November 28, 2005
Thanksgiving Promises
On Thanksgiving morning I woke up mad and afraid. I went to bed the night before having discovered for the second time in a week that Tucker had watched a movie that would not have been allowed – had he bothered to ask or even think. On both occasions a friend was spending the night and brought the DVD over. I understand that it would have been difficult and embarrassing to say, “Hey, that is not the kind of movie that I want to watch” or even, “My parents would kill me if I watched that kind of movie in our home.”
I’m also not so naïve to think that he didn’t want to watch the movies. One was funny, (though inappropriate,) the other was about Rock and Roll, (and all the worldliness that often accompanies it.) I was angry that he watched the movies knowing how we, and more importantly, the Lord would feel about it. I was afraid because I knew the issue was of the heart.
I began the holiday morning depressed, oppressed, and feeling less than festive. Even the thought of the upcoming feast couldn’t bring me out of my doldrums. Thankfully, I’ve learned over the years that when I least feel like worshiping the Lord is usually the time when I need to the most.
So, I began to think of character traits of the Lord and dwell on them, rather than the circumstances of this particular morning. God is faithful, merciful, powerful, loving - to me and my children. I then began to think of promises in His Word for my children and rest in them rather than in what I could see or feel or fear in this moment.
I would love to share some of the promises I found just in case you are in a place with your own children where you could appreciate an encouraging reminder that it isn’t entirely up to us. God is alive and well and powerful and faithful to move in and on our children’s hearts.
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Isaiah 54:13 ESV
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16:31 ESV
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 ESV
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3 ESV
They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them.
Isaiah 65:23 NKJV
I was so encouraged by these promises that I decided to find some more to correspond with some of the other anxieties I was currently fighting. Steve and I are still recovering from the great financial losses we incurred trying to get the MomTime Get-A-Ways off the ground the last few years. We eventually cut our losses and gave the idea to LifeWay to produce, for which we are very grateful.
Unfortunately, we are still working our way through some loans we took out for seed money. God has been faithful and we know He will continue to be faithful but we still occasionally struggle with questions like, “How? & When?” will this all be behind us. I was encouraged to find the following Scriptures and I hope they will relieve any worries you may be carrying in the area of finances.
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
Psalm 37:25 ESV
For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills…Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
Psalm 50:10,14-15 ESV
So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
Genesis 22:14 ESV
While doing a search in my Logos Bible Software I discovered a few more promises that I thought might speak to one of you this holiday season. If one of them jumps off the screen for you, hide it in your heart and thank God for His faithfulness to fulfill His promises, even when we are faithless.
Abundant Life - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10 ESV
An Eternal Home - “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:1-3 ESV
Answered Prayer - And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
1 John 5:14 ESV
Companionship - No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15 ESV
Deliverance - The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:18 ESV
A God Who Cares - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
Peace - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27 ESV
Strength - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 ESV
Wisdom - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:5 ESV
Forgiveness - For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
Hebrews 8:12 ESV
We have so much to be thankful for! If, for whatever reason, you were unable to have a happy Thanksgiving, I hope these promises have enabled you to have a joyous one. Remember, happiness is based on circumstances; joy is based on the character of God. He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving any day.
Posted by weblion at 02:49 PM
