Where Did Thanksgiving Go?

        Dennis Hutchinson shared this idea with me so I thought I would steal it from him. Have you ever noticed how Walmart goes from selling trick-or-treat candy half price straight to Christmas decorations? By Nov.1st we hear Christmas songs playing in ToysRUs or Lifeway Christian Stores for that matter. Whatever happened to Thanksgiving? Now I understand the need for this in our economy - Christmas and Halloween have become the 1,2 punch in consumer holidays. Now don't get me wrong, I can't wait to start listening to my new Christmas music which came out October 26th. Afterall, "We Gather Together to Ask The Lord's Blessing" is the only Thanksgiving song I know .(although "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart" and "I Will Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving in My Heart" will soon be 25 years old and thus enter the Hymnal) Also, celebrating the birth of Jesus is 10 months too late in coming in my estimation.
          But note what the Bible says in 2Timothy 3 ; ¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
 ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,...

      Could it possibly be that as a society, as God is increasingly forced out of the picture (like the above turkeys) we forget to be thankful to God and thus miss or skip a month of thankfulness? We even historically redefine Thanksgiving as the pilgrims (native Europeans) got together with the Native Americans and they gave thanks to the Native Americans for helping them learn how to survive. Didn't they get together for a day of thanks to God? The word "thankful" by Webster's definition - conscious of benefit received - implies that someone has given us something and we are grateful to them for these blessings bestowed on us. As we increasingly remove God from the picture in these last days, Thanksgiving basically becomes non -sensical as seen in this movie clip.
        Let's, as Christians, not race through to Christmas but see November as a month to be thankful to our God for his grace and mercy to us because after all according to Heb. 12:28 thankfulness is indicative  of someone on their way to Heaven ; "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful..."
               Happy Thanksgiving

Kids Devotion - Forgiveness

1. Watch the video.
2. Read 1Cor. 13:5 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%2013:5&version=WE. What did Davey do when Goliath broke the kite? Why? How did he obey the above verse?
3. Read Jonah 4. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jonah%204&version=MSG. A lot of people think Jonah didn't want to go to Ninevah because he was scared. This passage actually says that he was really just afraid that God would forgive these people who Jonah didn't love, and thats just what God did. Why would God forgive these wicked people? What did Jonah love in chapter 4 more than the people? Who did Davey love more than Teddy?
4. Is there anyone that has done something to you that you haven't forgiven? Why don't you forgive them now.

2010 Christmas Releases

Here is my top 4. It has been a very weak year for Christmas music! Many of the compilations have songs previously released as in Gotee's Christmas. Point of Grace easily put out the worst Christmas album. I'm not saying this just because I'm a guy. My wife was saying, "Can't you fastforward?" So here goes from 1 to 4. A little explanation - #3 was 2 EPs (short albums) so I combined them to make one good album. #4 was a disclaimer; if you like alternative music you will like Happy Christmas 5. If you don't you will be happy with David Phelps. No one can like both. (sort of like God and money)

#1

#2

+

#'s 3

#'s 4

The Blessings of God

Why is it when we think about the blessing of God and pray for it, we mainly think of it in terms of financial or physical blessing. God has promised to bless us if we are following him and there are 539 verses on blessing. I picked some of my favorite and put them to music. Watch this video and "forget not all his benefits"!

Teen devotion - Conformity

1. Watch the video
2. Read this definition for "conform" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conform
2. Why did the new boy stand out? If you were in his position what would you do? Was it sinful for him to conform?
3. (optional) Read Daniel 1. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel%201&version=NIV What areas did Daniel conform in? What area would he not? Why wouldn't he conform in this area?
4.  Read this passage. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 Corinthians+9:21-23&version=NIV. What is the reason Paul gives for becoming like people around you?
5. To balance out the previous passage read this one. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%206:16-18&version=NLT  What are the limits to conforming? Come up with a 25 word summary of what the Bible says about conforming.