With Thanksgiving

^Phil4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,

I was listening to a preacher on TV last Sunday and as usual, most preachers will preach a sermon on Thanksgiving as it is the season.  I say why not ??  It's on a lot of peoples heart and mind.  Anyway, He read a couple of scriptures from Paul's epistles, (literally Paul's letters) and two words jumped out at me, "with thanksgiving"  It was in two of Paul's writing Philippines 4 and Colossians 4 and in 1st Timothy 4. Interesting to me, Paul was in prison when he wrote Phil. and Col. and he mentioned to them to be thankful, then  he advised young preacher Timothy to be with thanksgiving,  Then God started to speak to my heart and mind. And what an attitude, what an announcement and what a application for life.

What an attitude to lead us, with thanksgiving !!  Many today have secular attitudes. Oh, they are saved and the are Christians, but what is really their attitude?? Is it mean and selfish or happy and glad.  And God can help you with your attitude.  One can be logical with thanksgiving. One can be stern with thanksgiving. God through the Holy Spirit and the word of God can help you with your attitude and the key is being with thanksgiving.

Then, the two words "with Thanksgiving" is a announcement to learn. You probably have not even thought about it, but that's what an announcement does.  It bring things to your attention and mind.  An alarm and a wakening. Many things can bring us down, even if we are saved.  BUT, the announcement to learn here to get our attention, is with thanksgiving.  Finding things be thankful for in your life.

So not only are these two words, with thanksgiving an attitude to lead us and an announcement to learn, but it's an application for life. We can apply this to our life. It can be apart of us.  All things with thanksgiving.  The Apostle Paul did this while in prison. It wasn't a happy place to be yet he endured it with thanksgiving. Then even when he was giving a young preacher some wisdom and lessons, he tells  young Timothy, with thanksgiving. 

God spoke to my heart through a preacher on TV, but is God speaking to you ??  How is you attitude ?? But you say, you do not know what I have gone through, well time will pass and God will help. Or you may say wow, what an announcement !! BUT here is where many miss the mark, by saying that does not apply to me, yet the bible says lean NOT on your understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your path.  Won't you with thanksgiving to your life ??

First, you have to be saved, born again, accept Jesus Christ into heart, for whosoever shall on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Salvation first, separated life second, service is third but do it with Thanksgiving.

God Bless you neighbor, have a great day !!
RevDanSam

Listening for the Shout

The family and I went rail fanning a couple of weeks ago.  We love the steam train especially here in the 21st century.  To see a Steam train going down the track and to see a modern city skyline the back ground is something very special and something you don't see every day.

 

We have seen a Steam train in Atlanta, Charlotte and Chattanooga. Always an awesome sight.   Well, part of a Rail fanning is the train chase.  As you go to designated locations to catch a shot or photo of the steam engine.  Many times you have go a head of the train and get situated.  The train may slow down or even stop on the main line.  Then you have to rely on the sound (the whistle) to warn you of his coming.  There are train track signals too. But many times you have hear or listen for the sound.

Out on the track when rail fanning, you will hear ghost sounds and sounds from a trucks that sounds just like a steam train whistle. Then someone will say I hear him, and you know it's the real thing.  Interesting, it has been said you can hear a steam whistle 10 miles our and I have from that to be true on many a occasion.

But you know when it's the real thing as you hear the whistle (sound) and it's followed by the steam train. Well bible speaks of a similar happening with the return of Jesus Christ.  In the bible John 14 says
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

The Apostle Paul would tell us in the bible  in his letter to the Thessalonians "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

An old saying about the coming of the Lord is " we are NOT looking for a sign, but rather we are listening for the SHOUT !!"

We may see many signs of His coming and we may hear many things, But like the steam trains we should listen for the sound, in this case we should Listen for the SHOUT !!

But dear friend are you saved ?? Have you been born again ?? The bible says Turn ye unto God and He will turn to you, also, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved !!  

Call on Him today and then listen for the shout of his soon return.  The last prayer in the New Testament in the book of the Revelation says "Even so, come Lord Jesus" see Rev. 22:20

God Bless you and Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

RevDansam 


(Jesus paid it ALL, ALL to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow"