Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

God made us to have certain physical “needs.” We need food, water, shelter, clothing. Most of us have lived through times of hardship as well as times of relative prosperity (I say relative because prosperity means different things to different people and doesn’t always mean money). I grew up with the essentials but not really any extras. In my adult life we have had times when there was more “month than money” if you know what I mean. But somehow, we always made it.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 not to worry about our physical needs. Paul, who also experienced his own ups and downs, goes a step farther than just not worrying or even coveting what someone else has. Paul encourages us to be content in our circumstances. He says “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

And what is that secret? Paul trusted God. He knew that “… my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Let us give thanks for a God who answers our prayers, even the ones that seem unanswered. Let us give thanks to God who gives us what we need. “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 8:7-11).

Let us give thanks to our Good Father for His provision. Just as he sent manna from heaven to the Israelites (Exodus 16:35), just as he kept Elijah supplied with flour and oil (1 Kings 17:16), God will provide. He is Jehovah-Jireh (check out both the NIV and KJV).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

In Christ,

Judy

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

As believers, we are not granted a pass to escape all of life’s problems. In fact, Jesus told us in John 16:33 – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We learn in Deuteronomy 8:2 that sometimes God tests us like he did the Israelites: “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

We know that ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan seeks to tempt us and make us fail. BUT “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

However, Jesus did promise us that He would be with us in the storms of life. He would send the Holy Spirit to be with us always, to provide his presence and power to help us to deal with the troubles we will undoubtedly experience. As the ever-suffering prophet Jeremiah proclaimed in Lamentations 3:22-23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

I will be thankful in my circumstances, even the hard ones, because the Bible assures us that “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). James took it a step further when he exhorted the Jewish believers who were struggling with trials, prejudice, and suffering, to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

I pray that we will be thankful even in our circumstances, even the challenging ones, because we know that “God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

I pray that we will “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

What a mighty God we worship! He is King of kings, LORD of lords, robed in majesty and armed with strength. He is our God, and above all, we should be thankful for who He is and how He loves us.

I don’t know about you, but I am especially fond of the name of our organization. The name “Mission” conveys not only our purpose, but also that we are a place where the work of missionaries takes place. What I really respond to, however, is the name “Rescue.” It reminds me of the hopelessness of each of us before we find our salvation in Jesus. And combining “Rescue” with “Mission” speaks to the true work that is carried on in this special place.

As the Creator, he chose to make us in His image. And then, in our disobedience, our Merciful God chose to forgive us. Not only that, our loving Creator God, full of Grace and Mercy, designed a most beautiful way to rescue us from the pit of hell and restore us to His Heavenly Kingdom. All we must do is to ask for forgiveness of our sins and accept this precious gift of salvation, made possible by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, son of God. My heart is full of gratitude for His love for me, a sinner.

We serve a God who seeks us to rescue, redeem, and reconcile us to Himself; to save us by his beautiful, wonderful, and powerful name from the eternal fiery pit of Hell. Praise God, What a Beautiful Name!

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95:2.

Do you remember when you were a child how you took pride in comparing your stuff to the stuff of others? My (Dad, house, you name it) is bigger or better than your (Dad, house, you name it). While that sounds immature, guess what? It is perfectly acceptable to say that about our God. To quote Chris Tomlin: “Our God is greater, our God is stronger. God, You are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power. Our God! Our God.”

My God is bigger, my God is better. Just like Samuel, I can proudly acknowledge: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. (2 Samuel 22:2-3).

What a mighty God we worship! He is King of kings, LORD of lords, robed in majesty and armed with strength. He is our God, and above all, we should be thankful for who He is and how He loves us. We worship the Creator. All other “gods” are created and are powerless against the mighty God we serve.

This week, I am thankful for God, and I am thankful for everyone in my life who has pointed me toward God: My parents, my extended family, my church, my friends, and my coworkers at Nashville Rescue Mission.

This week, I am thankful that God loves me and made a way to ensure that I would forever be a part of his Kingdom. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.