Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “A Great Day!” for Thursday, 27 November 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 34

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “A Great Day!” for Thursday, 27 November 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 34: A David Psalm, When He Outwitted Abimelech and Got Away
1 I bless God every chance I get;
my lungs expand with his praise.
2 I live and breathe God;
if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:
3 Join me in spreading the news;
together let’s get the word out.
4 God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears.
5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.
6 When I was desperate, I called out,
and God got me out of a tight spot.
7 God’s angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray.
8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
9 Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all his goodness.
10 Young lions on the prowl get hungry,
but God-seekers are full of God.
11 Come, children, listen closely;
I’ll give you a lesson in God worship.
17 Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.
18 If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there;
if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
19 Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time.
20 He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone;
not even a finger gets broken.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.(Psalm 34:17 (NRSV))
Boyce, a single, teacher-friend, was facing a Thanksgiving alone — his family 2,500 miles away. So, we invited him to celebrate the day with our family. Within minutes of arriving, he was in the den with the children, laughing, rolling on the floor, and having a wonderful time.
The following spring, Boyce began to struggle with pronouncing words; he had to focus intently to complete a sentence. Soon after, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). His condition deteriorated rapidly, but he continued to communicate via e-mail. I vividly remember the way his last e-mail began: “I’m having a great day. I hope you are.” He described his physical condition: he no longer could walk or talk. He could barely raise one finger to slowly and meticulously type that e-mail. Yet Boyce was having a great day.
I’ve noticed that Boyce and other Christians who seem to be bubbling over with joy and contentment and have a passion for life all share an unwavering faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The joy we seek is available through faith.
Read more from the author, here.
"Thanksgiving"
Today, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. In simpler times we might imagine a multi-generational family enjoying a feast from the harvest. Throughout the country today, families gather enjoying each other, turkey dinners, naps, and for one day, maybe sharing a tradition as a farm family might have done years ago. It is a time to thank God for blessings.
What strikes me on this day is how fortunate we are as Christians, regardless of our particular circumstances. As I wrote in today’s meditation, for example, my friend Boyce, a former college football player stricken with ALS to the point that he no longer could walk or talk, managed to painstakingly type an e-mail to friends throughout the world proclaiming that he was HAVING A GREAT DAY!
Another friend that I met through my work is an 88 year-old African-American lady who lived with her two daughters and a granddaughter in a small mobile home in the South. Her total worldly possessions consisted of a pair of slippers, two cotton house dresses, a few pair of underwear and minimal toiletries. I cannot imagine the hardships that this poverty-stricken woman experienced in her life. Yet she always spoke of how blessed she was, what a wonderful life that she had led, and how God had been so good to her.
A high school classmate offers another example. She lives in a homeless shelter ministering to the homeless and to inmates on death row. She is battling breast cancer with no health insurance. She gave up virtually everything that many deem important; (nice house, new car, social status, etc.) to help others. At a recent class reunion, she appeared to be content, at peace, and “comfortable in her own skin”. She indeed seemed more “successful” than anyone in the class, including the ones who had achieved great wealth and status.
There is a common thread running through these three friends and so many others that simply “exude joy”: a great faith in Jesus Christ.
On this Thanksgiving Day, as we give thanks, it is apparent that the overwhelming blessing that we share as Christians is Jesus Christ. What greater gift could there be than to know, that through faith, salvation awaits? It is not earned, we cannot use it to boast, and it is freely given through Jesus Christ to all believers. We too can experience peace, joy, and contentment.
My prayer is that we make every day, a day of thanksgiving.
Jeff Jenkins
www.Facebook.com/IFoundHimMinistry
The Author: Jeff Jenkins (North Carolina, USA)
Thought for the Day: Our joy is in the Lord.
Prayer:Almighty God, help us to understand that joy, contentment, and peace are available to us through faith in you. Amen.
Prayer focus: People suffering from ALS
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