Monday, November 23, 2015

PM#0046 Thanksgiving and Blessing Psalms 18 vs 1



Praise-Thanksgiving Prayer  46

Martin Luther once said "In thanksgiving we recount blessings received, and thus strengthen our confidence and enable ourselves to wait trustingly for what we pray."

Praise and thanksgiving prayer is important.  It can be a simple affirmation of love to God.  Ps 18:1 gives an example:  "I will love you, O Lord, my salvation".  If you read the Psalms, you will be encouraged to be thankful, as you will see other times that thanksgiving was given to God.  They will help you as you pray.

Father, Thanksgiving is not always come easy, but your word was given to help us.  May we learn from your word so we can offer thanksgiving from our heart.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Reflection: 
Take time to list a few blessings: __________________________________________
Search the Psalms for thankfulness given by the writers of the Psalms and write down how that thankfulness encouraged the Psalmist: ______________________________
Now look over your list of blessings, how being thankful encourage you?

Friday, November 6, 2015

Veterans



PM#0471
Veterans
John 15:13, Rom 12:14

Vietnam veterans were deeply hurt when protesters did not respect them. 

The protesters had forgotten that our freedoms come with a cost, one which we fought to preserve, and some gave their lives to protect those freedoms. The Bible says in John 15:13 that ‘Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.”  

Yes, veterans have experienced a rejection of that love as a country. Turning to God’s way, we should forgive and find ways to bless.  Rom 12:14 says “Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.”

Fortunately, our country is now honoring its veterans.  Still, all of us who are veterans should consider this prayer:

Father, help me to continually find ways to bless my country.  I forgive those who hurt us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection:

Why is important to honor our veterans?

What happened to our country when we did not honor our veterans?

Take a moment and consider how blessing a veteran honors them.