Happy Thanksgiving 2022

November 22, 2022 Gracie

Thanksgiving 2022 is here and that means the holiday season is in full swing!

People rushing about, schedules and to-do lists, Christmas rehearsals at church, a Thanksgiving meal to plan – it’s getting really busy.

Are you ready?

In all of our rushing around though, I wanted to take a few moments to reflect with gratitude where our “thanks” should truly lie – for the One Who created us and gave us His Son.

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
I will rejoice and be jubilant in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. – Psalm 9:1-2, (NASB).¹

For some who are away from their families this year, Thanksgiving 2022 can feel like a time of heartache.

If you’re currently going through a difficult time in your life, it can help to have some additional perspective.

God says to give thanks in everything. That doesn’t mean you need to give thanks FOR everything. You don’t need to give thanks FOR that bad day. Or FOR that bad relationship. Or being passed over at work. Financial hardship. Whatever it is – you are not to give thanks FOR the difficulties, but rather IN the difficulties. That is a very important distinction, and one I think we often miss. Giving thanks IN everything shows a heart of faith that God is bigger than the difficulties and that He can use them, if you approach Him with the right heart and spirit, for your good and His glory. – Tony Evans, Christian pastor.²

God never changes and neither does His love. It can help to remember the times He has walked with you through the struggles in your past.

Always, keep the faith, don’t give up and keep looking up for He is with you.

From our home to yours,

we’d like to wish you and your loved ones a very

Happy Thanksgiving 2022.

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²Dr. Tony Evans quotation, “Give thanks IN, not FOR, is your secret to victory.” [online post]. n.d. Web. Accessed November 18, 2022. https://go.tonyevans.org/blog/giving-thanks-in-not-for-is-your-secret-to-victory

Our Exceptional God

A Mustard Seed of Faith

Here’s a little bit of trivia 🙂

Can you guess the answer to this question:

How big is a mustard seed?

Mustard Seeds¹

Or, should I say, how “small” is a mustard seed?

If you guessed a millimeter – you’d be right.

Think of what one millimeter would look like.

Now that is tiny!

This small unassuming little seed, about the size of a single grain of sand, becomes a plant that can grow up to 30 feet tall or more!

Bangladeshi mustard plants²

So much more so our faith.

From one tiny mustard seed of faith, with the urging of the Holy Spirit, to a full declaration of our beliefs, our eagerness to spread the truth of God’s Word starts growing into something beautiful – that is, we start becoming more like Christ.

Our Faith Should Dictate Our Actions

Belief in God gives Him glory. Bearing fruit gives Him glory.

The whole world is watching.

If we act contrary to what we say we believe, it’s a terrible witness and that includes on social media, in the workplace, and more.

People should be able to look at your life and say, “You know, your life is different. You affect people differently than others. You have a certain attitude that’s different. Your behavior is different. Your influence is different. Your effect on things is different. There’s a product to your life that’s unlike any other life.” That’s fruit. – Pastor John MacArthur, Pastor and Bible teacher from Grace To You.³

Trust in God like your life depends on it . . . and it does, for all eternity.

Louis Gander’s latest poem, “One Wee Mustard Seed,” captures this beautifully.

One Wee Mustard Seed 9-22-22

Did God not create all the stars in the sky –

and put them in motion, Did they not comply?

Did God not create all the things of this earth,

from evenings to mornings, to growing from birth?

Are we so perplexed when we see Jesus still

the winds and the rains and the seas – all at will?

So why do we question what God can accomplish?

Oh, where is our seed of wee faith in His wish?

Disciples and others, now off from the shore,

could not seem to handle the tempest’s loud roar.

Would stiff winds and violent waves now condemn

as faith dissipated and fear overtook them?

We’ve faith in our keys that our cars will all start,

and faith in our chairs that they won’t fall apart.

Yet we can’t trust God to grant one little need?

Lord, grant me the faith of one wee mustard seed.

http://www.ganderpoems.org/⁴

A Mustard Seed Of Faith As It Matures

Spiritual growth is a matter of glorifying God. We will grow when our lives are filled with praise. We will grow when our lives are filled with fruit and fruitfulness. And we will grow when our lives are characterized by trusting God. Now as we live this way, focusing on His glory, we are changed from one level of glory to the next, moving toward the very image of Christ. – Pastor John MacArthur, Pastor and Bible teacher from Grace To You.⁵

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¹ “Mustard Seeds” photo by David Turner novalis, February 23, 2005, Edited by Consequencefree to replace the coin with an SI measurement reference. 24 February, 2005, via Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Released under the GNU Free Documentation License. Accessed and retrieved November 2, 2022.

² “Bangladeshi mustard seeds” photo by Nafiur Rahman, own work. 8 January, 2021, via Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Released under thexxxx Free Documentation License. Accessed and retrieved November 1, 2022.

³John MacArthur quotation, courtesy of GTY.org/library/sermons-library. “Trust, Praise, and Bearing Fruit.” para. 38, n.d. Web. Accessed 27 October, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/1388/trust-praise-and-bearing-fruit

⁴Poetry courtesy of Louis Gander, ©2022 Louis Gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, “One Wee Mustard Seed.” [online post]. From Gander Story Poems, n.d. Web. Accessed October 27, 2022. https://www.ganderpoems.org/2022/10/one-wee-mustard-seed-9-22-22.html

⁵John MacArthur quotation, courtesy of GTY.org/library/sermons-library. “Trust, Praise, and Bearing Fruit.” para. 75, n.d. Web. Accessed 27 October, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/1388/trust-praise-and-bearing-fruit

Our Exceptional God

Veteran’s Day 2022

November 8, 2022 Gracie

Veterans Day, 2022 – Please Fly Your Flag

Veterans Day 2022 is almost here.

God bless all of our brave men and women in the military who served, and are serving, to protect our nation’s freedoms.

A thank you also to their families who carry on with responsibilities at home while a loved one is serving in sometimes dangerous locations abroad.

I don’t know about you, but when I watch soldiers’ homecoming videos on YouTube, I instantly burst into tears.

My tears are filled with gratitude for their sacrifice, and also from the wonderful memories that come flooding back of my father who served in the United States Navy.

Veterans Day 2022 – Words of Thanks Don’t Seem Enough

Not that long ago, I had it on my heart to write a poem about a soldier’s homecoming.

Lee Brice’s song, “I Drive Your Truck” sparked my imagination for this.

However, in my poem, I didn’t want the soldier to die.

I wanted him to come home where he could be surrounded by love and support from his best friend since childhood.

Here is my humble attempt to pay tribute.

A Soldier’s Homecoming

I had grass stains on my shoes

Playin baseball, me and you.

Tight as two best friends could be

Life back then was innocent and carefree.

Secret handshakes and catchin’ fish

Riding bikes and throwin’ a pitch

Childhood fun I’ll never forget

Those are the memories I’ll never regret.

Fell in love with a gal who’s now my wife,

We have a boy, it’s been a great life.

My son – he’s named after you.

He and I – we toss a few.

Just like we did – me and you.

You left for ‘Nam to fight the war,

Drivin’ tanks in ’64.

Every letter that you’d send

Reminded me how much I missed my friend.

You came home a broken man,

paralyzed legs, a weakened hand.

Lost your spirit in the war,

PTSD and at death’s door.

You’re not the same guy I used to know

It breaks my heart, but even so,

Near your hospital bed I’ll stand.

Mannnn . . . this isn’t what we’d planned.

But I’ll place a ball silently in your other hand.

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Our Exceptional God

Vote in the 2022 Midterm Elections

November 1, 2022 Gracie

Why Vote in the 2022 Midterm Elections?

Have you ever heard someone say, “My vote doesn’t even count”

Can you imagine if everyone felt that way?

As you may know, the general election is November 8^th of this year.

All of the congressional seats in the House of Representatives and 35 in the Senate are on the block.

We are at a critical moment in America. What happens on Election Day this November will have a profound impact on the future of our country. The sanctity of life, religious liberty, and our children’s future are all at stake. In fact, truth itself is up for a vote. – Dr. James Dobson, Founder of Focus On the Family.¹

We need to make our voices heard.

Please don’t hold back, give up on, or disregard this important right that is yours to claim.

Why vote in the 2022 midterm elections?

So much is at stake.

Unless we rise up and speak the truth, this culture of lies will destroy our families, our country, and our future. The foundation of morality that upholds our Republic cannot withstand two more years of this maddening rhetoric. If we fail to act now, everything we know to be beautiful and righteous in this nation will crumble and fade away. How utterly tragic it would be if the children born today never fully come to know and understand the meaning of “my sweet land of liberty?” – Dr. James Dobson, Founder of Focus On the Family.²

Although this country is headed in a very dangerous direction, nothing is a surprise to God.

No matter who is victorious, we need to pray.

We need to pray for our elected leaders to govern rightly, that those in power who are lost, will open their eyes and hearts beyond political agendas to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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¹ Dr. James Dobson quotation, “October Newsletter”. Courtesy of Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, https://www.drjamesdobson.org/newsletters/november-2022-newsletter , n.d. para. 1. Web. Accessed 25 October, 2022.

² Dr. James Dobson quotation, “October Newsletter”. Courtesy of Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, https://www.drjamesdobson.org/newsletters/november-2022-newsletter , n.d. para. 15. Web. Accessed 25 October, 2022.

³PSA courtesy of MyFaithVotes.org. (2022, October 4). Do Good Go Vote (2022) – [Video]. https://www.myfaithvotes.org/mfvtv?ac_vh_s=link&lwrt=%23%2Fsearch%2Fpfyu6rjrgrgue6t2izddgmctkf3fc3cq%3Fq%3Ddo%2520good%2520go%2520vote%25202022

Our Exceptional God

God Who Never Fails

October 25, 2022 Gracie

The God Who Never Fails

Child of God – remember that you are loved, and that you are not alone even when you cry silent tears.

No matter how bad things appear in your life, we have the words of Jesus to comfort us through our temporary suffering while here on earth.

Know that He is with you through every trial.

We know that verse so well, don’t we?

But, it’s important not to misinterpret what it says.

The promise that God works all things together for good does not mean that all things, taken by themselves, are good. Some things and events are decidedly bad. But God is able to work them together for good. He sees the big picture; He has a master plan. – Got Questions website.

Perhaps you have also turned to this verse in 1 Peter for comfort as well.

We serve the God who never fails, in any and every circumstance.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
– 1 Peter 5:10. (NASB).²

Is There Purpose in Our Suffering?

Through sleepless nights and uncontrollable tears, our desire for resolution of our problems can lead to questions like:

How can you let this happen to me, God?

Why does everything bad happen to me?

Some day, we will know the answers to our whys.

The reality of suffering is a tough pill to swallow, but there is a welcoming light at the end of what can be a very dark tunnel.

That light is our great physician, Jesus. In eternity, all of our suffering will be removed.

A man may go to a physician, and be prescribed a course of treatment which at the time is unpleasant or even painful; but if he trusts the wisdom of the man of skill, he accepts the thing that is laid upon him. It is so with us if we love God. But if a man does not love and trust God, he may well resent what happens to him and may well fight against God’s will. It is only to the man who loves and trusts that all things work together for good, for to him they come from a Father who in perfect wisdom, love and power is working ever for the best. – William Barclay, theologian and author.³

It’s difficult for our finite human minds to totally grasp, but we can know that Jesus understands our sufferings – having undergone the worst, most wicked death on the cross.

Jesus is now in glory with the Father and He is waiting to welcome you, dear believer, when it is your time.

Perspectives on Suffering

Have you ever heard the expression that something was a Godsend?

How about in relation to suffering?

Here’s an astonishing idea: Can suffering actually be a Godsend?

Popular Christian recording artist, Riley Clemmons, presents a perspective in her lovely song appropriately titled, Godsend.

No matter what happens in our lives we have a God who never fails.

As our nation fails, as our sufferings increase, our mission is clear: to spread the grace of the gospel.

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¹Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “What does it mean that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)?” n.d., para. 5. Web. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://www.gotquestions.org/all-things-work-together-for-good.html

³ William Barclay quotation, “Bible Commentaries”. [1706.] Courtesy of Studylight.org., https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/romans-8.html, n.d. para. 46. Public Domain. Web. Accessed 21 October, 2022.

Our Exceptional God

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