Thanksgiving (Uh....not just the 4th Thurday in November) is EVERYDAY

Psalms 50:   ¹⁴Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High,

    ¹⁵And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.

GOOD MORNING & HAPPY FRIDAY to all of  you!   Do you know why GOD has saved you?  Why you have been given today as another day of living?

Simply put that you would finally honor & glorify Him with you life.   That's it folks.   It's not that you would be the next mega church pastor.  Or that you too fed 5000, or for you to lead millions at a worship concert.   While all of those things are great......that's not why you were saved from drugs, abuse, that car accident, depression, alcohol, sexual immorality or just immorality........You were saved for the sole purpose of using the very breath you breathe, and life you have to turn it into a billboard for GOD.  That when people would look at, see  you, hear of you (or even read of you.....your tweets or FB posts) they'd be directed to Him. 

This whole scripture is essentially about the Greatness and Grace of GOD demonstrated towards you.  So you have no reason to be found complaining...but rather you have every reason to be found praising& giving thanks to GOD!  I pray this weeks Devotions have helped you to value each day that GOD has given you, and you have a fresh perspective that will help you to Glorify & Honor Him in every decision you are faced with making.   LGLP

Of Repentance

1Sam. 24:1-5a David's men whispered to him, "Can you believe it? This is the day God was talking about when he said, 'I'll put your enemy in your hands. You can do whatever you want with him.'" Quiet as a cat, David crept up and cut off a piece of Saul's royal robe.  Immediately, he felt guilty.

It's sad how we only feel guilty AFTER we have done something we weren't suppose to do.   Here we have what appeared to be "that the stars had alighned" Saul was in a vulnerable position, David's men were in his ear telling him this is GOD's doing that Saul is being given unto you right now.   Even they had twisted scriptures to help prompt David by saying "this is the day" that the Lord spoke of, and what did David do....NO he didn't kill  him but what he did do was disrespectul, and being disrespectful to those GOD placed in authority over  us, IS NEVER GOOD!

So it says DAVID immediately felt guilty.  What about you?  Do you even remotely feel guilty when you've spoken against your pastors, presidents, supervisors or managers?  Do you really think your freedom of speech transcends GOD's LAW as it relates to how we are to treat one another?  TODAY is truely the day of repentance, why.....because TOMORROW isn't promised to NONE OF US.   Repentance isn't just saying sorry.....DAVID knelt before Saul with the piece of his robe in hand in submission to him, the one who had sought to kill him.   

2Cor7:10 says God's desire is to lead us away from sin, through repentance (turning completely away from it, going a different direction) which is a result of salvation.   But see when we want to be right for our own sakes and not His glory, we are forfeiting our spiritual life for death instead.   Who have you wronged, cheated, or mispoke about.   I challenge you today to do, and be as DAVID was humble enough to repent, and lead by example to honor those GOD has put in authority over you.   For you honoring them, YOU ultimately honor HIM!  Simply put....LOVE GOD, & LOVE PEOPLE!

REMEMBERING WHEN

Exodus 13:3 Moses said to the people, "Always remember this day. This is the day when you came out of Egypt from a house of slavery. God brought you out of here with a powerful hand.   

Funny how Moses felt it was necessary to remind the people of Israel of the incredible moments of their Exodus from Egypt.  I mean you would think, to go from slavery (being in bondage for hundreds of year, I mean literally from the day they were born until .....) to being freed from that.   The witnessing of the plagues, that didn't affect God's people, but God's people saw His might demonstrated against those who were against Him.  This sounds to me absolutely unforgettable!  But the truth is they had memories like goldfish, and if we are honest many of us do too.  Today is Wednesday the 4th Day, of a brand new year.....and here's my question....have you been complaining?  Do you remember Monday's devotional challenge to not complain? 

GOD hadn't done His best work yet in the lives of the Israelites...He still was planning on parting the Red Sea, and drowning out Pharoahs army...etc.....but you are no different.   IF you really stop and think about it, GOD has already done, and been doing some AMAZING THINGS in your life.  SERIOUSLY....stop....think....rejoice on the fact that HE has delivered you out of something, and guess what.....HIS BEST WORKS are yet to come!  So it's ok to stop complaining....and start remembering that THIS IS THE DAY for remembering & rejoicing over what the LORD has done, & that He isn't finished!  His best work is yet to come in your life....now if that aint ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE YOU!    Have a blessed WEDNESDAY and don't forget to exhaust yourself today....... Loving God & Loving all People!

VICTORY

Judges 4:13-15 says ¹³ Sisera gathered together all his 900 iron war-wagons. He gathered together all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. ¹⁴ Deborah said to Barak, “Get up! For this is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. See, the Lord has gone out before you.” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and 10,000 men followed him. ¹⁵ The Lord brought trouble upon Sisera and all his war-wagons and all his army in front of Barak with the sword. Sisera got down from his war-wagon and ran away on foot.

So what is it?  What is it that keeps you from leaping out of bed with the attitude of this person in this picture.  With exuberant JOY and CONFIDENCE?   We sing songs like Awesome God, Our God, Nobody Greater, Mighty to Save...and many more but our approach to the day is............................. I think He can....really?    In today's scripture Deborah/Barak's enemies had mounted an attack, their army was in position to destory them, but Deborah remember God's promise to them, and said THIS IS THE DAY.....and when they geared up (put on their battle gear), mounted their beasts and approached this front  they saw those who were against them being driven out by none other than GOD!  

I don't know what you are facing & what you are fearful of, but there are two scriptures that I think radiate from this excerpt that would be good for you to know, remember and recite when you don't get up as the VICTOR but rather like a VICTIM.

1.  Is 54:16-17  (NO WEAPON folks......not one....will prosper.  He will though allow them to be formed...but remember they won't prosper!)

2.  2Tim. 1:7  (God doesn't give us the spirit of fear......He gives power, love and a sound mind)

This is why we are truly able to (if we choose to) get up with an attitude of all glory to Him!  It's THIS DAY that HE has created that you might experience the strength & promises of GOD.  No need to wait til tomorrow: HE's at work on your very behalfs today!  So now all you have to focus on is not your issues or what's against you, but rather just simply LGLP!

                                

For Rejoicing!

Psalms 118:23-25 says  ²³ This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.  ²⁵ Please, Lord, please save us.  Please, Lord, please give us success.

or try this translation (MSG) This is God's work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted— let's celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now!  Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

No matter how you slice this scripture up.....THIS DAY JAN 2, 2012 is GOD's doing!  If you wanna blame or praise somebody.....MAKE IT HIM!  Satan can't create...all he can do is attempt to:

                                        1) discourage you!
                                        2)  and distract you!

The psalmist knew this.....but he chose optimism!  He focused on WHAT IS IT THAT THE LORD IS DOING, and once HE SAW IT...he said it was wonderful, and let's rejoice!  Enjoy today, whether you are at work, or at home.  Enjoy the portion of health you have, enjoy conversation or time with a dear friend...heck...actually spend some time with GOD (you can't go wrong there!).   Now for those of you have a propensity to gravitate to pessimism look....the psalmist even recognized their need of GOD to save them.....recognize GOD is there, here to save you from yourself!  Stop asking CALGON to take it away, and recognize JESUS already did, on the cross!

Now here's your challenge for toDAY:  Go without saying ONE COMPLAINT!  If you do...repent of it and get back on the tracks of this wonderful day HE has created for you!  and remember......LGLP!