Category Archives: Thanksgiving

Posted on

Prelude

by

“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

These are the miscellaneous ramblings of my mind as I ran that turned into a quick post.  It may not be as polished, but I hope that this post is a blessing just the same.

I just enjoyed what was probably my last unencumbered run of the year.  As the weather cools, I will need to bundle up more than the average person.  It was a good run.  As I ran, I was reminded of this passage and the depth of its meaning.  In all likelihood, I thought of it as a result of spending the morning prepping for next week’s post on a very predictable topic.  The rest of the run I considered many of the things I am grateful for.

I am thankful that I can run, even with all of its encumbrances, regulations and limitation.  Ten years ago I spent most of my time on the sofa with barely any energy.  My goal for each day was to be showered and dressed before Marie came home. I don’t know how long God will allow me to continue running, but I appreciate them so much these days and don’t take them for granted.

I am thankful for music that keeps me moving.  Today it was my Christmas running playlist and I’m thankful for the artists that share their gifts with us.  I was also thankful for the wind blowing making the run harder as it reminded me that life can be difficult, but God is always with me encouraging me to keep moving forward no matter what I face.

I am thankful for every ache and pain as I run.  They remind of the years and the miles this body has endured.  They remind me that through all of those journeys, and those yet to come, God has been faithful and loving in spite of my errors and missteps. Some times have been sweet, others bitter and many in between, but they have all been blessed and were God’s will for me.

I am thankful for my illness.  It has brought me out of legalism and religion to a real relationship with my Lord that I may not have experienced otherwise.  I am thankful for the small ministry that I have as a result.  I am thankful for those who have walked this journey with me…not the least of which are my wife and daughters who have given up and suffered as much as I.  On that subject alone, I could go on for some time.

I am thankful for parents who did not abort me.  It’s not that my parents would have ever considered the notion, but nevertheless, our current culture would allow it.  Despite the fact that my birthday is in March, it would not be until 60 years ago next month that my mother’s doctor would acknowledge that she was pregnant.  He insisted that I was a tumor.  Mom, as both a mother twice over and a nurse, knew differently and held her ground.  Further, while my mother would never say this, my birth created some adjustments as I was significantly younger than my siblings.  Also, my birth was literally sandwiched between missionary board meetings in which my father was laying out the proposal for a new mission in Ecuador.  It’s one thing to move two teenagers to another country, but a toddler certainly complicated the mix.  While that was not to be, it certainly must have weighed on their minds.

I am thankful for those saints who have enriched my life but have gone to be with our Lord.  Their deaths have caused great sorrow and pain.  Yet I know that they have met their Lord and are enjoying eternity with Him.  How could I ever wish that their reward be postponed?  It is bittersweet, but I am both thankful for their time with us and that they currently enjoy peace and joy that in inexpressible.

I am grateful for many more things like; a mother and father-in-law who loved me, a great son-in-law, and two grandsons; a church that is faithful to God’s word and my church family; as well as the many things we normally consider blessings at this time of year.  However, I wanted to share what came to mind as I considered this verse.  God has been my God since birth and has planned all of the events of my life to bring me to this point and I am grateful.  Consequently, “I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.”  (Ps. 69:30)

 

Posted on

Praise God!

by

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.  Psalm 146:1-2

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  Psalm 104:33

Waking up on a bright and warm sunny day, I’m reminded of Psalm 19 and feel that the heavens are calling me join them in praise of our God. 

Continue Reading »

Posted on

Healing

by

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.”  Psalm 103:2-3

Several years after I became ill, my wife and I participated in a study of the book “Experiencing God”.  That study was the first in a series of events over several years that would help me understand my illness from God’s perspective.  One night during the small group review of our homework, Psalm 103 was discussed.  As the group reviewed these verses, the frustration with my illness and the seeming lack of concern on God’s part became overwhelming and I left the room in tears.  I could not understand Psalm 103:3 in the context of my health issues and it hurt deeply.  I knew that I was probably missing the point of the text, but the words were haunting me.

Continue Reading »

Posted on

Friends and Family

by

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.   Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:31-32

Relationships can be difficult; add stress and they become more challenging.  Sadly, it’s easy to forget that our illness has an impact on others.  While we may be the only party experiencing the actual symptoms, we are most likely not the only ones hurting.   For purposes of this discussion, let’s consider three distinct groups:  those of us who are truly alone, our friends and our family.

Continue Reading »

Posted on

Give Thanks to the Lord

by

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 136:1

Life is a struggle.  Christ confirmed this in John 16:33 “In the world you have tribulation”.  Life with chronic illness or pain increases the level of difficulty.  In addition to facing life’s common trials and managing the chores of living while not feeling well, there are other hurdles such as:  side effects of medications, interactions with medical personnel that may be less than attentive, medical procedures to manage and endure; insurance problems and often mounting debt.  It’s easy to become overwhelmed and wallow in fatigue and frustration.  Sometimes just getting through the day is so challenging that we may forget how much we have to be thankful for and fail to properly respond to it.  Thankfulness is a choice that too often gets lost in the shuffle.

A couple of years ago, a friend was part of a mission trip arranged by our church.  After returning home, the group provided a recap during our worship service.  As is common, the presentation included photos.  One was of a sick woman who lived alone in a hut, slept on a mat on the dirt floor and had minimal options for clothing.   (I believe it was limited to a second dress.)  Due to the common pitfall of coveting and arrogance, I generally do not like to compare my circumstances to that of another.  However, in this case, God used it to start moving me to appreciate what I take for granted.  In contrast to woman in the picture, our home is generally comfortable.  Despite the difference of opinion regarding the appropriate setting of the thermostat (yes, we are one of those couples), we are protected from temperature extremes and the elements.  Our bed is soft and warm.  The closet has clothes for every season.  My wife and children care for me as the need arises.  While it is not our first choice, my wife has a career that amply provides for our general wellbeing.  Further, despite its imperfections, we enjoy medical care that is much better than the world average.  In these, there is much to be thankful for.

Then there is the general grace that we enjoy.  Since we are still living, our Lord is sustaining our bodies and holding them together. It may be with difficulty, but we breathe, communicate our needs and wants, and receive nourishment.   Even if it is only through a window, we can enjoy God creation around us. He has also provided the ability to endure our circumstances thus far.  Most of us in Western Culture still enjoy the freedom to worship God without fear of persecution.    Finally, despite the effects of sin in our bodies and lives, there is so much more from which God has protected us.

As our culture is obsessed with what we are entitled to, let’s go one step deeper to what we actually deserve.  Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.  Further, Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned”.  So despite conventional “wisdom”, the best that we deserve is death and punishment…a punishment that is devoid of God’s presence.  However, in God’s mercy, we Christians have been given the gift of salvation and spared the agony of Hell and, more importantly, separation from God.  Further, we have Christ and the Holy Spirit with us, interceding for us and giving us the grace to endure “the race that is set before us”…both physically and spiritually.   In that light, we are truly blessed both now and for eternity.

Yes, in this life we will have trouble, but in the rest of the verse, Christ tells us to “take courage; for I have overcome the world”.   So as we awaken, go through our day and lie down at night, let us choose to thank God for His mercies large and small.  Let us focus on the many things that He has graciously provided, rather than what we have lost or must endure.  Join with me in being thankful that we do not suffer alone, but God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is with us sustaining us, providing for us, comforting us and encouraging us in ways that are infinitely better than we deserve.

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100