You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:22

In the news, Russia has started testing their nuclear weapons, China continues to build its military and vessel fleet, and other countries are trying to develop nuclear weapons. All of these actions are signs of strength and intimidation against their enemies in hopes they won’t attack. But the truth is, if we enter into a nuclear war, no one will win, everyone will be wiped off the face of the planet.

 You might be fighting a battle that doesn’t require nuclear weapons or a large army. Trouble with a fellow co-worker, neighbor, family member, or situation that appears to be beyond your control are issues that weigh you down and defeat you emotionally, physically, and spiritually. God doesn’t want HIs children to be or feel defeated, because we are not defeated, but already victorious.

 As the Israelites moved toward their “promised land”, they faced large people and strong armies who were ready to defend the land they occupied. But God had different plans and that was for His people to have a land flowing with milk and honey, a prosperous land that was suitable for living and thriving. God took care of their battles and they occupied that land promised to them.  

 And the Lord, He is he One who goes before you, He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

 The Lord promises to be with you through this life and help you in times of trouble. Your enemy might appear big, even have weapons of intimidation, but they are nothing compared to the resources available to God to use on your behalf when you call out to Him for help. Let God fight your battles today and every day! God bless!

 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

 Our children are God’s blessings, some make life easy, while others can keep us in a constant state of prayer. My youngest child fits the one that keeps me constantly praying. From a youngster up until today, as a young adult, he has always lived an independent life, many times living on the edge. Although he is like me is some ways, he is also braver and fearless when it comes to most things. Thus, I make it a point to keep him covered in my daily prayers.

 And this is why I keep praying for him….On the day of Thanksgiving, I texted him to see how his duck hunting trip in Missouri was going, no response. Then late afternoon I got a text saying he’s had the wildest 24 hours of his life, my heart about stopped. He called me later to tell me he had a tire blow out on his truck on the way up there Wednesday, got food poisoning, had to wait 4 hours in the parking lot, sick as a dog, before getting a hotel room, his boat motor went haywire while out on the lake on Thanksgiving, had to call 911 to have a state patrolman tow him in and had to wait 4 hours in the cold for his help to arrive. Anyhow, it was a long two days, yet when we talked he was headed a few hours north to meet up with his buddies to duck hunt at another location. God help him please!!!

 Maybe you have a child that brings you to your knees in prayer on a frequent basis. Look at it this way, it’s not a bad thing, although your anxiety is high, God watches over them and will give them His best protection, while you continue to summon for God’s help. Rest easy moms and dads, I can assure you God is faithful as my son is nearing 28 and still enjoying life to its fullest. Don’t forget to thank God for watching over them and recall the times when He worked a miracle of protection on your behalf. God is faithful! Pray often!

 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8

 What are you thankful for on this annual day of celebration, Thanksgiving? You might be thankful for friends, family, the freedom you have to worship, your home, job, or health. These are all great things to be thankful for, but digging deeper, brining it closer to your life, can you think of times when God has perfected something that was heavy on your heart?

 For me, I can think of many times in my life when I literally faced a brick wall and there appeared to be no way around the obstacle I faced. Taking it to God was the only solution, and today I can tell you He made a way better than I could have ever imagined. And because of those answered prayers, I am thankful for the abundant blessings He’s provided me throughout my life.

 I encourage you to take a few minutes to recall those times when God was faithful when you called upon Him for help, and think about how He perfected what seemed impossible to make a way for you to come out on the other side with a blessing. After a few minutes, I’m sure your attitude of thankfulness will be more heart-felt, in the acknowledgement of those blessings, so you can rejoice and give thanks to God who loves you! God bless!

 

 Psalms 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

If you could count the days you did things right, would they outnumber the days you messed up? Unless you are living in a bubble, you probably can count your mistakes for this week needing 2 hands. How many times have you battled with a sin, an addiction, or a bad habit, and said to yourself, “I'll get it right one day”? My hand is raised for sure. 

Thankfully, we have a God who is patient, full of grace and mercy, always forgiving when we mess up. He knows your struggles, temptations that haunt you, He even knows the attacks Satan has planned with the hope of making you feel unworthy of God's love. Don't believe those lies, because they are just that, lies of the enemy. 

God knows you try, and He is always available to help strengthen you at your weakest moments. Seek Him out daily, sometimes by the minute, to give you the power to make right choices. Yeah, there will be days when you will need to start over, that's ok, God loves you, forgives you, and desires to heal your brokenness. You might not get it right this side of Heaven, but the day will come when everything you fought against will be put aside to rejoice in the perfect life eternity holds for those who are God's chosen. 

 For God so loved the world John 3:16a

 I was reminded of a trip back home, years ago, during this time of year, leading up to Thanksgiving. While looking for a snack in the kitchen, I noticed my mom’s calendar book and it had the dates marked out of my stay with her and noted “Dave home for the holiday” with several hearts. Her excitement about my time home was well noted as she showered me with much love and devoted time to talk and catch up on things. Looking back now, I regret the times I wasn’t fully engaged with her love, and wish I could relive some of those moments when she needed my attention.

 While sitting in church yesterday, these thoughts came to mind and aligned with today’s verse. God loves each one of us as His creation. He longs to have a personal relationship with every living human on planet earth. Maybe you are one of His children, a follower of Jesus Christ, and assured a home in Heaven when you pass.

 Let me ask you, are you giving God your very best?

 He gave you Jesus Christ, His Son, to make a way for you to freely commune with Him and receive His unconditional love and forgiveness. Nothing matters more to Him than your devotion and love in return. When you live a life of honor and respect towards Him, He blesses you with much wisdom, strength in the tough times, and wraps you in His loving arms when no one else shows you love. He is the answer to every issue you’ll face in life. Nothing compares to a personal relationship with Him. And if you stay engaged, you’ll have no regrets this side of Heaven and even more when you pass through the golden gates of your eternal home. Let God know you are thankful for Jesus Christ and show Him love through your obedience and commitment to serve Him as a child of the living God!

 

 Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you so, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

 Many of you are probably dieting this week, leading up to Thanksgiving so you can indulge in the delicious feast. If you have food to eat, you are blessed and should be grateful to God for His provisions in your life. So often I think we take for granted the food we have in our fridge and the pantry stuffed with canned goods, boxes of cereal and crackers. Today, there are so many suffering from hunger that they’d give anything just to eat a few crumbs from your surplus. This is true of people around the world in others countries, and even right here in the blessed USA, there might even be some within walking distance of your home too!

 I heard on the news a few days ago an interview with a father who resides in the Gaza strip. It’s winter there and he and his family are sheltering in a tent because their home was destroyed during the war between Israel and Hamas. He stated one night it rained so hard that their tent was flooded, and their children were shivering from the cold, wet conditions. The place where they normally sat to eat had over 1 foot of water in that space. It’s a sad story, and I know there are many more just like this one. Although it’s tough to hear this kind of news, I believe it’s necessary for us to understand just how blessed we truly are in this country.

 I encourage you to do what you can to support local ministries who help feed the needy and pray for those who are at risk of starvation. They need our prayers to ensure proper resources help fill their needs. I also encourage you to thank God before each meal, even if it’s a simple snack. Give God all the glory HE deserves, because He’s truly blessed you with the essentials of life.

 

 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 I’ve been following a family I know, whose husband had surgery and developed complications that has left him paralyzed on one side of his body. In his healing process, it is necessary for him to receive special therapy to regain mobility and live a normal life. Over the past month, they’ve endured many challenging setbacks, but at the same time God has come through with answered prayers and God answered a big prayer through the insurance approval process of his rehabilitation. Even in the midst of struggles, this beautiful family has found time to express thankfulness for God’s provisions along their journey to recovery.

 You might not be going through a rough patch right now, and things are running smoothly, but can you still find things to be thankful for? God has a special love for His creation, you and me, and He longs to be the center of our lives. Having an attitude of thankfulness opens your eyes to the good things God does in your everyday life. I’ve tested this in the past and it’s so true, when you find things to be thankful for, you discover so much of what God does in and through your life. From the red light that changes green, to a door held open for you while carrying bags of groceries, to an unexpected check that helps pay the bills and so many other little things that otherwise would go unnoticed, God is in all of those blessings.

 Start today with an attitude of thankfulness, so your heart will be full of gratitude when Thanksgiving gets here and you’ll have plenty to thank God for His love and daily provisions in your life and the lives of those you cherish. God bless!