Saturday, November 23, 2024

Thanksgiving

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The only thing God ever wanted to be was a Father. God loves family.

 

For centuries families existed only on what they could harvest and naturally preserve from the woods and fields within walking distance from their homes. From creation, over 6,000 years of recorded history to about 100 years ago, each winter claimed lives in mass from nothing more than the cold which made it impossible to grow or forage for food.

 

If a family or a community had a good harvest and had a supply of salt to rub on meat or got ahead and made enough of dried beans, corn, or jerky to last through the winter, they considered themselves very fortunate. Life depended on it. All they had to do was to keep it safe from critters and thieves, and both were an everyday challenge.

 

In September, in the year of our Lord 1620, a group calling themselves Pilgrims sailed from England and 65 days later landed at Cape Cod in New England towards the end of November. Together, under the Mayflower Compact, they established Plymouth Colony and set about forming what American tradition holds as the first permanent settlement in the Americas. They were tough and determined but woefully unprepared for the harsh winter of 1620/21. 

 

By March 1621, with little food and less adequate shelter, more than half of those 102 passengers, along with about half of the Mayflower crew, had died. There wasn’t a family who had not suffered the loss of a loved one and yet they felt chosen by God to carry on. Deeply committed to their faith and to the principles of God’s Word, the Pilgrims welcomed the Spring of 1621 as their opportunity for a new day.

 

The remaining colonists formed a relationship with the neighboring Wampanoag Tribe of Native American Indians, who taught them how to survive by fishing, planting and hunting. By the autumn of 1621 the Pilgrims had collected and preserved enough food to last them through the next winter.

In the fall of 1621 Governor William Bradford declared a time of Thanksgiving. The Indians and the Pilgrims joined together for a 3-day celebration in honor of their bountiful harvest. The Wampanoag’s supplied the venison while the colonists provided wild birds, most likely including roast turkey, goose and swan, along with corn and lobster for the feast.

This is considered to have been the first Thanksgiving in America. Year after year many other colonies concluded the harvest season with a festival in celebration and thanksgiving to God for His bountiful supply.

 

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation declaring the last Thursday of November as our nation’s annual Thanksgiving Day. The rest is history … as will be the Approximately 1,400,000 turkeys which will be consumed on Thanksgiving Day this year in the US.

 

According to one source, (https://financebuzz.com/thanksgiving-data):

• Over 32 million dinner rolls will be served;
• More than 40 million boxes of stove-top stuffing will be prepared;
• Over 20 million American homes will consume 40% of all the cream of mushroom soup sold this year on Thanksgiving Day in their green bean casserole.
• Ocean Spray predicts it will sell 56 million cans of cranberry sauce for this year’s Thanksgiving tables.
The costs of a Thanksgiving meal will rise 5% this year over last year.
One factor: The steel needed to make the can for the jellied cranberry sauce costs 200% more than it did in 2020.
• What kind of pie will Americans choose for Thanksgiving this year?
16% choose pecan pie, 
11% apple pie, 
10% sweet potato pie, 
6% chocolate pie, 
4% cherry pie.
Nearly 45% of people will choose pumpkin pie.

 

The Pilgrims could not have foreseen the positive impact they would have on our lives in America and around the world today. No matter where I and my family have lived around the world, from Asia to Europe, we have always kept Thanksgiving Day in memory and respect of how much God has blessed us.Life in America has not been without hardships and challenges but overall, life here is better than life anywhere else in the world.

 

That’s evidently how the Pilgrims felt too. History records that even in spite of all the difficulties and disappointments they faced, one of the Pilgrims, William Brewsterwho was the most educated man among the colonists and the senior ruling elder of Plymouth Colony until his death in April of 1644, encouraged the others by leading them in a song. The song came straight from the Psalms.

 

Can you imagine standing on the deck of the Mayflower at Plymouth, Massachusetts in late November, early December, after more than 2 months crossing the Atlantic in rough seas, with 102 Pilgrims and 30 to 40 crew members, destined for a winter that would claim the lives of more than half of those present? It was in that cold and lonely moment of life that William Brewster lifted his voice, and others began to sing along with faith and thanksgiving for what God had done and all He would yet do, despite the perils at hand. He began to sing this song:

 

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD …

• What??? 
• I’m cold; I’m hungry; I’m wet; I’m sick; I’m tired; I’m afraid …
• I suppose I need God more now than ever before …
• I’ll sing with you … And they all sang:

 

Psalms 100

1 ¶ Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all you lands!

2  Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

3  Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

5  For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

 

If they had only known … what a smile it would have brought to their faces and strength to their next steps. But they didn’t know, yet they got off of the boat anyway and with faith for the future, some waded to shore in the cold waters ready for whatever the opportunity afforded.

 

Today, We don’t know the future, but we know Almighty God. The LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And enter His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

 

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, and serve Him with gladness.

 

God loves you and God loves your family. He has a plan for your life. Go forward in faith and embrace every challenge as an opportunity to please Him and leave things and others better than you found them.

 

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Dealing With Disappointment

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There is a man who loves you and has loved you every day of your life. He will not turn His back on you, lie to you, or let you down. If you trust and follow Him, you will be a better person and you will make a better living, build a better life, and make a greater difference. You will be more at peace and have more joy in your life, just from doing what He said.

 

His name is Jesus and He is the Son of God. The Bible is the truth and contained within it are the keys to life. 

 

If what I am telling you turns out to be wrong, you have lost nothing. You will still be a better person from trusting Jesus and following the Bible. If however, what I am telling you turns out to be true, you cannot afford to live your life without trusting Him and following His Word.

 

We have just come through a stressful time in America with virtually half of the voters in the nation voting for Kamala Harris to become president of the United States and half of the voters voting for Donald Trump. Things got heated with name calling and cutting remarks from both sides. There was no way everyone could get what they wanted, what they prayed for, and what they truly felt was best for the country.

 

If we live long enough, each one of us is liable to encounter a circumstance in which we feel we have lost.

• Something we wanted didn’t happen
• Something we prayed for turned out the other way.
• Something we felt like we should have, we just didn’t get.

 

Let’s turn to the Old Testament Book of Second Samuel, chapter 12, where we will find God’s instructions for what we should do when we are disappointed. The Bible is our guide for life. God highlights moments in the lives of others in the Bible to show us both what we should do, and what we should not do. 

 

The moment we are going to use for our lesson today comes from the life of David. By the time we get to this part of David’s life, he is already the King of Israel, and he has fought great battles, killed Goliath, conquered Jerusalem, and had many sons. The army of Israel was so great and so capable, they felt they no longer needed their King to go to war with them. This turned out to not be the best idea.  

 

While the army was at war, David stayed home alone. The Bible paints a picture of a bored man sitting on his rooftop overlooking his kingdom in his prime but idle. From his rooftop David could see the roofs of other houses nearby. One house was the house of Uriah, a captain in David’s army. Uriah was away at war and Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, was at home, bathing on the roof of her house within sight of King David. You get the picture … so did King David!

 

If you are not familiar with the story, I recommend you read the account straight from the Bible. And, the 1951 Twentieth Century Fox epic film produced in Technicolor, staring Gregory Peck as David, and Susan Hayward as Bathsheba, is probably my favorite thus far, but it still misses so much you can get from just reading it straight from the original manuscript.

 

Once through the adultery, the pregnancy, the conspiracy, the betrayal, the murder, and the birth of their child, God judges their sin in open forum by sending a prophet and informing David that the child shall not live.

 

2 Samuel 12:14  “However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”

 

This was not what David wanted to hear or wanted to happen. Let’s read what happened … it reads so much better than it preaches.

 

2 Samuel 12 NKJV

15 ¶  Then Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.

16  David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

17  So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

18  Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”

19  When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”

 

This is certainly not:

• What David wanted …
• What David prayed for …
• What David felt was best for everyone.

 

What did David do when he didn’t get what he wanted, what he prayed for, and what he felt like a gracious God might give? Let’s continue to read:

 

2 Samuel 12:20  So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.

 

1. He got up.
a. He didn’t get down.
b. He didn’t stay on the ground.
2. He washed and anointed himself.
a. He didn’t just get off of the ground, he got the ground off him.
b. He washed away the dirty feeling and soothed himself with oil.
3. He made himself presentable.
a. He took off the sackcloth.
b. He discarded the garments of sadness and mourning. 
4. He went to Church and worshipped God.
a. He didn’t stay at home all lonely and alone … 
b. He didn’t get mad at God.
5. He recovered himself.
a. He went to his own house.
b. He ate and continued his life.

 

If this is how we are supposed to act when we are disappointed and didn’t get what we wanted, what we prayed for, and what we felt was best for us and others… how much more should we follow these steps when we feel we did get what we wanted, prayed for, and what was best.

 

God is a good God, but we should never forget that He is God!

 

The day after God decides what He will do, is the day we pick up our lives, present ourselves before God and others as thankful to Him and supportive of His decision.

 

Without regard as to how you voted, whether you got what you wanted or not, let me encourage you from the scriptures to keep going to Church, keep going to your own house, and keep taking baths and smelling good and eating delicious food together with family. 

 

Don’t stay down. Get off the dirt and get the dirt off of you!

 

We can start this process right now. Let’s pray and tell God we will trust and follow Him.

 

The Rest of the Story:

 

2 Samuel 12 NKJV

21  Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

22  And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

23  “But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

24  Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Now the LORD loved him.

25  and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

A Study in Ruth Part IV: Faith in Action

Recap:

The account of Ruth occurs during the time of the judges; during a time when everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Naomi, Ruths mother-in-law, and her family left their home in Bethlehem to the land of Moab due to a famine.
Tragedy strikes when Naomi loses her husband and both of her sons
Although things were bad for Naomi, God was still working behind the scenes in her life. 
If things are still bad, then God is not finished.
God provides a way for Naomi to return back to her home in Bethlehem. 
She instructs her 2 daughter-in-laws to go back home to their families. However, Ruth chooses to stay.
Ruth shares her famous words, wherever you go I will go…”
Ruth was investing in her relationship with Naomi. She was willing to leave everything behind in order to follow after Naomi and her God.
• Trusting God is not always easy, but it is always the right choice.
In order to provide for her mother-in-law, Ruth goes out to reap grain from the fields around her.
God guides her to the one person who was able to change everything for her, Boaz.
Boaz offered to protect her, provide for her, and bless her while she was there in Bethlehem.
Boaz was revealed as a kinsman-redeemer through the late husband of Naomi.
God is faithfully orchestrating His plan for our lives.

 

This is where we pick up

 

Ruth chapter 3 is a beautiful narrative of:

Trust
Obedience
Gods Providence

 

Ruth follows the instructions of her mother-in-law, Naomi, to seek providential protection and provision through Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer.

 

Kinsman Redeemer = A close relative who was able to act as a protector and restorer for a family member in need

 

Kinsman-redeemer was responsible to:

1. Buy an Israelite relative out of slavery (Lev. 25:48)
2. Buy back family land that had been forfeited (Lev. 25:25)
3. Carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow (Deut. 25:5-10)

 

This chapter teaches us powerful lessons about faith in action, godly character, and the unfolding of Gods plans.

 

4. Trusting in Gods Timing

Ruth 3:1-5
One day Naomi said to Ruth, My daughter, its time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and hes been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell youtake a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but dont let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” 5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied.

Naomi encourages Ruth to approach Boaz, trusting that God has positioned him as a redeemer. Ruth responds with obedience and humility.

Lesson: Trusting in Gods timing often requires patience. Being patient does not equal doing nothing. In this case, being patient means taking bold steps of faith along the way.  Like Ruth, we may not fully understand Gods plan, but we are called to obey and trust Him through it. Be patient and wait on Gods timing. 

 

5. Demonstrating Faithfulness in Action

Ruth 3:6-13
6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. 7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked. I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer. 10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now dont worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman.

Ruth Goes to Boaz at the threshing floor, requesting his protection and provision as a redeemer. She was requesting that Boaz would redeem her as his wife through his duty as a kinsman redeemer. This was not something that she had to do, as she could have gone for someone younger (as he says), someone who was also wealthy. She clearly was seen as a woman of great value in the community. However, she chooses to be faithful to God, Naomi, and to Boaz.

Ruths actions reflect her faith in Gods provision and the respect that she had for Naomi. Boaz responds with honor and kindness, committing to do what was right.

Lesson: Doing the right thing matters. Doing what is right often impacts more people than just ourselves. Doing what is right choosing what is best. What is best for us is one thing; Gods best is another. In every situation, especially deciding moments, we should be looking for Gods best. Doing so will lead us to doing the right thing, which will bring about Gods will for everyone involved.

6. Resting in Gods Providence

Ruth 3:16-18
16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, What happened, my daughter?Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, Dont go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 Then Naomi said to her, Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man wont rest until he has settled things today.

Boaz assured Ruth that he was going to handle the matter. He wanted her to know that everything was going to be okay. Naomi advises Ruth to wait and see how the matter turns out.” This waiting period calls for Ruth to trust in Gods providence. There was a resting that Ruth was being advised to have. Not to worry or stress, but to be at peace knowing that Gods plan was in the works.

Lesson: There is a time in which we must act, there is a time in which we must take a step of faith. However, there is also a time when we must simply wait. Both require faith. This waiting is referring to the resting” and being at peace, knowing that God is in control. Both Naomi and Ruth rested in the knowledge that God was working through Boaz to fulfill His promise. We too must learn to be at ease (not stressing, worrying, or complaining) and rest in the knowledge that God is working behind the scenes to bring about His will for our life.

 

Ruth chapter 3 is a reminder that Gods providence is always at work in our life, regardless of the circumstance. It teaches us to trust in His timing, act with faith, and rest in His provision. As we walk through our own journeys, may we, like Ruth, take bold steps of faith while trusting God, choosing to do the right thing in order to bring about a story of redemption in our life as well.

 

Call to action:

7. What step of faith is God calling you to take today?
8. Are you willing to trust Him by doing the right thing?
9. Are you willing to rest in His promises

 

Takeaways:

10. There is virtue in helping others through your own need
11. You have a part to play in Gods story
12. Be a covering for those God has brought into your life