The Grinch that is Trying to Steal Thanksgiving

Many of you have heard that many retail stores are opening their doors for a good part of Thanksgiving day as a sort of pre Black Friday.  Debate abounds on the internet about the folly or the merit of the situation.  The lure of sales for Christmas and an extra day of shopping has many excited about the day.  In the past stores and gas stations sometimes opened for a few hours simply as a courtesy for travelers or families who might have forgotten one last item...but not at full capacity.  I've been glad to see petitions circulating to oppose this trend that is expanding even further this year.   

Here are some of the reasons I oppose retailors opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day. 

I know that some of you may be shrugging at my title not at all feeling that there is any threat on our nation, our families or our long standing traditions.  First I'd like to remind you that God was involved in the first Thanksgiving as the Pilgrims and Indians gathered and thanks to God was given.  The winter had been hard and lives had been lost...but the people still saw the hand of God and His great provision and protection.  This year has been hard for many of us, yet if we will look we will see that the Lord has not left our side. 

1.  Workers and their families are effected.  It snowballs. 
You may not be effected this year, but the snowball is starting.  Years ago Sunday was a day of worship and a day for families to rest and relax together.  Dinners were something special and being with Mom and Dad and visiting Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, cousins and friends were the norm  filling hearts with memories. Retailers began to get the great idea that Sunday was no longer a day to be respected because just maybe they could make a few more dollars on the backs of workers many of whom would now miss church and the extended family dinner.  Maybe dinner doesn't seem like much, but those who have practiced family table ( or couch) know that eating together promotes communication and provide a time for simply memories to form producing life long security and confidence.  Think about this....if Mom and Dad are working who is watching the kids?  Where is the day to have for family for a tired worn out worker?

2.  Who is next?
"Well, that is only retail and that's the business," you may say.  I don't agree with that but let's take that idea for a minute.  If retail drives the force production will have to catch up and factories that make the product or distribute it will have to keep up. Already we see retailors feeling as if they have to compete with those who are opening their doors the same could easily happen to other industries.  There is already a concept in corporate America that desires to push as much as they can using the economy as its excuse.  If retail more and more stays open then by necessity other industries and other workers have to go to work as well.  Don't count on the idea that this will not eventually effect you and your family. 

3.  A Day to be with family and be thankful to God
I hope that Americans can see past their sale adds and see what is happening.  You may consider it just a few hours out of your day for shopping...but the worker and the children at Daycare or with Grandma waiting don't think of it that way.  Remember when a few retailors opened on Sunday no one thought it would become common, no one realized a weekly day to worship and relax with your kids and family that had been a part of our fabric as a nation would begin to disappear.   No one thought that in order to get many jobs a person would have to agree to work on Sunday. 

I urge you to think before you make your way to the store after a nice Turkey dinner.  What is this day like for the worker at the store you are going too?  Most importantly ask yourself what Thanksgiving Day will look like in a few years when many more are working?

No Weapon

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

A year of challenge, a year of new beginning, a year to trust the Lord.  As I watched a lady preacher that I hadn't listened to for awhile she put forth a simple testimony.  She had found that quoting verses 10 times rose her faith level.  We don't have to copy or mimic someone elses way, but I felt nudged of the Holy Spirit to start this same venture.  God gives me a verse for the day and through out I say it 10 times.  It has brought me faith, peace and trust in the midst of storm.  God is working upon our behalf. 

New Years Eve 2012...Peace by with you.

 If you are a LWF member I  hope you enjoyed reading your first chapter of the New Testament.  I know if it is your first time the begots of the first several verses can be challenging, but if you endured you began the Greatest Story Ever Told.  

Tomorrow brings us into a New Year.  Fiscal Cliffs along with pressures of this world threaten to dampen our enthusiasm for 2013.  Yet as I've prayed about the coming year I feel the Holy Spirit speaking the word Peace.  Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give you, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  John 14:27  Peace doesn't stick it head in the sand, rather it decides to put its trust in Jesus.  God tells us in the Word that He has good plans for us not bad ones.  All around us the voices of the world may shout all of the bad things that have happened or that are yet to happen...God whispers His good plan to us.  

I believe 2013 is a year of restoration and growth.  God has good plans for His children.  Part of growing in the Lord requires exercising trust that He will give us wisdom in the midst of storm.  Growth also comes in blessing as we learn to handle and appreciate the good things God gives us and makes us stewards over.   

Don't fear 2013.  God watches out for you and me.  

Reflections perparing for Resurrection Day

Resurrection Sunday is April 24th this year. During the weeks leading up to this special day of celebration we ponder the work of the cross and His resurrection.

The first reflection I'll share is about Mary and Joseph and their devotion to the things of God despite the obstacles they faced and how that godly character impacted Jesus.

Mary and the promise
The Messiah was promised in the book of Genesis. Every Jewish child heard about it and waited for His coming. We don’t know all the details of what Mary was doing when the angel came to visit her and gave the news that she had been chosen to bring the Messiah into the world, but we do know that it was very dramatic. Many overlook the treasure of things to be learned from her life because others wrongly ascribe worship to her. One of my favorite things about her is the statement…”Mary pondered all of these things” . To ponder means to think intensely or chew over an issue or event .The ponder statement is right after the description of the shepherds visit to the manger where they surely shared the story of the angels that came to their field and told them the Savior had been born.

She had a lot to ponder.
Mary encourages me because in everyday life there is a lot to ponder. To ponder means to intensely consider something or events. Walking out our life in God’s will can be like that…we can be right smack dab in the center of God’s will and yet have a lot to think about.

Being chosen and willing
Mary and Joseph were chosen of God to raise Jesus because of their godly character. It was a matter of the right time, the right place, and the right people. Sometimes serving God faithfully in our everyday life may not seem like an earth shattering thing, but God takes note of our love and devotion towards Him. While we know that Mary and Joseph weren’t perfect think a moment about the trust Father God put in them. Mary’s response at the end of her conversation with Gabriel was, “Be it unto me as you have said.” Every time I read those words of hers my mind goes to the garden where Jesus said to the Father, “Not my will but thine” Jesus is both fully God and fully human. He took on human flesh when Mary said, “Be it unto me as you have said.” and that human being needed parents who would whole heartedly obey God at every turn. He needed parents that would give Him that example in their daily lives. Mary and Joseph surely must have pondered, “why us?” but they rose to the task. We like Mary and Joseph may wonder at those things that God has placed in our spear of influence and responsibility. Sometimes we may wonder if we are up to the task. Their life shows us that God can take a person of character who is willing to obey Him and trust them with a great task. Remember others wouldn’t see the greatness of their task. Being parents seemed ordinary to those around them who didn’t understand who Jesus was and the circumstances for those unwilling to believe the truth would seem scandalous. The angel told Joseph, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife” and explained who Jesus was and that He would bring Salvation. “Not my will but thine”, He said…that last night in the garden…Can you see Mary and Joseph’s love and upbringing in that statement of total commitment.

New Seasons: Last Day of Summer

Last Day of Summer
The news said that today September 22, 2010 is the last day of summer. The changing of the seasons can be a beautiful thing. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp weather that is usually not too hot.. not to cold, the leaves on the trees changing to brilliant colors, the hot soups, the Thanks Giving Holiday, and in a little while the crunch of leaves underfoot. I'll miss the bright sunshine, the deep greens, my neighbors pretty flowers (yeah I have some but this year it looked more like a weed garden), the long days, my father's birds (some will stay but many will go south) and some really wonderful memories that this summer has brought. God has changing seasons for our life and the Body of Christ too. Each new season has things that we can get excited about and enjoy and embrace. Change isn't always easy...but thank God we know the master architect. He makes each season beautiful.

Can't stop eating

I had been loosing a few pounds here and there. Weigh in at TOPS is tomorrow but I don't want to go. The last few weeks I've been eating everything in sight and my losses are turning into gains. It's almost 12:00 a.m and I'm tempted to eat another snack. Went to a party tonight with plenty of food... and should be satisfied. Drinking some water and trying not to think about more food. Maybe it is because I've started to eat sugary stuff again....it might just up my desire for food.

Healthy foods by Cookie Monster of Sesame Street.

Truth Reveled

God is so faithful. This week has brought some hard things on members of my family. My prayer throughout the night and into today has been that truth be revealed and hearts aligned with that truth. The enemy whispers in my heart that people don't change their tune so why bother to pray. Yet deep within me my heart cries out that "with man things are impossible, but with God all things are possible" This morning as I opened my email I found a newsletter from a friend who had a few months ago written a newsletter on a hot topic. The original letter had been heartfelt but biased toward a certain viewpoint. Now here a few months later they had a change of heart based upon the moving of the Holy Spirit in their life. Hope welled up within me...what the enemy says is impossible can happen. What seems like a lost cause can be changed. I declare mountains moved and truth to prevail in the situation I'm praying about right now. I don't know what God will do but I believe He will do what he says....and all things really will work out for good to those who are called according to His purpose.