The Enemy

Had a full plate yesterday…sorry I didn’t get to blog.  However, I did want to make a few comments on our church service Sunday morning.  It was on fire!!!  God was moving in a tremendous way and the atmosphere was electric.  I can’t tell you how much fun it is to pastor this church.  The people are great, the music is great, the preacher’s good lookin’ (ha! ha!).  We have an awful lot going for us right now…and there’s more to come!!!

Because we have so many good things happening I always get a little leary.  Leary of the enemy (satan) that is.  It’s been my experience that when things are at their best…the devil works his hardest.  Our church is no exception.  We’ve had several people get saved in the last couple of weeks…and because of that…I keep looking for the devil to rear his ugly head.  Why?  I know what the Bible says about him…he’s a thug and a life-wrecker!!!  The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV), “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  If you want to know what the devil’s mission is…it’s in this verse.  He wants you, your friends and your family…and he will stop at nothing to get them.

How do you keep the devil from destroying your life?  A couple thoughts…

1.  Stay away from tempting situations.  All of us will be tempted no matter what we do; however, there are times when we really help the devil.  If you have a problem with bitterness, then hanging around with people who add “fuel to the fire” would not be a good way to defeat the problem.  Stay away from people and places that are not constructive to your spiritual health.

2.  Get grounded in the Word.  There’s no replacement for it!  The Word of God is your best friend.  It will give you strength you didn’t know you had.  Jesus used the Word when He was tempted by the enemy (Matthew 4:1-11).

3.  Resistence.  Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and resist the devil with all your might.  It’s not easy, but it works.  James 4:7 (NIV) tells us to…“resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  Try it…you’ll be surprised!!!

As I close, let me encourage you to take the devil seriously.  You may not think he can get to you, but he’s had a lot of practice.  He knows what your weakness is, and he’ll do his best to exploit it.  Stay strong, though.  God’s on your side!!!

Have a great day!  I’ll be back Friday.

Pastor Neal

Burnout

Been up since about 5:00 am this morning!!!  I normally don’t function that early but I felt the need to get my day started.  Why?  Because we (Common Ground Community Church) have a big series coming up this weekend and I was excited about what needed to be done.  I used to not feel that way about church work at all.  As a matter of fact, I really despised it.  Almost all of it!!!  I guess the reasons for that were due to the fact that my previous churches saw little results of any type.  This caused personal burnout…big-time!

So, with all that being said I want to address the subject of burnout.  Here are a few thoughts…

1.  Burnout usually occurs when results aren’t seen.  As I’ve already mentioned, my ministry has not always been a great one.  There have been times when I would work tirelessly and never see any progress at all.  This for me caused great stress and discouragement.  I would wonder many nights as I lay in bed if I was truly called into the ministry.  I realize now that the results aren’t mine to determine…they’re God’s.  The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV), “I (Paul) planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”  Notice here in this verse that all we can do is plant and water…God is the one who makes things grow.  All He’s called me to do is be faithful and let Him worry about all the results.  This truth has really helped me with burnout.

2.  Burnout can occur when everyone’s not doing their part.  You know what, I been pastoring now atleast 17 years and I’ve never had someone come up to me and say, “Pastor, I really feel called to work in the nursery!”  No, most people only feel called to do the things that they enjoy.  However, ministry is often about doing things that we don’t always enjoy.  As a pastor I absolutely hate to preside over funerals…I’d rather be beat.  But the fact is, I know that there are times when I’m gonna have to do this-period.  It comes with the territory.  What causes burnout in most church folk is when others refuse to take part in the unpleasurable tasks and it’s left to just a few.  These people are consumed with receiving from God but never giving to Him or for Him.  It’s hypocricy at it’s worst.  It’s like going through a buffet line and eating all the good food while leaving the bad for someone else.  It’s selfish in nature and causes discouragement in others.

If you’re burned-out…be encouraged…God sees your faithfulness and will reward you.  Everyone will give an account, not only for what they’ve done, but also for what they’ve neglected to do.  So, in the meantime…stay strong and faithful, God will be your source of strength.

Have a great day!  Ill be back Monday.

Pastor Neal

Preparation

Hello everybody out there in cyberspace.  Got something I want to talk to you about today!  I want to address a major problem in 99% of churches.  What is it?  Preparation.  You’re thinking…what in the world are you talking about?  Well, I’ve discovered through lots of observation and study, that the #1 reason for most church dysfunction is their lack of preparation.

As most of you know, almost 2 years ago, Jeff Rankin (Worship Pastor @ Common Ground) and I decided to plant a contemporary church.  The idea of starting a new church had been something I’d wanted to do for quite some time; however, the more I’ve gotten into it…the more I’ve realized the need for planning and organization.  I’ve studied many successful churches during these past couple of years and the one common denominator is their dedication to producing the most quality church possible…which means great preparation.  There’s no substitute for it folks!!!  I don’t know who first said it, but it’s especially true for churches, “those who fail to plan, plan to fail!”

I’ve been a senior pastor now for 11 yrs. and an asst. pastor for 6 previous years, and the one thing that still frustrates me is to see churches that have been in existence for 100+ yrs. who have no clue at how to get people in their doors.  Why is that?  They don’t study or plan for success-period!  They limp along in medocrity…praying for some miracle that will overcome their cluelessness.

Why is it most churches neglect to prepare?

1.  They’re comfortable.  It’s the “Us four and no more” mentality.  Somehow the enemy has blinded us into believing that church is all about the “chosen frozen”.  The church does not revolve around the ones who’ve been there for 50 yrs., it’s about bringing more people into Kingdom of God.  You might not like that but I have the book of ACTS on my side…read it…it’s pretty incredible at the enormous amounts people who were saved.  I believe God can do it again!  It will call for us to step out of our comfort zones, though.

2.  Laziness.  Ouch!!!  Bottom line…we’re more concerned about planning our vacations than planning on how to get our friends, family, mothers, fathers, children, etc. into a relationship with Christ.  Let me let you in on a little secret, the best way to get your family or friends saved is your church; however, they will not come to your church if you have nothing to offer them.  This is where preparations comes into play.  Preparation must include every aspect of your church: the nursery, children’s church, youth group, preaching, and music to name just a few.  If folks come to your church and the music sounds like a train wreck…I promise you… they will not come back!!!  You may not agree with that, but every study I’ve seen supports my theory.

3.  Change.  Let’s see, how do I address this one?  People are creatures of habit.  Most of us get into a routine and we do not like to vary from it.  Churches are no different.  However, an unwillingness to change can be the death of a church.  First off, I’m not implying that we should change our message…only our method by which we reach people.  When is the last time your church experimented with its music?  Some of you are thinking, “every week is a music experiment at my church”.  That’s not what I’m talking about…I’m referring to new songs with something other than your traditional methods.  Can I be honest with you, If I was at a church that had horrible music I’d go to any length to rectify it.  Music is critical!  Don’t believe me?  Look at the churches that have good music…most of them are growing.  You don’t have to agree with me, you can be wrong if you want to.

4.  Vision.  Where is your church going?  What are your goals?  How are you gonna reach them?  Sad to say, most church folks can’t answer those questions.  Why is that?  Because the pastor(s) don’t even know.  Pastors, we can’t expect our people to have any vision if we don’t!!!  If there’s one thing I’ve learned about my congregation…they want to follow me.  However, they will not follow me if they don’t believe that I have a true vision from God.  On the flip side, they will break their necks for me if they know the vision is genuinely from the Lord.  My guess is most people are like this…in all churches.  “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18 – KJV).

Our task as Christians is critical these days.  I’m convinced if we’re to succeed at reaching the lost, then we must become better prepared.  Anything less than our best is unacceptable.  So, the older I get the more I see the need for it.  What about you?  Are you coasting through your Christian experience?  Please don’t…there are many people who are counting on you to make a difference.  They just don’t know it yet.

Be back Friday!!!

Pastor Neal

Takin’ a Break

No!  No!  No!  Contrary to popular belief I am still alive.  The past couple of weeks have been awesome and miserable all wrapped into one.  To start off with, I took a short Christmas vacation up to Pigeon Forge, TN…I hate crowds!!!  There were more people there than I’ve ever seen before in my life.  Couldn’t take two steps without running over someone!  It was a strange trip because the temperature was about 70 degrees…ON THE 27TH OF DECEMBER!!!  What are the chances of that?  The highlight of the trip was when I watched a guy wash out his false teeth in the bathroom at Dollywood.  No, I’m not sick…he was!!!

Another eventful time over the holidays was when I obtained a nice little stomach virus…oh, those are always fun.  I didn’t know what to do first, throw-up or ….well, you know.  By the way, have I ever told ya’ll that I hate to be petted while I’m sick.  The only person I will allow to pet me when I’m sick is my MAMA and she’s in Mississippi.  My wife wanted too, but I was ill and wanted to be left alone in my misery.  I do love her though…she the best!!!  Thanks for taking care of me, hun!!!

All in all it was a great Christmas/New Year’s break because I did have a little time to relax and chill.  Which brings me to my key question today, “why do we take so many breaks?”  I understand we all want a little self time; however, I’m not talking about physical breaks…I’m refering to spiritual breaks.  Most people I know are on fire for God one minute and cold as ice the next.  It’s like they can’t handle a consistent ongoing relationship with God.  They must take a break from him for some reason.

Can I tell you the reasons I believe most people take spiritual breaks from God?  Here are 3….

1.  Growing pains.  When I first got saved I was on cloud 9; however; I found out real quick that God didn’t want to leave me in the condition I was currently in.  I had areas that I really needed to work on and He wasn’t gonna leave me alone until I addressed them.  That’s growing pains…when God begins to require you to confront those secret sins in your life.  Is it fun?  No!  Is it easy?  No!  Is it necessary?  Without a question…yes!!!

2.  Accountability.  I think of all the things in the world that most people hate…it’s accountability.  No one likes someone else holding their feet to the fire.  It’s uncomfortable because the moment you get saved God will hold you responsible for your actions.  This can be extremely painful and it’s often the reason most people take spiritual sabaticals.  They can’t handle the intensity of God’s demands.  And for them, the only recourse is a spiritual break.

3.  Neglect of the basics.  This one’s simple, when we neglect prayer, God’s Word, church and fellowship; then we will not want to have an active relationship with God.  Thus, our spiritual break begins whether we want it to or not.  For me personally, If I don’t do these basic Christian fundamentals…I will drift away from the Lord-period.  And you will too!!!  Are you neglecting the basics?  Just a question.

Well, it’s time to wrap this up.  I pray you folks have a great weekend and I’ll be back on Monday.  Remember…physical breaks are needed but spiritual breaks can be tragic.

Pastor Neal

Chinese Christmas

Alright already!!!  I know I’ve not blogged in a week and everyone’s let me know about it.  The folks at church claim that since I’ve gone full-time, there’s not enough hours in a day to blog when I sleep ’til noon.  Believe it or not, I don’t sleep to noon…I just haven’t had a lot of time to do much bloggin’ with all the Christmas activities that have overtaken my life these days.

So, on the subject of Christmas…let’s talk about it.  We had our church Christmas party last night and had 55 contestants play Chinese Christmas.  It was the funniest Chinese Christmas game I’ve ever played; however, I thought Jesus was gonna come back before it was OVER!!!  When we started the game I thought to myself, “I hope these kids don’t get there feelings hurt if they don’t get the gift they wanted.”  Wow, was I surprised…they did an awesome job.  Many of them took it in stride an just moved on.  They really taught us “adults” a lesson in Christlikeness.  Thanks kids!!!

As I watched the game develop last night I came to the conclusion that most of the participants really did “get it”.  They understood what the Christmas season was all about.  They knew that this time of year was all about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  No one had to say anything…they just knew…and you could sense it.  You see, Christmas is not about presents under a tree, it’s about the presence of the One who hung on a tree.  So, if our church (and others) could somehow get a glimpse of that principle we would all be transformed-forever.  I think we’re on our way…we’re not totally there yet…but we’re on our way!!!

Can I ask you an honest question?  What is your purpose for celebrating Christmas?  I haven’t always felt this way, but the older I get the more I realize it has absolutely nothing to do with Santa Claus or his reindeer.  Oh, I’ll admit I like getting presents as much as the next guy; but somehow it just doesn’t have the same appeal to me.  I don’t think I’ve arrived at this point on my own, though, God had to deal with and work with me on this one (just being truthful).

Why is it we put so much emphasis on receiving gifts?  Well, here’s my theory…want to know what it is?  We’re by nature sinful and selfish people.  Most of us might not want to admit it, but everyone has a sin nature which causes us to often operate very selfishly.  The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 (NKJV), “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  And regardless of whether you agree with me or not, it’s extremely difficult to argue with scripture.  The Bible is the final authority on all the issues of life…including this one.

So, now you’re wondering, “How do I have a Godly Christmas and overcome the sin nature thing?”  Well, here’s some advice:

1.  Accept Jesus as your personal Savior.  He’s the only way to be saved (Acts 4:12).

2.  Get involved in a “good” church that preaches the Word of God.  Jesus commanded His disciples to establish the early church, he must of thought it was important…so should we.

3.  Hang around people who will help you spiritually and not drag you down.  I Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV), “Evil company corrupts good habits.” ‘Nuff said.

4.  T.A.W.G. (Time Alone With God).  Read your Bible and pray consistently, they will be your lifeline to God.

5.  Become a giver.  It’s easy to always expect someone else to give you something; but not so easy to be the one giving.  Make it a lifestyle.

Hope this has been helpful…Have an Awesome Christ-centered Christmas!!!

 Neal

Children’s Christmas Musical

We had an awesome time last night!!!  Our children put on one of the best Christmas musicals I’ve ever seen.  Was it worthy of an Academy Award?  Probably not, but it is worthy of special recognition by the pastor (that would be me).  As I watched these kids perform it was evident that they had really invested a lot of time into learning their lines and musical pieces.  So, I began to wonder as I watched…what if we decided to put that type of effort into our daily walk with God?  It’s an honest question, wouldn’t you say?

Last night, as my eyes panned the crowd I saw some people who we’ve (our church) been ministering to for a long time.  Many of these people are still not coming to church regularly, only once in a while.  However, as I looked around my mind kept racing back to all the excuses I’ve heard over the years as to why people won’t get things right with God.  Here’s some that stick out…

1.  I’m not a bad person.  This is a good one because it assumes that we by nature are “good people”.  However, the Bible doesn’t teach us that we are “good people”, it teaches us that we’re lost sinners.  And, the only way to remedy this problem is to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.  Did you know that on your best day, when you’re as good as you’ll ever be, you’ll still never be good enough to get to heaven?  That means that no matter how much time you give to charities, how much money you contribute to orphanages, how many Bible studies you attend, none of these are good enough to gain entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Only salvation through Jesus Christ can do this!!!

2.  I don’t have time.  I hate this excuse because it is self-righteous in its essence.  It basically assumes that everyone in church or in some sort of ministry has time to kill, but the true working people of the world don’t have time for organized religion.  How selfish and egotistical can someone be, to believe that their life is so important that God will excuse them from working for His cause.  Last time I checked, the Bible doesn’t give some people a free pass on whether or not they should work for God…if we’re saved, we work for Him-period.   It’s not an option!!!

3.  I’m not ready.  Now here’s a good one, the most important decision anyone could ever make in their life and people still say, “I’m not ready!”  Let’s put this in perspective, God has given us a choice for eternity (heaven or hell) and we still need time to think about it.  I’m really not a “fire and brimstone” type preacher; however, If someone told me that at some point, life as I know it would be over and I needed to make preparations for what’s on the other side…I think I might do it pretty quickly!  What about you?  Are you procrastinating on God?

In closing, I want to thank all the children in our Christmas musical for the wonderful job they did.  But more importantly,I want to thank them for revealing to all of us just what true Christian commitment is all about.  We, as adults, could learn from all of them!!!

Pastor Neal

The Good Ol’ Days

Ever sit back and reflect on “the good ol’ days”?  What are the “good ol’ days” anyway?  For most people it’s a time in their life when things weren’t as stressful and they didn’t have as much to be concerned with.  I do this every once in a while with my 14 yr. old,
Austin – who happens to be 6’1” now (which is unbelievable).  I like to share with him about my “good ol’ days” growing up in
Alabama when I played high school football.  The minute I launch into one of my famous stories I see him thinking, “Please God, not another one of Daddy’s ridiculous football stories!”  That’s OK, I make him suffer anyway!!!  I tell him things like, “Yeah, son, when I was growing up, I scored 6 touchdowns in one game” (not true, but it helps the story).  I also say things like, “When I was your age I ran the 100 meter dash in 8.25 seconds” (the world record is 9.78, but it adds flavor).  Boy, I love to relive the “good ol’ days”, even at my oldest son’s expense.

 

Have you ever wondered if God’s church has a tendency to get stuck in the past?  I do!  I believe one of the really major problems of the modern day church is this very thing.  We are so bogged down with the way things used to be that our churches are dying left and right.  Surveys tell us that within the next 10 years most churches that are 50 and under will not be around anymore.  This is primarily because of their inability to live in the present day, not because of attendance average.

 

How do we overcome this problem?  Here’s some thoughts…

1. Revelation.  Our churches are dying not because there’s no people who want to go to church, but because the Spirit of God is not in our churches.  We need God to reveal Himself in a mighty way.  If this were to happen, I promise, we’d not be able to keep the people out of our church sanctuaries.  When God shows up…people show up!!!  Read Acts 2:40-47…notice what happens when God comes on the scene.
2. Vision.  Many churches have absolutely no clue where they’re going.  If you were to ask the average church member, or pastor for that matter, what kind of future goals (vision) they’ve set in their church…they’d fumble around 30 minutes trying to tell you.  The reason they can’t tell you is because they have no vision.  Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) put it like this, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”
3. Preparation.  OK, these people who show up to church on Sunday morning and expect God to be there when they’ve not prepared one thing should be absolutely ashamed.  Better yet, they shouldn’t even call themselves a church.  Many of them say things like, “We just want the spirit of God to come down and bless us!”  Some of these churches hide behind the Spirit of God when really they’re LAZY!!!  They don’t practice their music, the pastor doesn’t prepare his messages effectively, the nursery workers show up 10 minutes late, the Sunday School teachers drag in and wonder what they’re going teach on, the greeters aren’t there on time, the ushers have no clue it’s their Sunday to collect the offering, but “Bless God, we want the Spirit of the Lord in our services!”  These churches have no right to exist!!!  Do I sound harsh?  It’s because I passionately believe our God deserves our very best.  I never see in the Word of God where the Lord blesses laziness, as a matter of fact it makes him angry (check out Matthew 25:14-30).

What about you?  Are you stuck in the “good ol’ days”?  If you are, try these principles out – because I’ve seen them work in many churches.  My advice, in closing is to appreciate the “good ol’ days” but not get held captive by them.  God loves us too much to let us live on past blessings, He wants us to receive today’s blessings.

 

Have a great day!

 

Pastor Neal

COMMON GROUND is the BEST!!!

As I sat in our Bible study last night my mind began to race back to my teenage years growing up in South Alabama.  I attended a small Wesleyan Church that was close-nit, with people who loved each other as well as the Lord.  Although the church was small it was extremely passionate about God and had a pentecostal twist to it.  Most of the people in that congregation were poor and would not be considered the uppercrust of any community.  However, they took care of one another’s needs, regardless of their income base.

The reason I tell you this is because our church (Common Ground) reminds me an awful lot of my home church.  No so much as income goes, but in it’s desire to take care of another.  We have people in our church who’ve come out of drug addictions, alcohol addictions, broken homes, busted-up marriages and severe emotional trauma, and yet our church loves and supports them.  We are unique among other churches because most churches today want the best dressed and most emotionally stable people.  The only problem with that is…it’s not Biblical.  Jesus ministered to the lowest of the low and made no distinction between someone from the ghetto and someone from Beverly Hills.  What an example He was to us!!!

Common Grounders…keep up the good work!  Your love for one another is a model for other churches in our area.  I can’t tell you how many people who’ve come to our church and remarked about the unconditional love and unjudgmental atmosphere we have.  So, thanks you for making my job as pastor an easy one – you’re the best!!!

Pastor Neal

Spiritually Dry

OK, I’m sorry I haven’t blogged lately!  I would tell you that my cat died and it’s been emotionally draining for me; however, I don’t have a cat.  The truth is I’ve been swamped with Thanksgiving obligations, a hectic schedule at work and a sick 7 yr. old.  All of which have kept me pretty busy.

I’ve wrestled with what I should blog on today.  There are times when my thoughts seem very bland and there’s nothing really to say.  So, I think that’s what I want to talk about today…overcoming a life of blandness.  You see, if your a Christian there will be seasons in your life when your spiritual walk with God will seem extremely mechanical and dry.  I know, I’ve been there and Ive counselled countless numbers of people who’ve been at this stage in their walk with God.  It’s frustrating and the enemy uses these times against us.

Well, here’s the “million dollar” question, “How do you break out of a spiritually dry lifestyle?”

1.  On fire Christian friends.  I’d like to emphasis “on fire” Christians friends because there are some Christians that are so depressing they’d mess up a good funeral.  Also, limit your time with non-Christians…they will have a tendency to misdirect your priorities.  Which will be deadly to your life of success.  The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV), “Evil company corrupts good habits.”  If more believers took this verse seriously, we’d have more people with good character.

2.  Church.  I’ve heard people say, “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian!”  That’s true, but you have to go to church to be like Jesus.  After all, isn’t that what Christianity’s all about…being like CHRIST.  A person who never goes to church is a person who will continually struggle sprirtually.  Church will get you past some of life’s harder issues because that’s what it’s intended to do.  So, If you’re dry and can’t seem to get on track…try church – you’ll be amazed at how “on fire” you’ll become.  By the way, Jesus instituted the church…it meant something to Him.

3.  God’s Word.  Why is it people struggle with problems and will never turn to God’s Word for the answers?  It’s like taking a road trip across the country and never bringing a map.  God’s Word is our map to life, relationships, eternity, morals, even to the person and character of God Himself.

Matthew 4:1-11 gives us a great example of how Jesus felt about God’s Word and it’s importance.  If you remember the story, then you’ll know Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness by devil.  On every occassion in this passage Jesus responded to him by quoting the Word of God and thus defeating him.  Simply put, if the Word was important to Jesus, how much more important should it be to us?  It will get you through the toughest times of your life…I promise.  Learn it, memorize it, read it, absorb it and live in it…it will be to you as the Psalmist said in 119:105 (NKJV), “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  Spiritually dry?  God’s Word will save you!!!

4.  Prayer.  As a pastor I’ve learned the overwhelming importance of prayer.  While I appreciate people and the encouragement they bring me, I know that if I don’t stay in touch with God through prayer then I’m doomed to a life of spiritual famine.  I can’t express to you how very vital it is to pray for God’s direction and help in your everyday affairs.  Not only to pray, but to act on His leading.  Why would we ever pray if we’re not going to obey His voice?  Prayerful obedience will guide you through the most difficult circumstances life can throw at you.  I’ve seen entire families healed and brought back together through the power they’ve found in prayer.  What about you?  Are you in a spiritual wasteland?  Prayer will can get you out of it!!!

In closing, I don’t believe God ever wants his children to just “survive”, He wants the them to “thrive”!!!  Can I encourage you to dedicate yourself to Godly friendships, church attendance, God’s Word and to prayer.  If you do these things, I promise, you’ll never be the same again.  God will totally transform your life.  So, what about it?  Are you ready to get out of that dry desert of spiritual insignificance?  Try these principles…they worked for me!!!

Pastor Neal

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving!!!  You see, some of my best family memories has centered on this time of year.  As a kid growing up in Bayou La Batre, AL, we didn’t have a great deal of money – but we did have awesome Thanksgivings.  A typical Thanksgiving for us would revolve around food…lots and lots of food.  Then we would have about 20-25 relatives over to the house, which always made for an interested time considering some of the characters I was “blessed” with as “family”.

 

I don’t think I realized it then but I had an incredible amount to be thankful for.  As I reflect on those days I’m reminded of times when God continually provided for our family’s needs.  We never lacked for anything.  We didn’t always have the best car, the best house (3 bedroom single-wide mobile home), the nicest clothes or anything else for that matter…but we did have God.  What else did we need?

 

What are you thankful for?  The problem with our society today is that we’ve reduced Thanksgiving down to one day every year.  True, Thanksgiving is technically one day a year; however, you show me a person who’s not thankful every day of the year and I’ll show you a person who has a hard time being thankful for one day a year.  I believe one of the saddest indictments upon humanity is that we’ve forgotten what our great God has done for us.

 

There’s a disturbing story in Luke 17:11-19 of 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus and given a new lease on life.  The problem in the story came when only 1 of them returned to give Him thanks for what He’d done.  I see it everyday, people who’ve been richly blessed by God and have never taken the time to give Him praise for anything.  If there’s ever been one word that would sum-up the American people it would be “ungrateful” (among other things).

 

So, as we approach Thanksgiving let me encourage you to adopt a lifestyle of thankfulness.  I understand it’s not always an easy habit to form, but if God is worth serving then He’s worth praising.  In order to be like Christ, then we must embrace a praise-oriented life…everyday.  How are you doing in this area?  We all could probably use some work being more thankful!!!

 

Have a Wonderful Day!!!

 

Pastor Neal