NOVEMBER EDITION...2019...WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE

                                                By Dr. Keith J. Wise

INTRODUCTION:  November is a wonderful month, filled with the continued reminders that harvest has come and the blessings of thanksgiving are upon us. As we begin to see the ebbing of 2019 and the prospects of 2020 we are reminded where our sources of thanksgiving emanate. Long before the modern science of psychology a psychiatry, God the creator of all of us thrust forth the principle of thanksgiving. Giving thanks is truly the sign of a healthy outlook on life.  All of us would benefit from doing it more often.

Being thankful and thinking about our blessings will flush out the anxiety of daily life. We certainly bring to mind those peoples, places and things that are readily around us.  Family, jobs, security etc. all encompass our universe of thankfulness.  Furthermore, that simple quiet reflection on our source of thanksgiving comes from God and we acknowledge Him. He has sent His counselor (the Holy Spirit) to administer healing to our minds and hearts.  Scripture tells us, "...it is a good thing to give thanks unto God...it is good to give thanks to Him..." (Psalm 92:1).  In the New Testament there is the injunction  "...Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God"(Phil. 4:6).   To be honest, we could go on and on with the numbers of passages that include what I like to call the vitamin of "Thanksgiving" for the heart, mind and soul.  I once knew an Elder in a church that I served who lived to be over a hundred years old.  He told to begin as a young man to be thankful for "everything" that comes your way in life. Furthermore he added, it will extend the quality and attitude of all you do he so wisely counseled. 

So today my readers, do not be troubled by the latest news reports, or issues of pressure you are facing daily, but pause and thank God for what He has done.  Such questions as "what are you teaching me today in my relationships or how can I make my present situation glorify you?" Overall, this will jettison so many triggers of our modern life through the portal of Thanksgiving.

I. DIGGING DEEPER... A Practical Application to Personal Problems

   In his book, The Carpenter and You, Dr. Karl Menninger, a well know psychiatrist from the past from Topeka, Kansas, discusses a number of personal problems.  Much of this book has some real insights into problems often brought on by our own conduct with others with whom we deal on a daily basis.  In his referenced book, the author cites eleven rules governing our conduct.  I believe your will find them practical and meaningful in the coming month of November. 

1. Be truly interested in the happiness and well-being of every person with whom you work.  Attempt to learn the first name of every person with whom you work and interact. 

2. Control your temper, and even if you don't feel like it, when at all possible, with a good, warm attitude.

3. Be slow to condemn but be ready always to praise, to compliment, to show appreciation.

4. Ask no more of another person than you are ready to give.

5. Be quick to ask forgiveness when you make a mistake.  Be quick to forgive another person when he apologizes. 

6. Ta which Jesus was keeping with his disciples.  ke a real interest in the welfare of your company, community and other inner-related communications.  He notes, if we do our work well as possible you will inspire others around you.

7. Develop the imagination to see significance in your work, no matter how humble it is.  Recognize the place of the person or persons who works over you and let him/her know that you recognize that place.

8. If a person blows up or is mean or acts badly, don't resent it.  Remember, that no man is big enough to hate and every person is really big enough to appreciate.

9. Be kind, as much as possible, in every contact with other people.  Be gentle.

10. Be the kind of person you want the other person to be, then more than likely the business of getting along well and with others will take care of itself.

11. Remember in a dispute that a solution is found not by fixing blame but in giving understanding and mutual helpfulness. To get along happily, do not be so eager to find who is right, as what is right.  Find that, then act on the basis of it.

II. DID YOU KNOW???- Interesting Questions and Biblical Answers...

1. When and What did Jesus sing? (Answer) "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." (Mark 14:26).  In the margin it has "psalm" in the place of "hymn" in a number of translations.  This occasion was the regular Passover supper which Jesus was keeping with his disciples.  It was the Jewish custom as the Passover supper unfolded to sing "The Great Hallel" which consisted of Psalms 113 to 118 and 136.  The part of this which was sung after the meal was Psalm 115 to 118, or, according to the Jewish school of Shammai, 114 to 118.

2. Where was the only library mentioned in the Bible? (Answer) In Ecbatana, Ezra 6:1-2. "Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.  And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record..."  Marginal references give "books" in place of "rolls," and "Ecbatana" in place of "Achmetha."  Evidently the writer was hazy on his geography and thought that Babylon included Media.  Ecbatana was the capital of Media.  Probably the house of the books was one building int eh group known collectively as he palace.  Most scholarship now know that he books were very likely not "rolls" but clay tablets.

3. What author gave a copy of his book to an officer and told him to tie a stone to it and throw it into the river?  (Answer)- (Jeremiah), Jeremiah 51:59-64 (RV)   "... Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain.  And Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon...And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, 'When you come to Babylon, then see that you read these words, ...An it shall be, when you come to the end of your reading of this book, that you should bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates: and you shall say, 'Thus shall Babylon sink,and shall not rise again...' "

III. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A Sermon for Thanksgiving

   (In part, a contribution of Mr. John Robinson-Minister's Luncheon Study-(1998)

A.  Text: Ephesians 5:20; I Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

B.  Introduction: The Bible teaches us to give thanks in every circumstance of life.  At times this seems hard to do, however it is possible.  All of us have much to be thankful for as we express our gratitude to God. By using the letters of the word THANKS, this acrostic will enable us to focus on this great spiritual, physical and emotional vitamin as we move toward the holiday of Thanksgiving.

1. THORNS:  

    A. James 1:2-4 tells us our trials work to bring the best out of us in Christ. 

    B. In trying times, we have God's help, knowing He is all sufficient. 

    C. We know that "all" things will work together for the good.  The trying times are just pieces of a picture, without which the picture would not be complete.

2. HOME:

    A. How often have we wanted to make home improvements simply because we want something different?

    B. How often have we let family members be the source of getting on our nerves?  Then do we begin complaining when we become so lonely? 

    C. Be thankful!!

          1. We have shelter from inclement weather.

          2. We have privacy and a place to regroup our resources.

          3. We have loving memories therein, even if only of loved ones now gone.

          4. We have a "safe haven" form the storms of life and literally outside our door.       

• A Family Prayer of Thanksgiving: "Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes: it shows we have good food to eat.  Thank you for this pile of dirty laundry: it reveals we have nice clothing to wear.  I'd like to thank you for these unmade beds: it gives testimony that all were comfortable last night."             

      

  3. AMERICA:

        A. The miracle of our representative republic known as the United States of America is truly masterful. We can voice our approval or disapproval without the fear of prison or death.  Pulpits can still ring with the voices of the prophets and teachings of Jesus, the Son of God.  Praise God for our freedoms.

        B. We live in a land of vast prosperity and conveniences that we forget that most of the world sees our poor and laughs.  You can still get an education and find work if you are motivated.  Praise God for our prosperity...God shed His Grace on Thee...(America).

4. NEARNESS OF GOD: 

     A. We are never alone!!  He has come to establish a "relationship" with us.  He knows when the sparrow falls and He has number the hairs of our head.

     B. He knows and understands us.  He became like us, so we could become like Him.

Consider: Illustration: The Footprints in the Sand Poem-

  5. KINDNESS AND LOVE SHOWN TO US:

    A. We often take for granted His mercy and grace to us. When we realized how much God through Christ has done in His kindness, it teaches us to be kind to others. 

    B. How often has someone done a small deed just to help us out? How about your local Church assembly?  Simply, the Christian exhibiting love.

    C. We have the love of our mate, our parents and our children and friends. I know you can think of other like your neighbors and so on.

  6. SALVATION:

   A. The sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God, for our sins.

   B. We have freedom from guilt and the eternal consequences of sin.

   C. We can look forward to our heavenly home prepared for us.

Conclusion: In these and many others, let us say THANKS to God and to those around us.  We best demonstrate our thankfulness to God as we submit our lives to His will and obey His commands.  

IV. QUOTABLE QUOTES:  

Note: All of the following quotes are from A.W. Tozer.

1. Many times we try to rest our faith on texts and promises. True faith can rest only on the character of God.  I believe, and I have faith, because I believe in the One in whom my faith is placed. 

2. Faith wakes at the voice of truth but responds to no other sound.

3. The great test of faith is if we can wait on God, not push it, and expect immediate results and action.

4. Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

5. If you do not know who God is and what God is like, your faith will never mount up.