Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies (Psalm 107:1-2)
Take some time today to reflect on your life, and in a heartfelt way thank God for His blessings. I turned 50 year old this year, and if you look at the list of folk I hung out with in my teen years, I simply should not have had a positive life. Thankfully through the prayers of my mother, God intervened.
My best friend from my childhood committed suicide in his late thirties. Another friend was imprisoned for selling cocaine. Another committed murder. Yet another committed suicide. And I really don’t think I would be alive today without God, bottom line.
I can take no credit for anything the Father uses me to do. For without Him, I am absolutely worthless. Outside of Jesus, I am a crude, selfish, arrogant bag of wind! But thank God, in Him I am a brand new person! My identity in life is wrapped up in Him. I am hidden with Christ in God! What I was has disappeared. Jesus Christ made me a new creature. The old things left, and He replaced all my mess with Himself. I diligently seek Him today and everyday, because I dare not look back to what I was.
The truth for all of us is that if you cease to walk in the light, darkness will fill the void. I cannot and will never look back. What I was will never be again, by God’s grace. I have family friends, a beautiful wife, wonderful children, a church full of some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. All because of Jesus Christ. All because of His great sacrifice for me.
Lord, thank you for your great and tender mercy on me. Thank you for not giving me what I deserve in life. Thank you for your grace that has taken my mess, wiped it away, and replaced it with your abundant and merciful blessing. All that I am, all that I have, all that I will ever be is in your hands. With all of my heart Lord, thank you for placing your hand on my life. Let me never take you and your blessing for granted.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
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Amen Pastor Mitch, amen.
ReplyDeleteMay we all continue to be blessed and be a blessing to our Father. And I too thank Him for His love, and what a LOVE He has for us, and not take it for granted.
I pray that we always look up and forward to follow His light, His will and His way, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Love, Peace + Joy to you and your family this Thanksgiving Holiday