Good Morning
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. For Mother's Day our church gave all the mothers and daughters in the life of the church a copy of Amy Grants's book"Mosaic". It is, in a way, an autobiographical sketch of her life. Though it is given to moms and daughters I sneaked my wife's copy and have been reading it, too. Amy Grant is a very beautiful person with a beautiful mind and a brave heart. She talks about how she welcomes every morning with the words of the Psalmist, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it".
Yesterday evening Alice and I drove around the countryside of Tioga and Broome Counties. It was a spectacular evening. I was particularly overwhelmed with the brilliant lilac bushes all around. They are in full bloom with multiple brilliant colors. We walked around one of the spacious parks of Tioga County, beside the beautiful Susquehanna river. Praise the Lord for morning and praise the Lord for evening.
The story is told of a poor man who was given a loaf of bread. He thanked the baker, but the baker said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the miller who made the flour.” So he thanked the miller, but the miller said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the farmer who planted the wheat.” So he thanked the farmer. But the farmer said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the Lord. He gave the sunshine and rain, and fertility to the soil, and that’s why you have bread to eat.” Everything we own, we ultimately received from God and we owe him thanks. James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting sand.” Dr. Dale Robbins wrote, “I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives.” Complaining makes us miserable. Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.” Complaining is the archenemy of thanksgiving. The two cannot co-exist in the same heart. Therefore, I challenge you to try to quit complaining for a whole month. Just try it. When you feel tempted to complain, instead of filing your complaint, file a praise. It will change your life. Philippians 2:13 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” Ephesians 5:19 says, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” Always is the key word. It is not just an attitude to take on Thanksgiving. We should be grateful everyday. In Daniel 6 we read that Daniel got down on his knees three times everyday and prayed and gave thanks to his God. How many of us get down on our knees to give thanks even once a day? It seems that the only time some people give thanks is on Thanksgiving, once a year, because the government mandates it as a holiday. Do you remember the old hymn, " Count Your Blessings"? “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost. Count your many blessing, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Thanksgiving is, and must be, a daily discipline. I read recently that if you own one Bible, you are abundantly blessed, because a third of the people in the world do not have access to a Bible. If you awoke this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than 1 million people who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are more fortunate than 500 million people on earth. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, twenty dollars in your pocket, and a place to sleep you are richer than 75 percent of the world. O, God forgive me when I whine. I found the following list of questions you can ask to test whether you are a grateful person or not?
#1 Which do you tend to talk about more – your blessings, or your disappointments?
#2 Are you a complainer, always grumbling, always finding fault with your circumstances?
#3 Are you content with what you have, or always dissatisfied and wanting more?
#4 Do you find it easier to count your blessings, or is it easier to count your afflictions?
#5 Do you express thanks to others when they help you, or do you just take it as your due?
#6 Would others say that you are a thankful person? Our friend, Ruth, who comes to our church, is one of the most thankful persons I know. Ruth, a retired Army nurse, lives in a nursing home. She cannot drive now. Somebody picks her up for every Wednesday gathering and for Sunday worship. She has a contagious smile. She sings to the Lord with gusto and love. The highlights of her week are Wednesday evening and Sunday morning, when she comes to church. Praise the Lord for the beauty of the earth and praise the Lord for our beautiful Saviour who makes all things beautiful.
I am going in for a CT scan today at noon. Thank you for lifting me up in prayer.
Jesus is Lord.
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONPlqLTRBI0
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