It’s only a day away from one of my favorite holidays-
THANKSGIVING.
But in this part of the world, Thursday will be just
another Thursday. There will be no turkey to carve. No smells of stuffing or
pecan pie to fill the room. No football games to watch after a big feast.
But one thing will be the same … I will be giving
thanks!!!
I want more than ever to live a GRATEFUL life- one of
constant thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians
5:8
Give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
Why should I give thanks always? Gratitude and thanksgiving gives glory and honor to our God. Life is a gift
and we have been given God WITH US, and a redeemed story to live, a global
family as our team, a mission to complete, and an eternity ahead with our God. Those are huge reasons to give thanks!
But sometimes, life gets busy and stressful. Our giving thanks and living grateful lessens. Sometimes there seems to be more darkness than light. More despair
than hope. Watching recent events from
my country on the internet about
Ferguson, Missouri- brings sadness and things look dark. But darkness is
not the end of our story, or of our world.
A few weeks ago, God reminded me in a unique way about
His light in darkness.
Power (electricity) is not consistent here in our area.
Some days you go home and there’s nothing but darkness in your part of the
city. You are thankful at these times for solar lights and long-wick candles-
for even a small amount of light makes a huge difference.
Well, recently, an odd thing happened several days in a
row. I noticed our electric sockets
worked, but not our lights. So many
people sat in the dark on our compound, not realizing the lights were out, but
the sockets were hot.
That weird occurrence made me think about how on life’s
journey- at many times, I sat in the dark. There were times when I felt alone
or afraid or sad or discouraged. Life’s
circumstances can bring darkness into your heart or season. Maybe a bad work situation
or a broken relationship. Maybe a closed door or one of life’s hallways
(transitions)…makes you feel in the dark and you don’t see the way out yet. There are lots of shadows and dark valleys to
pass through.
But in those times, even if it’s dark, our wiring – our internal
ability to stay connected and charged- is ON, our power source remains HOT. We can
CONNECT ALWAYS to our Father in heaven who lives in us and gives hope, joy,
peace, unconditional love…that can weather any storm, light any darkness, and
see us through any season.
2 Samuel 22:29
You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord
turns my darkness into light.
John 1:4
In
Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it
Psalm 139:11-12
If
I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even
the darkness will not be dark to you; the night
will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to
you.
Hebrews 4:15-16
For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did
not sin. Let us then approach God’s
throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help us in our time of need.
There is ABUNDANT grace, ABUNDANT provision, ABUNDANT
power, ABUNDANT light and life that we’ve inherited as God’s family. May we
connect, stay connected, and let His light shine in us. This light, even when the outer lights seem
OFF in our circumstances, can SHINE. And can be a testimony to others of our
God.
Isaiah
9:1-2
The
people walking in darkness
have seen a great light; on those
living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their
joy; they rejoice before you as
people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
Isaiah
42:16
I will lead the
blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I
will turn the darkness into
light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will
do; I will not forsake them.
Colossians 1:13
For He has rescued
us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves…
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a
chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession,
that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You
are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither
do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its
stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before
others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Each day, may my life display a deep gratitude to God! God can give us a NEW song, LIVING hope, BRIGHT LIGHT to see by and give to others in any darkness. May
we plug in and feel that love and encouragement this Thanksgiving and holiday
season, and share these with others!
Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and
fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.
1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new
birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead…
Psalm 107
Give thanks to the
Lord, for He is good, let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…
John 10:10
The thief comes
only to steal, kill and destroy, but I (Jesus) have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full.
 |
| Each day, may we live grateful lives! |
Happy Thanksgiving!
With Love and
Gratitude always!
Holly
PRAYER REQUESTS
-Things continue to be busy here. Please continue to pray
for my classes and students. My seminary classes run on a western calendar so I’ll
be finishing those classes in the next month. Pray that my two seminary classes
will have a good finale and that students will do well on final exams and
assignments.
-I will be traveling home for Christmas. Please pray
safety for that and a good time of rest at home with my family.
-Keep my sister in prayer as she travels home as well. It
will be great to be together again for the holidays!
Thank you for your prayers!!!
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