the Rock

Psalm 95
1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.

words of encouragement from Paul 3

Romans 8
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

These. Three. Verses. Are. Breathtaking.

can you hear God now??

Psalm 94
1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
Render punishment to the proud.

3 LORD, how long will the wicked,
How long will the wicked triumph?

4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

5 They break in pieces Your people, O LORD,
And afflict Your heritage.

6 They slay the widow and the stranger,
And murder the fatherless.

7 Yet they say, “The LORD does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”

8 Understand, you senseless among the people;
And you fools, when will you be wise?

9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
He who formed the eye, shall He not see?

10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge?

11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile.

God's mysterious ways

God Moves in Mysterious Ways by William Cowper (1731-1800), a British poet.

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take,
The clouds you so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smilling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

Some further verses in Esther to check out:

Esther 5:2, 6:1, 6:2, 6:4, 8:17, 9:2.

A Pale Shadow...The Real Deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are living in a post-modern, post-Christian country today, sad to say. I looked up "thanksgiving" on Wikipedia...check it out...

More from Wiki ~~

Most people celebrate by gathering at home with family or friends for a holiday feast. Though the holiday's origins can be traced to harvest festivals which have been celebrated in many cultures since ancient times, the American holiday has religious undertones related to the deliverance of the English settlers by Native Americans after the brutal winter at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

...religious undertones!!!!!!!!! ...religious undertones!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh spare me!!!!!!!!!!!!

...deliverance by the Native Americans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (oh, sorry...but really...) (well, at least we know Who really delivered them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

However, those of us who are believers in the God of the Bible and have the gift of eternal life through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (1Peter 1:3-4), live always in a "Christian country", as it were. As Paul said (no pun intended!) we are only pilgrims ( 1 Peter 2:11 & Hebrews 11:13) in this post-modern-christian whatever...!

Now, let's see if we can come up with a robust definition of "thanksgiving" ~~ one with true meaning, especially for us!

"THANKSGIVING — the aspect of praise that gives thanks to God for what He does for us. Ideally, thanksgiving should spring from a grateful heart;

but it is required of all believers, regardless of their initial attitude (1 Thess. 5:18).

We should be grateful to God for all things (Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:17; 1 Thess. 5:18),

but especially for His work of salvation and sanctification (Rom. 7:25; Col. 1:3–5; 1 Thess. 1:2–7; 2:13).

We ought also to thank God in anticipation of His answering our prayers (Phil. 4:6), knowing that His answers will always be in accord with His perfect will for our lives (Rom. 8:28–29)." Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Ah, that's better!

The word thanksgiving occurs 28 times in the King James Version & as thanksgivings twice.

Two particularly lovely instances are ~~

Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

and

Psalm 116:17
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the LORD.

I pray that you had a blessed thanksgiving day, with your thanksgiving directed to the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!!

Angst??

19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Matt 6:19-21, 33-34; Phil 4:4-7; 1 Thess 5-24