November 2020 week 4
Thursday and Friday
Thanksgiving is an attitude and not just a day. Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in America and Canada and several other countries that is set aside as a special day of thanks. It is usually celebrated by families coming together for a big dinner, football games and other such activities. A friend reminded me that it is not just a day but an attitude and life style. She suggested taking 15-20 minutes at the end of each day to reflect on and identify 25 things for which we should be thankful. She further states that this will give us a great attitude to begin the next day. Try it during the coming week.
Thought for the day: Are you the one who returned to say thank you?
Wednesday November 25, 2020
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
Being grateful and thankful in all circumstances can be challenging if we depend on circumstances to make us happy. True happiness is not based on circumstances but on the inner spirit that can only come thru a real relationship with God. Circumstances can change at the blink of an eye but God’s love is never changing. There is a song that says “ this joy I have the world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away”.
Thought for the day: Do not allow anyone or anything keep you from the happiness of a true relationship with God.
Tuesday November 24th
1 Corinthians 2:5
That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I find this verse so true after my conversation with a colleague today during lunch. My colleague is reading portions of the Bible and from time to time asks me questions. Today the conversation centered around Christ and the healing of the sick. The first question was why was not everyone healed and I talked a little about the will of God and the power of faith. She asked me the definition of faith and why did I believe in faith. We then continued the discussion around believing without physical evidence. She said that she found it difficult to believe in something that she could not physically touch or see. My immediate response was that is not faith if you can see or touch. Then she asked me another question which was more difficult to answer.. Why do I have faith? I told her that I heard and I believed. We ended the conversation with the fact that scientist can explain somethings but there is much more that they cannot explain.
Thought for the day: Always be prepared to witness but all we can do is share. It is up to the hearer to accept and believe.
Monday November 23, 2020
Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight
Some have summarized life as a series of decisions which can lead us to success or to failure. We often seek answers or advice from others but we more often only listen to those who say to us what we want to hear. In fact we may even get angry when someone suggests that we are making the wrong decision so much so that we cease seeking advice from that person. If we truly value the intent and wisdom of the person then we will really listen and be willing to follow their advice. We must be willing to set aside our thoughts especially when we do not even know enough to have thoughts. We must find a way to not be a know-it-all and allow us to offer valuable advice.
Often times we hear someone say that I do not understand and there are times when we really do not need to understand and just trust. I really do not know how the electricity gets into the house and into the wall and into my room but I trust that when I flip the switch the lights will come on. We must trust God and not think that we need to always understand before following his instructions. Just submit to his will and his directions and know that all will be well.
Thought for the day: Why ask God for his direction and then fail to follow his instructions just because we do not understand why and how?