Heart filled with Thankfulness

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy your day of thankfulness to God!

The Picture Says It All!!!

Just A Note...

Last night, I set up two new blog members. The two new blog members that I have added are my Dad and my Mom. If you carefully scan the last post, you will notice that it was thunk by DLW. That was Dad's first post to the blog. You can expect some more off and on posts from the two of them, depending on when they want to post something. Just wanted to let everyone know the news.

Why I am thankful for my Pastor in 22 words, getting to the point!

Pastor Bruce told me about Jesus.

His life is dedicated to glorifying God.

Select this faithful servant; I'll pay his travel expenses.

Thankful for your pastor? Say so and win him a pair of tickets to DG’s pastors conference.

In Case You Were Wondering...

If you have been wondering why I haven't posted anything for 4 or 5 days now, I have some reasons. And if you weren't wondering, you will find out anyway. These past two weeks have been fairly busy for me. Last week I was working on a book review that I will be posting soon. But that still isn't ready and doesn't seem like it ever will be. Secondly, My Dad and I are going to The Truth War conference in Durham, NC on the 21st and 22nd. So I have been doubling up on my schoolwork so I won't get behind. This Thursday we will be leaving for North Carolina. The conference is on Friday and Saturday, and Saturday afternoon we will make our way back to Ohio and should get home around 1 A.M. Sunday morning.

God's Mowing Machine by Theodore Cuyler

I don't particularly like to post two Grace Gems right after each other.
But I have been busy working on a book review and haven't had time to work on another post. So here is another Grace Gem by Theodore Cuyler.
______________________________________________________

Isaiah 48:10

"I have refined you in the furnace of affliction."

Some afflictions are sent by God--to purify character. God sits as a Refiner beside His furnace. He heats it until the metal melts--and the dross surfaces and is taken away. He keeps His silver in the furnace--until He can see His own face reflected in the clear metal of the heart. Then the affliction has done its work. There is such a wretched amount of self-will and pride and covetousness and unbelief even in the best of Christians--that they require the refining-furnace very often.

It is a wholesome process--to be "mowed down" occasionally. The grass in every lawn requires to be cut down by a mower. The oftener it is mowed--the richer and the thicker is the growth. The lawn never looks so beautiful, as after the sharp-edged mower has gone over it. I have observed that some Christians have never appeared so attractive in their humility and heavenly-mindedness, as when God's mowing-machine has been passed over them!

A Heathenish Habit by Theodore Cuyler

"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty,
reigns!" Revelation 19:6

In nothing are we all apt to make more terrible blunders,
than in looking at God's providential dealings. Even
some Christians have a heathenish habit of talking
about "good luck" and "windfalls" and "bad fortune,"
and other expressions which convey the idea that this
life is a mere game of chance!

Blind unbelief may be expected to err, and to scan God's
work as either a riddle or a muddle. But a Christian ought
to know better!

"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the
Almighty, reigns!" Revelation 19:6

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Why is it, that we only pray for the persecuted church once a year? Or just pray for them one week out of a year? Our brothers and sisters in Christ aren't persecuted only one Sunday out of the year. They are being persecuted on a regular basis and need our prayers.

1 Peter 5:8-9
"{8} Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. {9} Resist him steadfast in faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."

Yet instead of praying for our brotherhood, we selfishly focus on our own lives. We focus on ourselves and pray for ourselves and our immediate family. While our brothers and sisters are being persecuted for Christ's sake.

I openly admit that I forget regularly to pray for them. I'll have things come up and forget. But life is no excuse for lack of prayer. We should be praying to our heavenly Father constantly for Him to strengthen His children. We should plead with Him that He would give them strength to endure. That He would give them the grace they need. And to grow in them in holiness. We should be like Paul in his letter to the church at Colosse.


Colossians 1:3
" We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
praying always for you."


Instead of praying for the persecuted church just today. We should use this day as a stepping stone in order to start praying for our family in Christ always.

Just To Let You Know...

Click here to get the book  
Chosen By God for free.
Ligonier Ministries are giving 
away copies of the book,
if you sign their guestbook.

I'm Confused...

 

Can anyone explain what this is supposed to mean?

Great Article by Albert Mohler

Albert Mohler wrote a very interesting article about the election over at his blog. Here is what he had to say:

" The election of Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States came as a bang, not a whimper. The tremors had been perceptible for days, maybe even weeks. On Tuesday, America experienced nothing less than a political and cultural earthquake.

The margin of victory for the Democratic ticket was clear. Americans voted in record numbers and with tangible enthusiasm. By the end of the day, it was clear that Barack Obama would be elected with a majority of the popular vote and a near landslide in the Electoral College. When President-Elect Obama greeted the throngs of his supporters in Chicago's Grant Park, he basked in the glory of electoral energy.

For many of us, the end of the night brought disappointment. In this case, the disappointment is compounded by the sense that the issues that did not allow us to support Sen. Obama are matters of life and death -- not just political issues of heated debate. Furthermore, the margin of victory and sense of a shift in the political landscape point to greater disappointments ahead. We all knew that so much was at stake."

Read the rest here

How Trite...

My first thought in seeing this sign is how lightly and frivolously God is treated. How He is put to such a low level. It is blasphemous in the way it presents Him!


Psalm 103:19
" The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all"

God puts governments in authority over men in order to protect them. We should not fear governments. We have nothing to fear of them unless we are breaking the law.

Romans 13:1-7
"{1}Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. {2} Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. {3} For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. {4} For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. {5} Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. {6} For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. {7} Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."

Made Me Laugh...

WATCH OUT!!
If you're not careful, you might just lose it...


From the Publisher:
"On the trail, in the tent, or under the stars . . . God's Word goes everywhere in camo-style!"


More info here.