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Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Today is Thanksgiving. Each of us have so much to be thankful for. I'm sure if we compared lists of the things that we are thankful for, many of the things on our lists would be the same. But what is the first thing on our list that we are thankful for? Are we thankful first for our family and friends? What about another day of life? That is something to be thankful for to say the least. Are we thankful for a roof over our heads? What about good health? How about money in our pocket? What about the car in the driveway to get to the job that uses our God given talents to bless others and bless God? The list could go on and on and that is exactly the thing to think about on Thanksgiving. It is good to have times of reflection and look back and not take for granted all that God has given us. Thanksgiving really should and could, be everyday if we set our minds to it. We should and could, have a thankful heart to God, day in and day out. Today's verse says, “with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” I remember growing up in church as a child, grabbing the hymnal from the pew in front of me and sometimes singing the "Doxology." If you remember the words to the song, they are simple but amazing. I will include the song as the last video, to wrap up the whole thought of Thankfulness. The first line is perfect for today. “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.” Some say that Frederick R. Barnard said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” So, if that's true, what is a song worth? One of the reasons I love music so much is that I believe it is the universal language. No matter who you are or where you are, you can appreciate music. It speaks to your innermost being. In fact, Christian music is the reason my wife and I recently moved to Nashville. Last week we went to Whole Foods. Outside in the parking lot there was a man playing an accordion. We sat outside for a while listening and appreciating his talent. I went over and put some money in his tip jar hoping to request a song. When I spoke to him, he said, “No English.” I pointed to him and he said, “Italian.” Case and point, music is universal. So, what is a song worth? Well, today you be the judge. I have added many of my favorite songs that talk about being thankful to God. Let's remember this Thanksgiving, what the verse today says, “with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs... Singing With Thankfulness in Your Hearts to God
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Matthew 15: 32-34 And Jesus summoned to Himself His disciples, and said, I feel compassion for the multitude, because they have remained with Me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not wish to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in a desert place to satisfy such a great multitude? And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” OK, someone slap me now because I think I must have fallen asleep during the movie. Was I snoring? Jesus is here in Matthew 15 getting ready to do a miracle and feed 4000. But in the chapter before in Matthew 14:15-21 we see almost the exact same story, but this time Jesus feeds 5000. OK, call me simple, but I am just curious how much physical time has passed between Matthew chapter 14 and Matthew chapter 15. Are we talking days or months here? Did the disciples really forget that quickly what Jesus did to feed 5000, and now question Jesus how is He going to feed 4000? Really? Am I missing something? I guess I don’t feel so bad for the disciples. I have forgot the miracles Jesus has done in my own life in the past. How about you? It's interesting how time has a way of almost making us callous, hardened and insensitive. It's so easy to pray for something today that we know God has done for us in the past, a prayer He answered. Yet here we are again, same prayer yet it is a different day. We quickly find ourselves questioning how Jesus is going to do it. Really? Again, somebody slap me because I think I fell asleep. What does Hebrews 13:8 say? "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." OK, if I read that correctly, that means that He is able to do again, what He has done before. Right? He will answer our prayers. The beginning of Malachi 3:6 says, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” So, if God does not change, and God is the same, day in and day out, why do we question Him? Why are we similar to the disciples and forget quickly? Don’t feel bad, yes, we are human and forgetful, but honesty the disciples literally walked with Jesus in the physical, and they still forgot past miracles. So, there is grace for you and I, praise God. The point is we should not be so quick to see a situation arise and immediately think of it with our human mind. It is easier said than done, and I am speaking to myself here, but we first need to bring it to the Holy Spirit in prayer. What is your will here Holy Spirit? I know you have done this before and you “WILL” do it again. I surrender this request to you and am excited to see how you work your will and your way through me. Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity to see you shine. You get all the glory for the great things you have done and will do again. Even though things may seem impossible... Don’t Forget the Past, He Will Do It Again |
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