Category: Ministry

Giving Thanks

Ephesians 5:20  “Giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ“ (KJV)

The Thanksgiving holiday will be celebrated this week by many Americans and others in countries around the world. It is recognized as a day to give thanks for the blessings received in the previous year.

Some will celebrate Thanksgiving as a holiday based on religious principles and some will acknowledge it as a traditional point of view.

It is not always easy to have an “attitude of gratitude” when someone is in hard times of a trial or tribulation.

Some may ask the question “how can I give thanks for what I am going through right now?”

1st Thessalonians 5:16, 17 and 18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

A person can look at a half of glass of water two different ways. They can say it is half full, or they can say it is half empty. Either way, it is still a half glass of water. How a person looks at what they are experiencing can make a big difference with the outcome of the experience.

God has a way of developing what he has deposited in us by allowing trails or tribulations to come our way.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have trials and tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

When a person looks at the glass of water as being half full, that person can have the “peace and good cheer” that the scripture speaks of. They will give thanks for having a glass of water that is half full.

When a person looks at the glass of water being half empty, that person could be looking at the half glass of water as having “trials and tribulation” and not giving thanks for what they have.

Saying the words “thank you” is a small but powerful phrase that can go a long way towards acknowledging kindness that is big or small. It is an expression of one’s gratitude of a benefit or favor that they have received. 

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”    

As we approach this Thanksgiving holiday, I would encourage everyone to look at what they can give thanks for not only on Thanksgiving Day, but to give thanks each and every day of the year.

Psalm 50:23 “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me”

Happy Thanksgiving…Rev

“God’s Perfect Timing”

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

When we take a look at it, we wait often times in lines for many things. We wait for:

• The person in the car in front of us at an intersection to take off when the light has already turned green.
•  The bank teller to call use to the window for our transaction.
• The person in front of us at a drive-up ATM to finish their transaction.
• Our doctor or dentist.
• The person in front of us at the grocery store that is in the 12 items or less line that has way more than 12 items.

In general, we often have to wait to receive something.

And so it is also true that we wait on God. The good thing about waiting on God is, His timing is always perfect, and what we receive from God always for our good.

Many times, people want to rush God into doing what they want God to do. God is a on time God, period.

Isaiah 40:31 describes what will be received when a person waits on the Lord:

• Strength that is renewed, and possibly better than the original strength a person had.
• Once they have received renewed strength, they are able to soar with wings like an eagle.
• Unlimited strength, and endurance to run and not be weary.
• Strength to walk without fainting.

When we wait on the Lord, we are showing that we are trusting Him.

Proverbs 3:5 and 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; Vs 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

When we wait on the Lord, we are displaying our faith in Him that he knows what is best for us, and that he will always act in our best interest, and we don’t have to see it to believe it.

2^nd Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith and not by sight.”     

When we wait on the Lord, we display our belief that He has a reward for us.

Hebrews 11:6 “For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Abba Father, thank for Your perfect timing and the multiple blessing that are received when we wait on You, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

“Perfect Timing”

Isaiah 40:31“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (KJV)

As I was out on errands one morning, I noticed several cars at a popular coffee shop waiting in line at a drive thru to place an order. Driving down the road further, I again noticed several vehicles waiting in line at an ATM machine.

I began to think about how much time a person spends waiting to get what they want.

We wait:

• In line at fast food restaurants
• Or inside of a restaurant, after we have placed our order with the server
• In line to pay for our groceries
• At the doctor’s or the dentist’s office
• At busy intersections for the light to change to green
• For someone to pull out of a parking space that is close to the entrance of a store

Sometimes we wait patiently, and sometimes we become impatient when what or who we are waiting for is not there at the time we want it.

There is a difference between waiting for people, places or things, and waiting on God. When we wait for people, places or things, most of the time we can get what we want when we want it.

The difference when we wait on God, is God’s timing and His provision, and we don’t always get what we want when we want it. But “What’s the rush?”

I have often heard people make the statement “God may not be there when you want Him, but He’s always on time.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (KJV)

God’s timing is always “perfect timing.” He is never too early, and He is never too late. Often times the problem that we have when we are waiting on God is, we want God to move when we want Him to move.

2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (KJV)

Because He is a loving God and a concerned father, He always wants what’s best for His people.

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (KJV)

Waiting on God has benefits that we can only get from Him:

• He renews our strength
• We mount up with wings that enable us to soar effortlessly
• We do not get weary when we run
• When we walk, we do not faint

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (KJV)

“Aba Father, thank you for the “perfect timing” that you have for your people. You are omniscient and know exactly what your people need, and when they should have it. We wait on you O God, with great expectations, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev