OUR FIRST THANKSGIVING

...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:18b (NIV)

Most families celebrate Thanksgiving, passing the tradition to their children. Not so with my family. My mother never cooked a turkey.

My stepfather's employer gave everyone at work a turkey for Thanksgiving. We were thankful when he brought one home, but my mother did not know how to cook it.

Mother looked at that bird like it was an alien. She washed it, and gave thanks to God for abundant food. While staring at the bird, Mom decided boiling would make it tender. She filled her biggest pot with water and boiled the bird for two hours. Whew! It stunk up the house. "Is the turkey supposed to smell that way?" she asked my stepfather. He shrugged and walked away.

Mom was upset. Well, she mumbled, maybe it needs to be fried. Cutting the wings, legs and thighs off, she dusted them in flour and fried the pieces in three large skillets. The odor was nauseating. She mumbled, it must have to bake. She placed all the pieces in her largest baking pan and shoved it into the oven.

The air was thick with a heavy rotten odor. Mom opened the windows and doors to air out the house. To test if the bird was fit for human consumption, Mom offered a drumstick to our dog. He sniffed it and retreated to the pantry. The only thing that turkey was good for was the garbage can!

Even though our Thanksgiving dinner was bologna and cheese sandwiches and a purchased pumpkin pie, we offered our thanks to God.

Dear Lord, thank You for the mistakes we make that teach us to correct our ways. Amen

© 2018  Evelyn B. Ryan

A DAY OF THANKSGIVING

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. Acts 2: 46-47 (NKJV)

Every day for the early church was a day of thanksgiving, gathering and eating together and praising God.

I recall from our country’s history how the first pilgrims came to this country, desiring freedom from religious oppression and economic hardships. They were looking for a fresh start— new beginnings. They gathered with family and friends to celebrate and break bread together, giving thanks to God for bringing them safely to this new land of plenty.

How wonderful the ­­­United States of America sets aside a day to celebrate Thanksgiving Day!

As a nurse, I often would work this holiday. The staff members who worked planned to bring a favorite dish to share, and celebrate the holiday together. One Thanksgiving Day, my husband was home and working outside. Several neighbors noticed and invited him to their table. He politely declined. When I returned home, Bill showed me the two plates of food he had received from two neighbors. How thoughtful they were to make sure he did not miss out on friends or a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. 

I am filled with gratitude for the many volunteers who devote their time each Thanksgiving and many other days throughout the year to prepare a grand meal for those who are homeless, who have no family, and those families struggling to provide. May each day be as Thanksgiving, celebrating, giving thanks, and sharing with everyone.  

Thank you Father for showing us how to share Your love not only on Thanksgiving Day but every day.

© 2018 Marianne Lucot

SOX MELTS MY HEART

And they went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there were the breath and spirit of life. Genesis 7:15 (AMP)

One of my favorite places to visit is the veterinary office. I enjoy watching everyone’s pets interact with their owners and their immediate surroundings. After all, they are God’s creatures in whom the breath and spirit of life resides. Their body language demonstrates many of our human emotions including fear, sadness, stubbornness, aggression, joy, love and contentment. You may even think of others.    

Sox, our cat, has a chronic health condition which requires frequent visits to the veterinary office. He instinctively knows we are trying to help him feel better. He never gets upset as he is probed and prodded, and he always takes his medicine easily, with no resistance.

We enjoy our sweet personable cat. He frequently walks right behind us as we take our daily walk in our neighborhood. When we stop and visit outside with a neighbor, Sox will walk up and accept a friendly rub on the head from them.

At home, Sox often settles in our lap or in another spot within the same room. If we are in different rooms, Sox will often settle somewhere in between.  His sweet nature and desire to be social melts my heart.  Can you imagine if our hearts melted for our neighbors and strangers as it does for our precious pets?  Isn’t this how Jesus desires us to love each other, even those we feel are unlovable? That kind of unconditional love would indeed change the world.

Father, melt our hearts as we go into our communities, to share Your love with our neighbors

© 2018 Marianne Lucot

I AM A CHILD OF GOD

Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Psalm 100:2-3 (NIV)

I shared an unforgettable evening with my stepmother this past week. We attended a book-signing event featuring Mitch Albom and his recently released novel, The Next Person You Meet In Heaven. Time passed quickly as he shared bits and pieces of his life and writing with us. And like his novels, his words lingered in my mind long after the evening came to an end.

Thoughts of Chika, a little girl from Haiti, awakened me in the night. Memories of watching a video during the event of her singing “I’m no longer a slave to fear—I am a child of God” filled me. She appeared to be singing for an audience of One, seemingly unaware of anything around her, content in her solitude with the Lord. Although at the time I felt like an intruder, I couldn’t turn my eyes from the scene before me—pure worship, adoration and trust. In a matter of seconds, a child I had never met etched a permanent mark on my heart.

No matter the number of days we are given, our lives are interconnected, and even one chance encounter has the potential to change us. Change the way we believe … change the way we worship … change the way we love.

Chika went home to be with the Lord, but the memory of her singing and her childlike faith shall stay with me forever.

Father God, Thank You for little children—for the times we experience the beauty of pure worship and absolute faith through them.

© 2018 Amy A. Verzi

A PIERCED HEART

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double–edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

As a newly baptized Christian, during a Sunday worship service, I would often be sobbing as if my heart had been pierced.  It was as if God was speaking directly to me. As I look back, I know the Holy Spirit was using God’s Word to convict me in areas of my life I was holding onto. It was a battle of the wills, the flesh and the Spirit. Over much time the Holy Spirit would win each battle.

Our sinful nature can be compared to an onion which has many layers. As the Holy Spirit exposes our layers, we must surrender and allow Him to peel back each layer we hide behind, sometimes bringing tears. This provides room for God’s Holy Spirit to fill us and transform our lives. Only then can we be used in His Kingdom work.

I am humbled how God works in our lives, accepting us in our brokenness, but not willing to leave us there. I am thankful to be in a church where I hear God’s Word preached every Sunday. Even as a more mature Christian, I continue to feel the Holy Spirit prompting me through God’s Word to examine my heart.

Although we may have a close walk with Christ, we still have that sinful nature.  Daily, we must be in God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and remove everything impure. Only then will God work through our hearts, reaching others far from Him.    

Father, I am thankful Your Word pierces my heart. Amen

© 2018 Marianne Lucot