Thanks for THEM???? Really? All of THEM? YEP ALL OF THEM!

1 Timothy 2:1
[ Instructions about Worship ] I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

THEM WHO?  Simply put: ALL PEOPLE.   Yes, Shelby Dasher (the mom who killed her 18mos son.)   For Gary Pinkel, Mizzou coach for driving under the influence (praise GOD NO ONE WAS HURT), for the young men in Jackson, MS that thought it was ok to beat a random black man, then get in their pick up trucks with their girlfiriend and run him over, killing him.    For your boss/co-worker who you think has it out for you.   For you spouse who you had an argument with, or haven't talked to all week, or that you have been openly or secretly considering divorce.   For your neighbors who you know are haivng a rough time.  For your alcoholic or drug abusing___________________.   For our President, for our cities, or our SOLDIERS in dangerous places, for the sexual predators that you realize live 4 doors down, for the people in corrupt authority OVER US.  For the racist and bigots in our world.   For the depressed & lonely.   For the sane, and insane.  For the saints & sinners.   For the hungry and homeless.   For the homsexuals & heterosexuals.   For the lay people and staff people in our places of worship.  For those wandering through life without a clue.   For the pregant moms (teenaged, single, married, divorced) that are in need.  For the disabled, and those wrestling with difficult diagnosis.   For the orphans, and discarded babies & children in the world.

And I could go on.....but not just pray...but it also says intercede.....cross paths with these people and HELP THEM IN ANYWAY YOU CAN, and give THANKS FOR THEM?  WHY?  BECAUSE THIS PLEASES THE FATHER, and you are truly worshipping then cause you are following the greatest commandments: LOVE GOD, and LOVING PEOPLE! (LGLP) BE BLESSED!

For This Reason.....WHAT REASON?

Eph.1:15-18 ¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

No...this is not another tribute to Michael Jackson, but rather a reflection on the WORD of GOD, with the backdrop of the song "WHO IS IT?" that is about him remembering a vow that was made to stay true....and this scripture is a remembrance written to the church of Ephesus from Paul.   Remember the church of Ephesus?????  They are the church mention in Revelations 2, they are the ones who had great works, and walked in such discipline that they had actually forgotten their first love.   But Paul was probably sitting as Michael Jackson was in this picture, reflecting & writing them in the quiet darkness of a prison giving THANKS TO GOD for them, and what impact they had on his life and ministry.   He stopped thinking about his own situation long enough to offer up concentrated prayers that these lovely people would be filled with GOD's Spirit

So WHO IS IT?  Who is it that you are so encouraged by their very life, that you will stop thinking about yourself (your present issues or concerns) long enough, to send up a prayer of Thanksgiving and that they would be filled by His Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may ultimately KNOW HIM BETTER?  LGLP

Does Your Giving Thanks, Communicate Satisfaction?

Mark 8:⁶ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. ⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. ⁸ The people ate and were satisfied.

Ok, so here they were tired, hungry, and I belive even they disciples were a little overwhelmed with the fact all of these people had gathered to hear Christ and they weren't quite sure how they would meet the needs of those that were hungry.  But Christ knew, little became much in his hands.   Here we see the miracle of the two fish and five loaves feeding the masses, and they WERE SATISFIED (oh and there were leftovers!)  You ever had unexpected guests show up; beit a church function, or dinner at your home, or that of someone elses, and no matter what there always seemed to be enough?  This miracle didn't just happened in the Gospels, it continues to happen because GOD is true to his word; "the righteous will never be forsaken, or their seed begging for bread (Psalms 37:25)," and we are always take of.    Pictured is a mealtime in Malawi, and I had the priviledge of being the person to pour a cup of water on the kids hands for them to wash with.  Mind you, not a faucet with dish washing liquid, or hand sanitizer, but just water.   Their meal; dough, chopped spinach/brocoli, fresh bread rolls, and beans and they couldn't wait to get what was possibly their ONLY MEAL of the day....and guess what......THEY WERE SATISFIED!

Thanksgiving is next week, and let me be honest with you....., I too am experiencing the pangs of our economy and my hope is that you are not worrying about HOW will you feed your children, or all the extra family members coming for the holiday, or how will you afford .........but rather TRUST in knowing that GOD will bless you & your family, and however that plays out be it you are invited to someone's home, or you have PBJ, may YOU BE SATISFIED with HOW GOD provides for you everyday, and give THANKS for HIS PROVISIONS! LGLP

Thank You For even_______________________? Yes Thank You!

Ephesians 5:²⁰ always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; ²¹ and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ..

You remember growing up as a kid and having the someone prepare dinner for you, and when you sat down to eat, what they placed in front of you being that ONE thing you hated the most.   Whether it was brussel sprouts, liver or chitterlings you could almost feel your body going into convulsions of vomiting, and I still remembering hearing " you better be thankful that we at least had that......."  and really not feeling very thankful.  

As you look at the picture of the dirty hard working hands, can you also look at the hard dirty situation you may be in the midst of and still GIVE THANKS to GOD?  I don't know if you are about to lose your home, or your health is failing, or your marriage is about over, your job is letting people go, or you feel like you are about to lose your mind, but today's scripture says.."ALWAYS giving thanks.........." is that you?  ALWAYS giving thanks...or are you more so ALWAYS complaining?  Look, I know life is hard, and unfair...had it not been either one of these CHRIST would've have died on The Cross for us.   So tell self to step aside.....and really look around you, see if you can muster up a THANKS TO GOD for even have a job to lose (knowing HE has a plan for you)....or THAT while you may be wrestling with (whatever health issues you plug in) that it's not worse...cause no matter what IT CAN BE WORSE (see JOSEPH or JOB)!

TODAY tell me, share with others what you are thankful for that may cause them to say " Really, you are thankful for even THAT?"   Watch what GOD does with that conversation...........GOD BLESS & LGLP

THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME

Psalm 118:21
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 

This past weekend I had the opportunity to do something that I had never done before, and while it may not be a big deal for many of you....it was for me.   I was invited to go deer hunt, or hangout with those that do.  Ok, well if you really know me you know I'm not shooting Bambi, but I did get to do some things I love; cook and meet new people.    I remember having ducked this opportunity before because culturally hanging out in the woods, isn't real high, ok it's not even on my bucket list.   But there was something refreshing about being in the beauty of GOD's creation.   It was something HOLY & DIVINE about meeting new people, and connecting with them through conversations, stories, faith, and food.   I remembering praying that I would have a good time, and GOD heard me and through all of my own anxieties (& probably some other people's anxieties too)......HE BLESSED ME ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT!  I even made a few new friends....yes friends...and even destroyed some barriers through the LOVE OF GOD through some GREAT Q!

WHAT IS IT? What is it that you prayed to GOD for this weekend, or today that HE HEARD YOU, and answered?  I want to know, and others that maybe struggling need to know that GOD HEARS US, and ANSWERS our PRAYERS!  LGLP

Let Our Thanks of HIM....Grant God's Protection over THEM!

2Chronicles 20:20-22  ²⁰ Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” ²¹ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his^[a] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

   “Give thanks to the LORD,
   for his love endures forever.”

 ²² As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

SO a few verses before this we find Jehosophat and the people of Judah terrified because they recieve word that they are about to attacked literally on all sides so what do they do.........seek GOD!  And in their seeking another WORD comes from GOD through a prophet informing them that He's heard their plea, and all they need to do is take position and watch GOD deliver.   TODAY we have soliders all over the world, and you better believe they are being attacked from every side, and I am sure we have moms, dads, and family members abroad going to the LORD on their behalfs, and I honestly believe GOD HASNT changed his position regarding those fighting for us.   WE NEED TO TAKE OUR POSITION and in case you missed it....OUR POSITION is one of PRAYER, SINGING PRAISES & THANKS BE TO GOD (see vs 21-22).

So your challenge today is the 1) TAKE YOUR POSITION in PRAYER  2) SING PRAISES TO GOD   3) GIVE THANKS and 4) Watch GOD DELIVER!  May GOD bless all of our men/women in the service as well as those that have gave the ultimate sacrifice!  HAPPY VETERANS DAY, you are NOT FORGOTTEN!   LGLP!

Thanks for A SOLID FOUNDATION

Ezra 3:10-12 ¹⁰ When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed. ¹¹ With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord:
   “He is so good!
      His faithful love for Israel endures forever!”

   Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.

 ¹² But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy.

Today, I'm thankful for the the foundation that was laid long before me.  My foundation of JESUS Christ, the foundations of Calvary Church that when I came to the points in my life that CHRIST had met me....He was true to His word that He is constantly preparing a place for me.   That place or those places are not just my final destination (HEAVEN) but places on this side of eternity that He desires for me to meet particular people, connect with, and seek to glorify Him through those relationships.   Pictured is one of the many faces of the C4 (Calvary Church Connections Campus) worship teams, and while you can't see the issues or burdens that each person may have, you can see that they worship from wherever that is!   The priest and people in the above scripture worshipped from the same places.....and they did it wholly because they had experienced the GOODNESS of the LORD!  

My challenge to you today is to think about where you are, were, and sing from there about the GOODNESS OF GOD!  LGLP

TELL EVERYBODY, means TELL EVERYBODY!

1Chronicles  17:8-9 Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.  Let the whole world know what he has done. ⁹ Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.  Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

Ok so, I'm giving thanks to GOD for the relationship I have with my son, Tre (Raymond III).  Why, because of the experienced I had as a young child regarding my own dad, couldv'e seriously paralyzed & hardened me towards how I related to my own son.  But because of HIS relationship with me begining as a late teen, and maturing in my latter 20's I am becoming the father He intended for my son to have.    

Every 1 & 3rd Saturday I meet with a group of men, in hopes that we'd all grow in widsom, maturity, and stature to be the men GOD created us to be.   This past Saturday one of the things we discussed was a statistic regarding the extinction of father's with their families.   The statistic stated that more than 65% of African American children grow up without a healthy relationship with their father.  In our attendance this past Saturday 66% of the males in attendance were Black, and of that percentage neither one had a healthy upbringing or even relationship with their father.

I'm not really sure who will be reading this blog, or what ethnic background you will have, but I can't express to you the need of a child to have a healthy relationship with their biological father (or a positive father figure), because that will help translate their ability to relate to & cultivate a relationship with their Heavenly Father!   It's totally because I so longed for this type of relationship that my heart was made tender to recieve HIS love and everyday I work to reciprocate it into this little guy & many others so that I may change the world one person at a time.     So to make sure you are clear with my THANKFULNESS....it is for GOD never leaving me or forsaking me when my earthly father had.   For His love being real to, and in me.   FOR Him giving me the opportunity to break the curses of paternal absenteeism , and for My Son, who is a contributor to my JOYful development in CHRIST JESUS!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL, and express your thankfulness to SOMEONE TODAY PUBLICLY! LGLP

NOW WHAT!

Chronicles 29:12-13 Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hands are power and might; in Your hands it is to make great and to give strength to all.

 Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name and those attributes which that name denotes.

You know, everyday God provides enough for us to turn to Him and say thank you!  But yet we fail to do so too often.   Pictured here is my family, the family that GOD, Himself has put together.  Cherilyn (wife of 10 years soon to be 11)  Bianca (19), Rajime (13) and Raymond III or Tre (8) and in each of their own little ways they've made some serious impressions on me.  I thank GOD for them, issues and all, because NO FAMILY is perfect, but GOD holds us all in His hands. 

SO NOW WHAT?
I praise Him for His blessing for a family I can call my own....and boy....if you only knew the other members beyond the faces in this picture I AM A RICH MAN & HONORED HE entrusts them to me.....WOW!

I praise Him for His blessing of Strength to be JOYFULLY invigorated EACH DAY to get up, get out, and get going for the futures of these beautiful faces.

NOW WHAT ABOUT YOU......??????  (I want to hear why are you thankful for GOD in the context of this scripture....How richly & honored are you blessed? etc.)