A Public Service Announcement

This is your friendly neighborhood blog post, reminding you of something that I think we forget - giving thanks to God is not limited to November on the fourth Thursday.  In point of fact, we are commanded by God in this book that He has given us to give thanks. 

"Rejoice Always;"  (1 Thessalonians 5:16, NASB). 

And then just 2 verses later. . .

"in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NASB)

Now if you are not a scholar in biblical Greek, that is OK.  You can still understand this verse plainly because what it says it says very plainly.  I want to make just a few observations about what it says.

1. "In everything" - I think that most people know what the word everything means.  It means exactly what it says.  In every single thing that God allows in your life you are called to do something. 

2. "Give thanks" - this is what you are called to do in every thing.  Notice that thanks is given.  It is like a gift back to the one who has gifted you.  The trouble is that we tend to forget number 1.  We tend to give thanks when we have received something we wanted or are surprised by but know we will really enjoy.  We write thank you cards to those who give to us, we don't write thank you cards to our cable company or the electric company or to those people who seem to only want to take from us.  So we have a hard time giving thanks to God for all things because we only want to be thankful for the things from God that we like!

3. "This is God's will" - I love how many people think they want to know what the will of God is for their lives, but forget that the Bible clearly states what God wants from them.  He wants them to give thanks in every single thing that happens in their life.  Are you in the midst of turmoil - give thanks!  Are you having a terrible day at work?  Give thanks.  God wants you to give thanks.

4. "In Christ Jesus" - I also find it fascinating that God knows me.  He knows I cannot give thanks on my own and so He reminds me that I need Jesus to be able to do this.  This is what God will for me in Christ Jesus.  And in this I have not only the power (in Christ) but also the means.  In Christ I can be thankful for things even in the midst of turmoil or a bad day at work.  Nothing this side of eternity can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  And that alone is something to be thankful for. 

Give Thanks.

5 Things to Pray for the Students in your Church

Let us be honest for a minute and realize that we need to pray for our kids.  I am not talking in a general sense, but in a very specific sense.  I am saying that in a world of spiritual warfare that they are ill equipped to understand, we need to lift our young people up in prayer.  I do not think that this world is changing for the better and I think that there are issues that our students are facing at an earlier and earlier age.  This means they are less prepared mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually to handle much of what comes their way.  And so we pray.

1. Pray that your students would build their relationship with God first.  

            "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

2. Pray that your students would equip themselves with the armor of God.

            "Finally, Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."

3. Pray that your students would be students of the Word of God.

            "so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

4. Pray that your students would be salt and light.

             "You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. . ."

5. Pray for the testimony of your students.

             "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and                   purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."

I think that far too often we are focused on their grades, their socialization, the group of friends that they are bringing home, their relationships with people of the opposite gender, their involvement, etc.  Maybe we need to bathe this year in prayer for their testimonies and that they would have a godly testimony in the sight of their peers and their teachers.  Remember that God gets the glory, not just in the lives of adults, but in the lives of our kids too!  

Soli Deo Gloria!