I hope that everyone is doing well this week. I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone who reads the blog in the US. This is probably my favorite holiday. I always had a good time with my friend Toby on Thanksgiving.
Today, we are going to take a break from our current sermon series on peace. I want to focus on the theme of thanksgiving since it is that time of year in my part of the world.
On this holiday, it is good time for me to reflect on the things that I am thankful for. I am certainly thankful for the fact that the Lord allowed me to have wonderful parents and a great friend like Toby. I am thankful for music, especially jazz, and I am thankful that the Lord has allowed me to work as a writer for all of these years. I am thankful for the fact that the Lord has provided me with food, clothing, shelter and transportation. I have a job to go to, and I am thankful for that.
As I've been going through the course of this year and reflecting on spiritual things, one of the things that I've become very grateful for is God's grace. One of the verses that tells us about grace that I particularly find meaningful is John 1:16 that states, "From His fulness we have all received grace upon grace."
The longer I live, the more I realize that everything that I have comes from the grace of God. He has given me His grace upon grace. Grace is unmerited favor. I know that I certainly haven't done anything to deserve the blessings that God has given me. It is all of Him and none of me.
God has given us His grace through His Son the Lord Jesus. There is nothing that anyone can do to earn salvation and the forgiveness of sins. We are able to be forgiven and have a relationship with the Father through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus. He bore our sins in His body on the cross and took the punishment that we deserved for sin. Because of what Jesus has done for us, by His grace we are saved.
I am not a perfect person. I do things that I know aren't pleasing to the Lord. However, when I ask for forgiveness, I am forgiven by the grace of God. He gives me another chance to do better and serve Him better.
This holiday, I am so thankful for grace. Without the grace of the Lord I would be nothing and I could do nothing. I often wonder why the Lord has been so gracious to me. I know that it is because of His great love for us.
It might not be a holiday of thanksgiving where you live at this time of year. However, I encourage you this week to think of all that you have to give thanks for. I encourage you to be thankful for God's grace working in your life. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I am having a lot of arthritis problems lately. Please pray that I can be more pain free. Thank you.
Keep praying for peace. Pray for peace in Israel, Gaza and the Middle East. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti and other strife filled places in this world.
Remember to pray for those recovering from storm damage. The UK had some bad flooding this week. Let us pray that those who need help will get the assistance that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week let us pray for those living in the nations of Albania and Senegal. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will resume our sermon series about peace. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.
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