins.  Forgiveness cleanses you, protects you, and so blesses others. Why not begin developing the habit? As with any habit, you will have to practice. Sometimes you may need to forgive the same thing many times, but it becomes easier and easier.

I spent a whole summer walking and forgiving.  It seemed all those things that had festered below the surface were brought up to my mind, like the cream rising to the top so it could be skimmed away. I learned to let it go, to skim it away. Some were easier than others, but I began to develop a pattern, and I began to learn to recognize the poison for what it was. Looking back, a lot of good doors opened after that summer. I think when those ugly thoughts aren’t dominating our thinking that we are so much more open to hearing God’s thoughts and good plans for us.

I still have to work at it at times, but life is so much better when I let it.

Judy DuCharme is an award-winning author of six books, with more coming soon. When she’s not writing in Wisconsin, she’s walking Florida’s sunny beaches, pondering her next story,

 

 

 

Seeing From A Sycamore

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Seeing From A Sycamore
by Malinda Fugate

 

The crowd was gathering and excitement was bubbling over. They’d heard all the stories, but now had the chance to see the miracle-worker with their own eyes. He was passing through their town today! No one wanted to miss him, so they filled the street as soon as they could, eagerly keeping an eye down the road to spy the first glimpse of this man and his companions. 

Zacchaeus, though just as anxious to see the visitor, had a problem. He had tolerated his short stature his entire life, and now it prevented him from getting any view of the street. Attempts at slipping between his taller neighbors failed as the crowd grew thicker. “Excuse me,” he requested- at first meekly and then with increasing frustration at being obviously ignored. And could he blame them? These were the people who avoided him every day, dreading their turn for tax collection. When the time came, it was Zacchaeus who had the power to take great sums from them, devastating their ability to feed their families. He might have been short-changed by height, but he made up for it in the ability to gain wealth and exert some amount of power over the townspeople. They saw his life of luxury while they struggled to meet basic needs and they despised him for it. But now, in this small way, the tables had turned. There was no law that said they must acknowledge him here. If he missed seeing the miracle-worker, the teacher who some said was the Son of God, well, that was what Zacchaeus deserved.

But Zacchaeus didn’t achieve his career goals by passively waiting for life to hand him wealth and success. He was a quick-thinker, a go-getter. Inspired, he ran up the street to the waiting shade of a sycamore. The sturdy branches were in reach, allowing Zacchaeus to practice a skill he hadn’t used since childhood. The scramble into the tree rewarded him with a much better view than anyone could find on the ground. And just in time! Over the heads of his loudly chattering neighbors, Zacchaeus saw the small group of men walking his way! So this was the miracle-worker at last! His name, Jesus, was on the lips of many crying out greetings and requests for help or signs from God.

As Jesus walked closer to the tree perch, he abruptly stopped. The crowd hushed, hoping to see something amazing. Zacchaeus nearly fell from his branch when Jesus looked up, straight at him! How was he visible among the leaves? How foolish must he look, sitting like a bird in a nest! Then Jesus spoke kindly, “Zacchaeus, come down from there. I must stay at your house today.”

And so began a transformation in Zacchaeus’ life. His encounter with Jesus changed everything and did not end with that moment on the street or the afternoon at home. No amount of wealth or power mattered compared to the kingdom of God, and Zacchaeus whole-heartedly wanted to right the wrongs he committed against his fellow man. And no amount of sin could keep Him from God’s love. The Son of God did not treat Zacchaeus with the scorn, contempt, or revenge he often received from the townspeople. Instead, Jesus honored Zacchaeus by sharing a meal, and then showed him acceptance and love.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:8-10 NIV)

When we draw near to the Lord, He will not ignore or reject us. He does not require a checklist of qualifications before we can approach Him. His love is not conditional, nor do our shortcomings, failures, flaws, or sins disqualify us from His salvation. He will welcome us into His kingdom with the same compassion He welcomed Zacchaeus. Though we might feel like we don’t fit in with our community, there is a place for us at God’s table. 

Dear friend, do not allow self-doubt to keep you from closeness with your Savior. Seek Him, take one more step towards His open arms, and find His unconditional love and He draws you closer to His heart.

 

Learn more about Malinda and her inspirational book, The Other 3:16s, a challenging study of faith in the Christian’s quest to understand the God of the Bible. 

Preparing Our Hearts and Homes to Celebrate Thanksgiving

posted on by Susie

This is the first in a three-part series on preparing our hearts and homes for Thanksgiving. Dee Travis is the author of  Celebrate Life: Living to Serve God and Encourage Others as We Celebrate Life Together.

November is here and it makes me start to think about the holidays. I always feel bad because Thanksgiving it such a great holiday and it gets here so fast and then after one day….it’s over and Christmas bells are ringing. Just one day of thankfulness doesn’t do it for me. There is so much to see and do as we think about Thanksgiving approaching. How about taking the whole month of November to celebrate Thanksgiving with me?

Thanksgiving-PinterestStep into November by getting outside and looking for God’s goodness and bounty! His glory in creation can be seen everywhere in the fall! The trees are changing into a beautiful display of God’s canvas of red, orange and yellow! How about visiting a pumpkin patch or a farm during harvest of the crops. Take your kids or grandkids to an apple orchard and pick some crisp juicy apples. We live on a farm in rural Iowa so we get to see harvesting of corn and soybeans first hand. We also grow a ton of pumpkins for the grandkids to pick. God is so good to us! We have a few apple trees so one of our favorite traditions is picking apples and making fresh apple cider! Those times all makes me reflect on how good and faithful God has been to us throughout another year. Harvest time with the bounty He gives us through crops and food and nature’s beauty will help us prepare our hearts to thank and praise an Almighty God!

Try reading a Psalm every day during November! Every day is a gift from God so celebrate His goodness every day. Start with Psalm 100 and go through Psalm 136. Some are short so you will be able to combine a couple of chapters on certain days. I kind of think that the Psalms and Thanksgiving go together like turkey and pumpkin pie! Each day after you are done reading write down three different things you are thankful for so that you can look at them during the month and then read them all on Thanksgiving Day! Always be ready to give thanks to God for what He had done for us! God is always good and you are always loved.

One of the things I love to do every year in November is attend my grandchildren’s Thanksgiving program at school. It really makes me think about our 9781620205310country and how the first Thanksgiving Day was started. The Pilgrims came to America to be able to worship God freely. They set aside this special time at harvest to thank God for all He had done for them. (And it was probably more than just one day!) It is such a good example for us to follow! The pilgrims not only shared their food with the Indians but they also shared their faith in a mighty God. Our forefathers sacrificed a lot for the freedoms we enjoy today and for that I am truly thankful!

Well are you in? I hope you will start to prepare your heart all month long and this Thanksgiving may be the most blessed ever!

Preparing for Thanksgiving: Five Verses to Ready Your Heart

posted on by Susie

This is the third in a three-part series on preparing our hearts and homes for Thanksgiving. Dee Travis is the author of Celebrate Life: Living to Serve God and Encourage Others as We Celebrate Life Together.

 

Psalm 100 is one of my favorite scripture to meditate on as we approach the Thanksgiving season. When I think about that first Thanksgiving I imagine the Pilgrims and Indians in 1621 gathering to thank God for a bountiful harvest.

Thanksgiving-PinterestBut long before that another group of people had set aside a time to celebrate God’s goodness. It was the children of Israel during the Feast of Booths. In the fall after crops were harvested, the people had a time of worshiping and thanking God for all He had done for them. They brought their offerings of Thanksgiving to the Lord. (Leviticus 23: 39-44)

Psalm 100 is a song of thanksgiving and praise to God that we can reflect on during this Thanksgiving.

Day 1   “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 100:1

Have you ever felt so thankful you just couldn’t keep quiet? Sometimes I just stand in awe of God’s handiwork in the things I see around me in His creation. Sometimes I just want to proclaim what an awesome God we serve! Everyone on the earth is admonished to praise His name because everyone benefits from God’s goodness! In Psalm 19:1-3 and Psalm 98:7-8 it says that all nature joins in to declare the glory of God and sing praises to His name. It is neat to imagine the rivers clapping and hills singing together for joy in praise to God.

Day 2 “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.” Psalm 100:2

There is joy in serving Jesus! We can all serve Him whether we are young or old. Offer to teach a Sunday school class or volunteer to take a meal to someone or go visit someone who is in need of a friend. And sometimes the hardest thing is to do it with a happy heart. Many times we do something because we know we need to…. but our heart isn’t really in it. Having a joyful attitude comes from loving God and reading His word and spending time in prayer. With happy hearts we can use the talents God has given each one of us for serving Him not just during the holiday season but each and every day!

Day 3 “Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who made us and not we ourselves; we are His people the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3

God is the very one who created us. He knows us better than anyone. He know when we all overwhelmed or discouraged with so many things pulling at us in a hundred different directions during the holidays. That’s when we go to Him as His sheep and lie down in green pastures. (Psalm 23:2) Find that quiet spot and sit beside the still waters talk to God. He loves us and will restore our weary soul! He cares for us like a good shepherd and for that I am truly thankful.

Day 4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4

We are so blessed in this country to be able to go to church and worship God freely. Being thankful for God’s love will show in our actions as we enter into worship and praise with others who love Him too. I love to gather together with my church family during Thanksgiving and hear testimonies of God’s goodness and faithfulness and mercy. Bless His name for all he has done for us!

Day 5 “For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness is to all generations.” Psalm 100:5

One of my favorite sayings is “God is always good and you are always loved”. What a great truth to know that the God of this universe loves us so much He was willing to send His Son to die and take the punishment for our sins. We simply have to believe and He gives everlasting life! (John 3:16) God’s lovingkindness is everlasting! He will love us forever!! And His faithfulness is to ALL generations! God daily loads us with so many benefits. God knows our needs and watches over us and never leaves us to fend for ourselves. He cares about us and will always do what is best for us. God is so good!

 

Thanksgiving is a time of celebration and a time to turn our thoughts to God and His word and realize how very blessed we are of Him. Every day is a gift that we have been given…so every day (not just at Thanksgiving) thank Him and praise His name!