Thank You is More than a Word

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Luke 17:11-19 - The story of the 10 Lepers.

Ten lepers stood afar off and called upon Jesus, asking for mercy. Note that Jesus makes Himself available... to those who seek Him, to those who need Him, and to those who look for His coming.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 tells us His thoughts are toward those who seek Him.
John 10:10 says He brings life, and life more abundantly.
Psalm 139:7-12 declares that He manifests Himself! There is no place we can go to hide from Him.

Leprosy had separated these men from their former lives; family, friends, home, all that was familiar.
In their need (afar off) they saw Jesus. They recognized Him for who He was and what He could do.
They chose to reach out to Him. And in their obedience, they were cleansed "as they went."

When you're in darkness, you cannot see Him for who He is. Saul was like that until he traveled the Damascus road. Mercy is not only for the innocent, it's also for the guilty. If we, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to our children - how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to His children? Psalm 51 speaks of the need for a repentant approach to God.

• Ask - and you shall receive,
• Seek - and you shall find,
• Knock - and it shall be opened unto you.

Psalm 37:4-5 tells us that He wants to bless us. James 1:17 says He is the source of all good things. His blessings should provoke us to Thanksgiving.

Yet, sadly, only the Samaritan remembered to be thankful - and he was a double outcast. Not only was he a leper, he was NOT of the household of faith. BUT - his thankful heart gained access to further blessings. The nine were cleansed/healed (outside), but the Samaritan was made whole (completed/inside and out).

If we're not thankful, we can lose out for all eternity! See Romans 1:21-22.

A thankful heart can lead us all the way to heaven!
See Psalm 34:1; 50:14; 103:1-4; 107:1-2; 116:12-13; 118:1.

The Comforter's Comfort

By Marjorie Kinnee

Text: Psalm 119:50, 52, 76 – "This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy Word hath quickened me... I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself... Let, I pray Thee, Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Thy Word unto Thy servant."

We’ve called her a hero – and she is. But more than that, Doris Wilson was the quintessential Proverbs 31 woman. Her gentle, unassuming influence upon the lives of those around her was so significant it rises up to declare her works. She was both – virtuous and priceless. Alton’s heart trusted her implicitly; she did him good, not evil, for over 50 years.

Doris worked willingly; she was not reluctant to do the menial and the mundane, she carefully took care of her household. A good businesswoman, she blessed the lives of homemakers with kindness and demonstrating the knack of home decor with a heart full of love. She was not afraid to work in the inner city and the so-called dangerous areas of town. She was a blessing to all who came in contact with her. For many years, we counted on Doris to decorate banquets, showers, and meetings with her own unique blend of artistic table arrangements and themes.

We could count on her words of wisdom and encouragement, whether by public testimony or one-on-one. The Holy Ghost worked in and through her, supplying a word in due season; one that would bless the hearer and build up the Kingdom. She took refuge in the Word of God and the promises of God. Her love for the Word of God prompted her to buy copies of the adult teacher’s manual each year so she could keep current with what the church was learning each week. Her husband, her children, her daughter-in-law, and her grandchildren can testify to the loving care she freely lavished on them. Her church family also enjoyed the benefits of her godly example. Solomon was speaking about his own mother, but he might as well have had Doris Wilson in mind when he said, "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs 31:29-31)

Although we would give much to have her remain with us, the God of all comfort has determined in His purpose and plan that her homegoing would be early Tuesday morning, November 13, 2012. When we think on her basking in the presence of the Lord and seeing the smile on His face, our sorrow can be colored by joy. Our affliction triggers His comfort if we will but lean hard on Him.

"Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (II Corinthians 1:3-4)

"Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

(I Thessalonians 4:18)

 

All that is Within Me...!

By Jack Sword

Text: Psalm 103:1 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name." 

 

In all the ways I've lifted the words of this verse, I've never thought about the word "all" quite in this way before, but it struck me as an important way to think about it.

 

If "all" that is in me is (the) blessing (of) the Lord, then there is no room for many of the other things (clutter/distractions) that occupy my time, thoughts, and speech. If I'm busy about (occupied) with thinking of blessing the Lord, I don't have time or space for (to be occupied with) the worry, care, fret, doubt, and fear that would crowd out (steal away) my blessing the Lord. Then, too, I don't have time to notice what's wrong with the world or the church... my notice is totally about (fixed on) what's right with the Lord; how He's saving, keeping, filling, satisfying, blessing, noticing, and answering my prayers. I'm noticing how good He is to me and to His people; how merciful He is to the saints and to the "ain'ts". So, my focus keeps on with the thought. "Keep on, Lord, filling up this heart of mine with nothing but praise for You, and I will keep on saying this all day long..."

 

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!"

When Jesus is my focus, there can be nothing but praise! Amen!

 

Editor's Note: Jack Sword is an ordained minister with the United Pentecostal Church International. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is the father of Sis. Alphin, (wife of Mark Alphin,) missionaries to Finland.

 

 

Christmas and the Cross

A Poem by Donna Franklin

 

 

The cries of a newborn baby signaled the start of hope.
At last the Mighty God is revealed,

The long-awaited Promise was about to be fulfilled,
And the darkness of sin to be healed.

 

Shepherds in the fields saw a glorious sight,
When angels heralded the news;
Awed to be given this great revelation,
They ran to see the King of the Jews.

Mary's Baby Boy was taken to the Temple
When He was eight days old;

Simeon said now he'd seen God's Salvation,
An event that had long been foretold.

He was born in Bethlehem, then became a Nazarene,
Fulfilling prophecies in God's Holy Word;
His life totally planned, cruelest death - a given,
And His resurrection assured.

He arose and appeared to His many disciples,
Said He's soon endue them with power;
They'd all be filled with the Holy Ghost,
If they'd tarry till His chosen hour.

It happened on Pentecost just as He'd said,
Soon they preached the Apostles' Doctrine;
They began to baptize in Jesus' great Name,
For complete remission of sin.

Let us celebrate the Cross while we celebrate Christmas,
Thank God for unmerited love!
Be thankful He was born, be thankful He died,
Be thankful He now guides from above.

Merry Christmas to all, may God bless you this season;
May you seek to draw closer to Him.
May you never forget that YOU are the reason...
Why He came, and why He's coming again!

 

Editor's Note: Donna Franklin attends Paoli United Pentecostal Church (Pastor Terry Erwin) in Paoli, Oklahoma.

Just One Month 'Til Christmas

A poem by Deborah (Kierstead) Haroun

 

 

Just one month 'til Christmas
As shepherds watched their flocks each day;
All of life seemed normal,
Watching sheep in the ordinary way.

 

Something new was coming...
They just worked on as shepherds will;
The job for which they'd been gifted,
Keeping sheep on a grassy hill.

* * * * * * *

Just one month 'til Christmas
As bustling with the chores of today;
What will I do for the Master?
Let me be busy on His tasks I do pray.

Editor's Note: Deborah attends Apostolic Gospel Lighthouse (Pastor Gordon Kierstead) in London, Ontario. She is busy in the work of God, involved in both local church and distict (Ontario) activities. 

Attitudes of Gratitude

Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, a pouting, disgruntled teen-ager was overheard talking on her cellphone. "There's nothing to do here," she moaned, "I'm bored!" Her discontent in the face of this most awesome place caused many emotions to squirm in me. I marvelled and wondered at the same time... What an attitude!

How is is that such a scene did not produce in her a sense of how big God is and how small we are? Why wasn't she speechless in wonder? What was it that made her oblivious to her surroundings and concerned only with the here and now? Thinking on this prompted consideration of the attitudes that produce gratitude. After reading an article that highlighted the following six points, sharing them and the thoughts they produced made this Thanksgiving season special.

1.) I have what I need. Jehovah Jireh ~ God provides. "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

2.) I appreciate you! My family, friends, and mentors ~ again, God's provision ~ is a support system with skin on. They encourage me and make me aware of my blessings and I value them. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 20-21)

3.) I believe. This is bedrock, foundational. Martin Luther said, "Here I stand, I can do no other." Jesus said the wise man built his house upon a rock. Paul said Jesus is that Rock. Solomon said, "Buy the truth and sell it not." (Proverbs 23:23) When your convictions are built on the rock of truth, you won't be overwhelmed by the storms life brings. Even deadly calm cannot pull you off course!

4.) I love. I Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter. It speaks of love's giving nature and how it focuses on the good, the hopeful, and the potential with patience and grace. "Finally, brethren, whatsoeverthings are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."(Philippians 4:8)

5.) I want to know. Desiring to learn, to understand, seeking after wisdom ~ these are signs of a hungry heart and an inquisitive mind. It is good to wonder why, to be interested. The psalmist said, "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." (Psalm 34:10b) Jesus said, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginnning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) and, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7) You see, knowing Jesus puts life's events in their proper perspective.

6.) I want to see beyond. Bishop Grisham often said, "If you see a turtle on a fence post, know that it didn't get there by itself." He was quoting Bro. J.T. Pugh, but the truth remains. True appreciation goes beyond what's readily apparent. Although I don't know who the author was, an old poem goes like this...

"Back of the bread, the flour,
And back of the flour, the mill,
And back of the flour, the sun and the rain,
and the wind and the Father's will."