“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”

          -Psalm 100:4

I’m not against Black Friday. I wasn’t a big proponent of many local stores beginning their sales on Thanksgiving Day, but I did nonetheless serve as chauffeur and cart pusher in-chief to those in my family who had their eyes on some special bargain. Every year I diligently fulfill my assignment, waiting near some tall, brown pallet of merchandise to (hopefully) help a loved one snatch a deal without losing life or limb in the process. Even if you’re able to escape without injury, however, dealing with disgruntled employees and angry shoppers during the holiday season is inevitable.

But even though I’m not against Black Friday per se, I’m certainly not a fan. Just as the Christmas season seems to be more about lights and gifts than the birth of our Savior, it seems Thanksgiving, a day which once upon a time was about gratitude and contentment, is now the greediest day of the year. People were diving over other shoppers, pushing, shoving and yelling – all so they could save $20 on luxury. I understand the need to save money, but is 50% off really worth giving someone a black eye on Thanksgiving? Even though the scene was no less violent and chaotic than I’ve seen in years past, something about the fact that these people weren’t even waiting until the turkey had settled in their stomachs really put a knot in mine.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

          -Colossians 3:15

Even if you’re someone who stays a mile away from the nearest department store when Thanksgiving rolls around, what’s the first thing you think of when the holiday is mentioned? Traveling to see family you really don’t like? Eating lots of food? Having a few days off work? It seems that very few people have been able to preserve much of what Thanksgiving was originally intended to be: a day to express our gratitude to the Giver of all good things (James 1:17).

So, no, I’m not preaching against Black Friday. As I’ve pointed out, I’ve generally participated in it to some extent myself (although I vowed after Thursday’s events to avoid it completely next year). My conviction is not that we should wait one more week to do our Christmas shopping; it’s that we cannot fail to give God thanks and expect His blessings to continue. So will you join me in seizing today’s opportunity to express our thankfulness to God? In the words of the Psalmist, “it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord” (Psalm 92:1).

As a Christian, at the very core of your spiritual walk should be the faith that God has ransomed you from sin by grace through faith in His blood (Ephesians 2:8). You understand that, even though your sin had alienated you from the fellowship of the Lord, the mighty love of God was strong enough to break the yoke of sin from your back and set you free from its bondage (Colossians 1:21). It’s likely you are aware of many answered prayers and see countless evidences every day that God is still on the throne. You are blessed more than anyone could deserve – and you know it.

I won’t say that failure to recognize one’s blessings is never a problem, but generally it is not. On Thanksgiving none of us scratch our head and say, “Hmm…what good thing has God done for me this year?” We’re usually good at spotting the fingerprints of God in our lives; the problem is that we’ve become so accustomed to luxury that we treat God’s goodness like electric lights or running water: most of us have never lived without it, so actually taking time to magnify Him for it often seems unnecessary.

But what does it really mean to magnify God anyway? Does saying a brief, silent prayer of thanks count? I suppose to some extent it does, but truly magnifying the Lord consists of much more than a mere “thank you” is able to accomplish. Consider this excerpt from a sermon by John Piper:

“The word "magnify" can be used in two different senses. It can mean: make something appear greater than it is, as with a microscope or a magnifying glass.
Or it can mean: make something that may seem small or insignificant appear to be as great as it really is. This is what our great telescopes help us begin to do with the magnificent universe which once upon a time spilled over from the brim of God's glory. So there are two kinds of magnifying: microscope magnifying and telescope magnifying. The one makes a small thing look bigger than it is. The other makes a big thing begin to look as big as it really is.

When David says, "I will magnify God with thanksgiving," he does not mean: "I will make a small God look bigger than he is. He means: "I will make a big God begin to look as big as he really is." We are not called to be microscopes, but telescopes.”¹

So, then, your calling to magnify God is not fulfilled unless you are actively doing your part to share His glory with others. If your “magnified” version of God is still small enough to fit in your pocket, then all you’ve succeeded at is hiding Him from those who most need His love. To glorify God is to do everything within your power to make His name renowned, known by all nations and trusted by all people. As David wrote in Psalm 22:22, “I will declare Thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.” This is the only way to truly magnify God, especially as we see the day of our Lord’s return approaching, and is the best use of time you will find. So go tell someone about the power and goodness of God. When we each do our part, not only are we being obedient to what Scripture commands us to do, but our hearts will overflow with joy as we begin to comprehend just how great our God truly is.

 

1 http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/i-will-magnify-god-with-thanksgiving

A few days ago we studied the rebuilding of the Temple as told by Ezra. We saw that, even though God’s timeframe is usually very different than our own, He is always faithful to finish what He begins and will not forget the plans He’s made for us (Philippians 1:6; Jeremiah 29:11). Yet in spite of the fact that God often tosses our own agenda to the side and forces us to wait upon Him, I believe it’s important for us to realize that the Lord still has a work for us to do today that’s far more important than any plans we’ve made for ourselves. Even if it means doing nothing more than simply worshipping Him, it is our Lord’s desire that we “redeem the time” He’s given us and utilize it for His glory (Ephesians 5:16).

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

                                                     -Psalm 40:1

Romans 8:28 reminds us that, if you a Christian, God will ensure that all things work together for your ultimate benefit. This doesn’t mean everything we go through in life will be easy or even enjoyable, but that, in the end, God can and will use it for His glory and our betterment. What we so often struggle with is realizing that, even during the times when He seems so distant and our hopes so uncertain, the Lord still has a plan for us that’s already been set in motion. Just because we seem to be at a standstill doesn’t mean that God is; He is always working, and will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Perhaps life has found you in the same place it found the Israelites some 2,600 years ago. You look around and see nothing but unfinished temples and incomplete promises, all the while wondering what on earth it is you’re supposed to be doing while you wait. If this is you, here’s a simple suggestion : “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5)  He’s up to something bigger than you are.

 

 

 

 

 

How does your average prayer begin? With complaints, concerns, or requests? The Scriptures remind us that every prayer should begin with heartfelt praise to our heavenly Father (Matthew 6:9), and yet too often we find it easier to just give the Lord a list of things we want Him to do for us instead. We take His blessings for granted, despite the fact that we’ve already been given more than we could ever deserve.

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

             -Psalm 100:4

As my photo illustrates, we serve a God Who is actively preserving all Creation. Nothing that was, is, or ever will be, could exist without His sustaining power and provision! Even the angels of heaven, who have never experienced redeeming grace like us, still find reason to eternally praise Him simply because of Who He is as God (Revelation 4:8). How is it, then, that our praise is usually dependent on whether or not we get everything on our spiritual “wish-list”, and then battle thoughts of doubt and discouragement when something doesn’t go our way? Truthfully, praising the Lord only when we get what we want is no praise at all; it’s selfishness.

Just like Job, I believe each of us must come to the realization that God is God no matter what (Job 1:21). Sometimes praising Him despite our circumstances isn’t an easy thing to do, but that’s why it’s called a sacrifice (Hebrews 13:15). Even though every situation we face may not always be praiseworthy, our God is and we must learn to worship Him in the good times and bad.

 

 

Over the past few years, it seems that Thanksgiving has become almost completely lost in the celebration of Christmas. “Black Friday”, as it’s come to be known, is held by many in higher anticipation than the holiday of Thanksgiving itself. And though I by no means condemn bargain hunting or Black Friday, I find it ironic that a day which represents thankfulness and contentment is followed up by the biggest shopping day of the year, where people often buy things they don’t even need simply because it’s on sale.

The question we need to be asking ourselves, however, is not “Where did Thanksgiving go?” The real question, and the one we should be considering, is this: “Where did thankfulness go?” When did sitting around the table sharing what each person is thankful for get replaced with passing around Black Friday ads and pointing to all the things we’re going to purchase? When did making it to the local Wal-Mart before midnight take precedence over spending quality time with loved ones that are rarely seen? It’s not that standing in line to get a good deal is wrong; it’s about the priorities of the person standing there. A simple analysis of your thought life over the past 24 hours may help you determine your condition: have you spent more time today being grateful for what you do have, or looking forward to what you will have after a day of shopping tomorrow?

Once again, I’m not against Black Friday. To prove that, let me tell you that in about 30 minutes I’m hopping in our car and going bargain hunting with my mom. The point of this post isn’t that you should spend tomorrow counting your blessings while sitting quietly at home; it’s that in the process of transitioning into the Christmas season, we must be careful not to lose sight of what thankfulness really means. No, thankfulness is not being happy that we were able to buy a cartful of electronics that we’ll probably never use. That’s greed. True thankfulness is understanding that even if we’re never blessed with another material possession, or given another spiritual gift, we’ve already been given more than we deserve. And for that, I am truly thankful.

You may have heard that the first Thanksgiving took place way back when the pilgrims first settled in the New World. While this may be partially true, the spirit of Thanksgiving has been around for much longer, extending at least as far back into the realm of history as Psalm 136. 26 times we are reminded of the greatest reason we have to praise God: “for His mercy endureth for ever.” Though we might have a nice family and a nice home, nothing could ever compare to what we have in God.

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Psalm 136

(Read it Slowly!)

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

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My longtime followers will remember about 6 months ago when a dozen or so of us banded together and had a “Day of Praise.” On April 20, we vowed not to ask God for anything whatsoever, but to instead spend as much time as we could praising Him for what He’d already done in our lives.

Ever since then, I’ve tossed around the idea of having another Day of Praise, but I just never felt like the timing was right. That is, until now. A few minutes ago, I was exploring klove.com, and look what I saw!

I know it’s very short notice, but I would love for us to be able to join the listeners of Klove in this day of praise. There is definite power in numbers, and the more people that praise God together the more glory He will receive. With that said, will you consider joining me this Monday to praise the Lord for Who He is and what He’s done in your life? If you plan to participate, please leave me a comment and let me know so we can be encouraged by your thankfulness to God. Also, if you are reading this tonight (Saturday), you might also consider sharing this opportunity with your church tomorrow morning or evening. I’m sure at least a few of the congregation would be thrilled to sacrifice one day of their week to praising God.

As a final thought, Monday is usually thought of as being a bad day that nobody looks forward to. Many of us will be going back to school or work, and we’re not at all excited about that concept. But just think what a great start it would be to your week if you spent the whole day with a praise in your heart to God (Ephesians 5:19)! I’m sure it would give each of us the needed joy to make it through the rest of our week. Won’t you join us?

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised…”

                                      -Psalm 48:1

The process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, or of a bird migrating thousands of miles somehow knowing that it's going in the right direction, should cause each one of us to say with the Psalmist, "This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:23)

We serve an awesome God. The things that we stand in awe of, He created by the word of His mouth. Truly, He is a God of wonders.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.".

                        -Psalm 19:1-3

Last Tuesday, I felt led of God to organize a "Day of Praise" in which those who participate would simply praise God all throughout their day. The response has been great, and I have between 10 and 12 people who have pledged to join me in this day of praise to our Father.

My blogging-friend, Camden, pointed out to me the relevance of Paul's words in Philippians 4:4:

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."

When you think about it, praising God is nothing more than rejoicing over what He has done in our lives. And, as Solomon said in Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..." Praising the Lord fills us with a greater joy than just about anything else. Not only that, but it pleases our heavenly Father, which should be our greatest desire.

If the Lord has blessed you in any way, shape, or form, then let me encourage you to use this day as a day of praise and worship for all the blessings He has given you.

"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."

                            -Psalm 63:7 

About a month ago, I decided to spend a half hour doing nothing but praising God. I realized that my prayers were (and still are) usually weighed down with countless requests and petitions. Whether they were physical, financial, or spiritual, I found that I was constantly asking God to meet a need of some kind. While this is not wrong in itself, we need to make sure that we give God due praise as well. So that is why, this coming Tuesday (4/20), I am not going to ask God for a single thing. Instead, I am going to spend my prayer time praising Him for all that He has already done.

I am asking all those who are willing to please join me in this "Day of Praise." We know that God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), and perhaps this will bring a much needed revival to the Church.

When Paul and Silas were put in prison, they prayed and sang praises to the Lord and "...suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."(Acts 16:26) Not only were Paul and Silas loosed, but all the prisoner's shackles fell off! Let's praise the Lord for all that He has done in our lives, and watch as God loosens the chains of the prisoner!

So spread the word about this Day of Praise! Post it on your blogs, e-mail your friends, tell your church - whatever it takes to get as many people praising God as we can!

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" 

                            -Psalm 107:8