and yes, giving thanks!

As we have progressed through the book of Acts, there is something in it that causes me to reflect on and be thankful for this month…and that is the nation that we live in.  When we remember the culture and government that the early church lived in, we see that they certainly had a difficult time with Rome over them – from being taxed to tortured.  It was a volatile country with respect to how Christians would be viewed and treated.  No Christian would ever be allowed to vote for their leaders!  Rome was supreme and Caesar its “king,” with everyone being its subjects.  You did not necessarily get to say what you wanted, nor did you get to pursue your interests, nor were you necessarily free when it came to your religious beliefs.

As we think on our great nation, we might have a tendency to look instantly to what is wrong with it, or at times even bemoan where we are going.  Certainly it is not perfect, and we have many issues that need to be corrected and wrestled with, but it is still a great country!  It’s something that we can certainly thank God for!

It is a place in which we can vote freely…and pursue an honest living…and bring out new and creative ideas…and share the good news of the gospel freely…and worship without constraint.  It is a freedom and way of life that the founding fathers sought to establish, and men and women (and let this one sink in deeply) gave their lives to maintain.

There is much cause for Americans to give thanks to God for it – He has given us yet another precious gift…in our nation.

This month as you spend time voting, feasting, and spending time enjoying your family, can I give you some specific things to consider when giving thanks?

• Let’s remember to thank God for His protection of us through our government and our soldiers, who are “ministers of the sword,” some of whom come from our congregation.  (And while you’re at it, pray for their well-being too!)
• Let’s remember to thank God for our leaders at all levels in our government, and pray for godly wisdom to prevail.
• Let’s thank God for a country that does not seek to stifle our ability to share the gospel.
• Let’s thank God for those who came before us, taking a hard toll on their personal lives at Plymouth so long ago, and for establishing the beginning of a country that can worship God freely, without the government intervening.
• Finally, let’s not only thank God for all that we have, but let’s remember to continue to lift it up in prayer — that we would be a nation that seeks to value life, to look higher than ourselves, and to seek Truth.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Jack

As citizens of the United States we have a unique role in our government as voters. Because of this we each play a role as members of that “authority” mentioned in 1 Timothy. So we should not only be praying for those who are elected but also for “We the people.”

This coming Tuesday is election day and we are planning to make an all day prayer room at the church available to anyone who would like to participate. Jack will be opening the doors at 7am and I’ll be closing it up at 7pm. The format is casual and anyone who would like to come for a time to pray and lift up those in authority over us on that day are more than welcome. Come for just a few minutes or several hours. Either way we encourage all believers to lift up the people of the United States of America in prayer.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.