BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK [SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2012 TO SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER 2012]

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. - II Corinthians 10 verse 3 to 6

DEVOTION OF THE WEEK [SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2012 TO SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER 2012]

NOTICE: The following article is written by the author itself and not by me, I am not trying to violate their copyright. I will give some information on them.

PAGE TITLE: CBN Daily Devotional

ARTICLE TITLE: Thanksgiving Day is Ours

DATE: N.A

AUTHOR: Gene Markland

AUTHOR INFORMATION: Gene is a Ministry Coach at CBN. He resides in Virginia Beach with his wife Martha and daughter Laura. Gene blogs at http://www.spiritfellowship.blogspot.com/
URL: http://www.cbn.com/SpiritualLife/Devotions/markland_thanksgiving_2011.aspx & http://www.cbn.com/SpiritualLife/Devotions/markland_thanksgiving_2011.aspx?option=print

Thanksgiving Devotion

Thanksgiving Day is Ours

By Gene Markland

There is a friendly debate among historians as to when the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in America. Some say it was in Virginia in 1610, and others hold fast to our traditional first Thanksgiving celebrated in Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts, in 1621. 

Whichever side of the debate one chooses to embrace, the fact remains that Thanksgiving Day is ours. 

Before America existed as a nation, the hardy souls who persevered to found this great country made the effort to thank God Almighty for His provision and grace.

Giving thanks in Virginia, Massachusetts, and many other settlements across the new world was a spontaneous act by grateful people. They experienced a life so rugged, that without the providence of God they would have surely not survived. They were grateful for God’s favor and blessing. 

Our first President, George Washington, a man acclaimed to be the Father of our Country, acknowledged God as the source of our Nation’s strength and very existence. He felt so strongly about this that he made a proclamation for a national day of thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26th 1789.

He believed in the importance of setting aside a day to honor God and give thanks individually and corporately as a people. President Abraham Lincoln made it a national holiday on Thursday November 26th, 1863.

Thanksgiving day has become a tradition, which like other traditions, has developed, grown, and transitioned from being a simple spiritual act of acknowledging God’s blessings, to a national event of unbridled proportions. 

Ball games, shopping, days off from work, and travel are just a few of the Thanksgiving activities that can encumber us and help us to forget the true meaning of the holiday. 

This day is meant to be a time to stop, take notice of our blessings, and acknowledge God with a grateful heart. Lest we forget, there have been Thanksgivings in the past that were very trying and somber, days of prayer and fasting.

Today one could say that we are too busy enjoying our blessings to pause and be thankful. We all share in the responsibility for the national event that Thanksgiving Day has become because it is our day. 

I am so thankful to God that He has given us the freedom to worship Him with our thanks. And the blessings that we enjoy over this holiday are truly from Him.

I believe that He continues to bless us in part because we do take a day, our day, each year, and as a people tell the whole world that we thank Almighty God for His provident grace.

The Bible says: “Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done” (I Chronicles 16:8 NLT). 

This Thanksgiving as we share our feast with our loved ones, plan our shopping for Friday, and our Christmas decorating for Saturday, give a nod to our forbearers whose grateful hearts made this all possible.

Enjoy taking part in a celebration uniquely our own, individually and corporately. Pass on to the next generation the knowledge of how blessed we are as individuals, families, and as a people.

Speak of the mighty and wondrous things that the Lord has done, and share our thankful hearts one with another.

“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power” (Psalms 145:4 NLT).

The famous author O. Henry wrote, “There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.” 

Happy Thanksgiving!

BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK [SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2012 TO SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2012]

But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. - Ecclesiastes 11 verse 8 (KJV)

QUOTE OF THE FORTNIGHT [SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2012 TO SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER 2012]

There have been some instances of persons that by only an accidental sight of the Bible, have been as much moved, it seemed to me, as a lover by the sight of his sweetheart. The preaching of the Word is greatly prized by them; they say they never heard preaching before: and so are God's Sabbaths, and ordinances, and opportunities of public worship. The Sabbath is longed for before it comes; some by only hearing the bell ring on some occasion in the week time, have been greatly moved, because it has put them in mind of its ringing to call the people together to worship God. But no part of public worship has commonly [had] such an effect on them as singing God's praises. They have a greater respect to ministers than they used to have; there is scarcely a minister preaches here but gets their esteem and affection. ~ Jonathan Edwards

DEVOTION OF THE WEEK [SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2012 TO SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2012]

NOTICE: The following article is written by the author itself and not by me, I am not trying to violate their copyright. I will give some information on them.

PAGE TITLE: CBN Daily Devotional

ARTICLE TITLE: Is Jesus Your Genie?

DATE: N.A

AUTHOR: Brad Henry

AUTHOR INFORMATION: Brad Henry was 13 when he witnessed his dad die of a heart attack. It would be over 25 years before Brad came back to church. After 25 years Brad could see that he had left God, but God had never left that little boy. Now the Lord gives Brad the gift to write. “I know it has to be God writing them because I am ADD and Dyslexic”. Brad lives with his wife Julie and two sons, Bryce and Chase, in Huntersville, NC. You can read more of Brad’s Devotions at The Ultimate Decision.

URL: http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/devotions/Henry-is-jesus-your-genie.aspx & http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/devotions/Henry-is-jesus-your-genie.aspx?option=print

Brad Henry

 

 

 

Daily Devotion

Is Jesus Your Genie?

By Brad Henry
Guest Writer

Most of you know the folklore of a Genie in a bottle. You rub the bottle and then you have three wishes. (Of course the first wish I would like is to have a thousand more wishes.) A lot of you right now may be thinking that this is horrible to write about Jesus in this way. But in reality many of us want Jesus to be OUR Genie. A lot of times our prayers are for something to happen right now! And if our prayers are not answered right away we either get mad or lose hope and faith. 

Most of the time God allows prayers to take time so we get to know God. We seek when we don’t have an answer. We keep asking. We keep praying. We keep wondering; and through days, months, or even years a relationship is built. If your answer was immediate, there would not be a need for a relationship.

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” Proverbs 2:1-8 NIV 

This is a relationship. Hidden treasure is not found overnight. But any treasure hunter will tell you that it is as much fun trying to find the treasure as it is uncovering it. Not for us though. Most of us will not be happy until we finally see the new job, extra money in the bank, a new________ or_________. Why can’t we enjoy the journey? Why can’t we enjoy the presence and a relationship with God when things are rough or when we are in the middle of a desert? It is because we want God to be a Genie and to get us out of the mess right away.

If you look back at all your close relationships chances are those relationships were bonded when you had to go through tough times together. God has the same and perfect plan for you right now. Don’t become bitter when things are tough, when you have been diagnosed with a terrible disease, when you lose a job, or lose what is very precious to you. If God were to give you everything you asked for then He would be your slave, not your God.

Jesus was God in the flesh who left the glorious realms of heaven to come and feel sin even though he did not sin. Then God turned His back on Jesus as God cannot look at sin when Jesus was on the cross. That is love, that is a relationship, and that is redemption. Today you may want pain and suffering to go away right now. While it is OK to keep praying for that, please use this as a time to get to know the ONLY one in the world who loves YOU unconditionally. 

Jesus is out to get you - but not in the way you think. At times we think that God has been so mad at us that we can’t be forgiven. But the opposite is true. Jesus loves us enough to get us because He loves us! Don't believe the lies of the devil. Jesus loves us too much to fill the role of a genie. Look to God; give Him your praise no matter what storm you are going through. Then that relationship which passes all understanding will flourish. Then and only then will peace flood your soul.