Thanksgiving & Making Peace

"So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24 (NCV)

 

Who has something against you?  Who do you have something against?  Have you tried to make peace with that person?  Why would Jesus say we must make peace before we can offer our gifts to God?  What does peace look like?  Is peace a gift to God?

 

The following story came from an unknown author in an e-mail to me:

I grew up in the '50s with very practical parents.  A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it.  My father was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a housedress, lawn mower in one hand, dishtowel in the other.  It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.  But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away... never to return.  So, while we have it... it's best we love it... and care for it... and fix it when it's broken... and heal it when it's sick.  This is true for marriage... and old cars... and children with bad report cards... and dogs with bad hips... and aging parents... and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

 

We make peace because our brothers and sisters are worth it!  Our friends and family will not last forever, so it’s best to make peace quick.  God will always be there to give our gifts too, so He wants a different gift first.  The gift of knowing His children are at peace with one another!  This Thanksgiving we must not offer our thanks to God before we have made peace with those who have something against us!

Our "Yes" Face

He said: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my Savior.  My God is my rock.  I can run to him for safety.  He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety.  The Lord saves me from those who want to harm me.” – 2 Samuel 22:2-3 (NCV)

 

How is God your rock?  Do you run to God for safety?  How have you witnessed God saving you from those who would do you harm?  What is life like when you rely on God in this way? 

 

The following story was told by Chuck Swindoll:

During Thomas Jefferson's presidency he and a group of travelers were crossing a river that had overflowed its banks. Each man crossed on horseback fighting for his life. A lone traveler watched the group traverse the treacherous river and then asked President Jefferson to take him across. The president agreed without hesitation, the man climbed on, and the two made it safely to the other side of the river where somebody asked him: "Why did you select the President to ask this favor?" The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the President of the United States who had carried him safely across. "All I know," he said, "is that on some of your faces was written the answer 'No' and on some of them was the answer 'Yes.' His was a 'Yes' face."

 

Those who know that God is their rock always have a “Yes” face!  Life throws many things our way.  When bad things happen some react with fear, and others know that they can run to God for safety, for He is their Savior.  When we know God in this way others will say of us,  “All I know is that on your face is written the answer ‘Yes.’”

With hope and joy,

Garrett

Being Interviewed by FOX

Dear all,

I was interviewed by the local FOX News station about the problems of sexual addiction.  Not my best hair day however.

http://www.wfxl.com/news/video.aspx?id=219793

True Religion

People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their "religion" is worth nothing. Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence. – James 1:26-27 (NCV)

 

Have you encountered people who think they are religious but are fooling themselves?  Are you someone who is fooling yourself?  Who needs help and how can you help them?  Why must you be careful of the world’s evil influence?  How will you act to ensure that God accepts your religion?

 

The following story was found at: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=142

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. 

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.  The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.
 "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.



"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn."



He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves.



So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.



The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.

 

Some are so afraid of the world’s evil influence they forget they have the solution to evil, God’s hope and joy as found in Jesus Christ!   You will say the right thing and have a religion that God will accept when you give your seeds of joy and happiness to your neighbors.  Good is more influential than evil, go do good!

With hope and joy,

Garrett