"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Giving thanks should come naturally to a believer simply because of the victory that has been given through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But, what exactly does it mean to "give thanks"? The word "thanks" in today's verse comes from the Greek word chairo, a verb meaning to rejoice, to be glad – but not just any kind of rejoicing but to rejoice exceedingly. It also means to be well and to thrive.

When you think about today's verse, our thanks giving should be more than mere words, giving thanks infers action – it means to not only be glad but to act glad. To not only say you're rejoicing but to rejoice exceedingly in your daily activities. It not only means to give thanks, but it also means to live a thankful life – to thrive in your rejoicing and thanks giving . . . it's about living out the victory that was given us through Jesus Christ our Lord....

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

I love the traditional songs of Thanksgiving any time of the year. But with the American Thanksgiving just a few days away, I wanted to share one with you to stir your heart of thankfulness today.

It matters not whether you celebrate Thanksgiving Day where you live, what matters is the heart of the worshipper who hastens to make known God's manifest blessings to all who will hear. Take the time to read the words penned by men centuries ago and join in the celebration of thankfulness . . .

Now Thank We All our GodBased on Ecclesiastics 50:22-24 by Martin Rinkart (1586-1649)Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)

Now thank we all our God,With heart and hands and voices,Who wondrous things has done,In whom this world rejoices;Who...

David wrote in Psalm 62:7, “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.”  In other words, he found God to be His everything . . . “God is MY salvation!”  “God is MY glory!”  “God is the rock of MY strength!”  “God is MY refuge!”  What he didn’t say is, “God is MY PASTOR’S salvation and he will keep me in good standing with God!”  Or, he didn’t say, “God is MY TEACHER’S glory and if I attend faithfully, my teacher will represent God’s glory to me!”  Again, he didn’t say, “God is MY CHURCH LEADER’S refuge and if I stick close to him, I’ll be safe!”

It's getting late and we're sorry!  But, we can't miss an opportunity to reach out to everyone with an invitation to participate in our Third Annual Christmas Story Contest.

The theme of this year’s Christmas newsletter is “Good News in Bethlehem”.  Of course, we know WHO the Good News is … Yeshua, Jesus, the Christ, the Promised Messiah, the Redeemer, the King, the Lord of all!  Setting aside any controversy about when the Messiah came to earth in the form of a tiny child, we’re asking you as a writer to share a story from your heart based on the theme “Good News in Bethlehem” and submit it to us no later than midnight on December 1st, only a few days from today.  Here are the guidelines: 1.     Your story...

Not too long ago I saw a 2-minute clip of a movie where a child was sharing with his father something that was fearful to him . . . everywhere he looked he saw people who appeared to be alive but were really dead and didn't even know they were dead. There are many who are sitting in the churches being deceived into thinking they are alive but yet they are dead, those who have assumed the name "Christian" but who have never surrendered their live to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Many people claim the name “Christian” yet their hearts are dead in sin, living in pleasure and dead while they are yet alive.

What is a true believer?  He or she is one whose belief in God completely consumes their life.  A true believer believes inside and out—one whose belief/faith is so much a part of them that they cannot partition their lives.  They are believers through and through, in thought, word and deed.  A true believer lives his life as led and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.

We are never satisfied.  We’re more concerned about tangible riches than we are about spiritual riches.  We’ve forgotten what Matthew 6:33 means when it says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  We see the “all these things shall be added unto you” but we neglect the first part “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."  (Matthew 5:7)   Merciful . . . compassionate . . . emotionally and spiritually moved to some way help alleviate the pain and misfortune of others; a by-product of love, the kind of love that comes from knowing God and being transformed into His likeness and image.   Being merciful toward others will cause mercy to be returned to you.  I've seen this first-hand almost daily since living with chronic pain for the past several years . . . reaching out and touching others with similar afflictions opens the door for my life to be touched by them.  It's a simple law of love . . . a two-way street!  "Give and it shall be given unto you . . . "  Our Father has set a principle in motion that is anchored in the essence of Who He is according to 1 John 4:16 " . . . God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." ...

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”  (Psalm 62:8) We have a tendency to look to anyone/anything other than the Lord for answers.  In fact, we would rather trust flesh and blood than we would the Lord for most everything.  Sad, but true! David, when he wrote this Psalm, had dealt with misplaced confidence.  He saw the error of his way, quickly repented, and wrote these words:  “Trust in him at all times – pour out your heart before him.” When you are faced with a major disappointment, to whom do you run?  Your best friend?  Your internet friends?  Where do you take your disappointments, hurts, disillusionments, rejections?  Unfortunately, most of us take our problems everywhere but to the Lord.  David found himself on the run, alone and away from all that he found comfort in.  Yet, his cry was for all of us (“ye peoples”)...

One of the co-authors in our book, Women of Passions: Ordinary Women Serving an Extraordinary God, Yvonne Blake, sends out a daily “Morning Song”.  I can’t tell you how these daily words from the old hymnals have blessed me.  For instance, read today’s “Morning Song” and, while reading, really meditate on the words and stop to think about what they say.  Let these words be your prayer today:

Lord, speak to me that I may speak, In living echoes of thy tone; As Thou hast sought, so let me seek Thy erring children, lost and lone. O strengthen me, that while I stand Firm on the rock and strong in Thee, I may stretch out a loving hand, To wrestlers with the troubled sea. O teach me, Lord, that I may teach The precious things Thou dost impart; And wing my words, that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart. O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord, Until my very heart...