THANKSGIVING!

It was last year, around this time I was sitting in a rocking chair inside with a book looking out the window at the beautiful mountains of the great state of Colorado. I went to visit my Colorado family. Before we took part in eating, we had a time of worship and a devotional. I remember praying through the passage for the devotional. Exodus 15 came to the forefront of my mind.

1 "Then Moses and the people
of Israel sang this song
to the LORD, saying,
"I will sing to the LORD,
for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength
and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him."
Exodus 15:1,2

Moses is responding with joy in triumph to who God is and how God redeemed them from the hands of the Egyptians. Moses was commission to go to Pharaoh. He felt he was unable so God said bring Aaron. Aaron will speak and I will speak to you. Moses went to Pharaoh to ask to let the Israelites go worship and every time Pharaoh said "No". Until the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh's heart was hard. Actually, even after the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh realized what took place and chased after the Israelites. God is at hand. God is their strength. God brought about victory as verse 1 states. In the second verse, not is God their strength and source of joy but of salvation. Because he rescued the Israelites from destruction, they praise Him. They praise Him. Through praise, they remember the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is true that God is and will always be. Let us exalt God and remember all that he has done for your father's.

19For when the horses of Pharaoh
with his chariots and his horsemen
went into the sea, the
LORD brought back the waters
of the sea upon them,
but the people of Israel walked
on dry ground in the midst of the sea.
20Then Miriam the prophetess,
the sister of Aaron,
took a tambourine in her hand,
and all the women went out
after her with tambourines and dancing.
21And Miriam sang to them:
"Sing to the LORD,
for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."
Exodus 15:19-21

On Thanksgiving, remember all the things God has brought you through and remember all the people he has put into your life. The people who have spurred you on to faith and good deeds.

For those who are alone, I want you to know that God is ever present in your time of need. He is not far off, distant and apathetic.

My last bit of encouragement is verse 6 of Philippians:

do not be anxious
about anything,
but in everything
by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6

PERSONAL!

The news has been non-stop in regard to TSA rules and regulations. People have been complaining that this inspection is too personal or too invasive. They was even a report of a guy who wet himself during this process. Honestly, who is this comfortable with a complete stranger in the manner of the photo above?

To make this scene more uncomfortable, you are being set aside for security reasons.

In truth, I am not sure how I would respond to this sort of security but the outcry is clear. Too personal! It is distressing.

People need comfort. The comfort can come in the form of law or in another person. Comfort is necessary due to the stress of being personally offended even afflicted.

Paul in his second letter to the church of Corinth in chapter 7 expresses this comfort.

I am acting with great
boldness toward you;
I have great pride in you;
I am filled with comfort.
In all our
affliction, I am overflowing
with joy.
- 2 Corinthians 7:4

Overflowing with joy. When our bubbles are burst or when our personal comfort zone is infringed upon, do we respond with joy?

Paul continues to speak of the comfort that was brought to him.

He says God is the one who comforts and provided the comfort of sending Titus. Titus came with a message of longing and mourning. Essentially, the church is bearing the weight of the ministry and would love to see him again. Paul rejoices because of them and their repentance, not his affliction. Even in his affliction, he is other focused.

He speaks of godly grief and defines it.

9As it is, I rejoice,
not because you were grieved,
but because you were grieved into repenting.
For you felt a godly grief,
so that you suffered
no loss through us.
10For godly grief produces
a repentance that leads to
salvation without regret,
whereas worldly grief produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:9,10

Paul says godly grief produces a repentance (a change) that leads to salvation without regret. The word in the ESV is regret. The root word is ametameletos. It means not repentant of, unregretted. It is only used twice in the New Testament. In this passage and in Romans 11:29. This verse could be rendered. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation affording supreme joy.

Joy. Joy even amongst sorrow.