THANKFUL IN 2021?
Additional Information
THE ANSWER: Yes! Many have said they would like to have a "do over" or just skip 2020. Frankly, who could really blame them! I think it can all say we are all THANKFUL that 2020 is over! However, the title of this Blog says: We can be Thankful in 2021 and not have to be thrilled with everything that happened in 2020! In God's Word it says "In everything giving thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thes 5:18) WOW! That's right, it's God's will! Note, it does not say "For Everything" because bad stuff will happen every year! But in the middle of whatever the circumstance or situation we can still be thankful because we all do many things to be thankful for! 1. A God, Who really does love us, even if you feel like no one else does! 2. Most of us have family and/ or friends 3. A local church and a Bible to read 4. Good health, decent health or an opportunity for God to heal you! 4. Food, Water 5. Shelter 6. Clothes 7. A job or potential for employment and the list can go on and on! If we take time to stop and think about it! Here is something I shared recently:
2021 Thanksgiving? YES! We all have so much to truly be thankful for! Here's the plan: Grab a pen and write down 10 things you have to be thankful for and you will feel better! (Count your blessings!) If you can't think of 10, start with 5! If you can't think of any send me a message and I will pray for you & I will send you a few to get you started!
If we will look at Rom 8:28 we will realize that GOD Himself promises that ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD! (If we are Christians) Notice it does not say all things are good! But JESUS, Who is so amazing can and will work everything out for our good! Read John 14 too!
* Please send me a copy of your list of things to be thankful for or your prayer needs! If you are a Christian, your problem, battle, struggle or trial is only temporary! We will be celebrating (Partying) for eternity! That's forever! None of your problems, sicknesses, battles, bills, trials or anything else bad is going with you to Heaven! In the mean time "Count it all joy" and rejoice for great is reward in Heaven! Also, know this that God will use all of this things for good and turn it into something great and allow us to minister to others! (Gen 50:20) God is faithful! Also read I Peter 5:7-8 and apply it! You will then be Thankful for certain! :)
Powerful Question to Ponder! Blog 2021
What are we that God thinks about us?
I remember taking this photo and once again, it just put me in complete awe at the Amazing & Incredible Awesomeness of JESUS, the Creator of everything! (Gen 1:1 & John 1: 1-3) King David of old said: "O LORD our LORD, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. When I consider thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?"( Psalm chapter 8) WE ARE HIS FAVORITE CREATION!
WOW! AMAZING GRACE! He loves you and me so much He gave His Own life to purchase us and set us free forever!
JER 29:11 tells us that God actually things about you and me! & it's good! & they are too many to count! PS 40:5 ! Have you received the gift of Eternal Life? Send me a message for more info!
*Because God tells us we are not promised tomorrow, this is a "limited time" offer!
How You Can Help Us Reach Others:
We have had a number of people ask how they could contribute to our ministry. Obviously, the more we have to work with, the more we can do to reach others all around the world. Your gifts will enable us to have an eternal impact on others. Your prayers and generosity are appreciated and may the Lord richly bless you accordingly! (2 Cor 9:7-8; Prov 11:25)
We all have a terminal disease!
This World is a Mess!
What an understatement! Yes, some things never change.
Read on as this is hope down the road! Please keep in mind that God created everything perfect! No problems, sickness, death, depression, stress or hate issues. There was not even laundry or bad breath! It started great until sin entered into the world thanks to the devil and our Great, Great, Great x 100 Grandparents Adam and Eve, who gave into temptation and did the one and only thing that God told them not to do... they ate of the fruit from the only 1 tree in the garden of Eden.
* IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT MANY ASK: If God is so good why does He allow evil to exist and bad things to happen? Good question! I prayed 1 day and asked Jesus "Why did you put a tree (of the knowledge of good and evil) in the garden of Eden? (my thoughts... no tree, no possibility for sin or resulting death and all the ensuing problems that abound today). The answer I received blew my mind! I believe the Lord spoke to my heart and used the greatest 4 letter word ever spoken....LOVE ! I didn't understand. I was thinking Love? It was then that He expounded & said I love you (all humans ) so much that I did not create them to be robots (without any choice or free will)! God loves us so much that He will not force His will upon us, nor make us serve Him (although He knows best and so wants us to cry out to Him for help and guidance and wisdom and even fellowship/ hanging out with and visiting with the God of the Universe like He did with Adam and Eve before the terrible day of the fall! God allows each of us to make our own choices everyday! You and I my friend (Not the devil, not even God) will determine where we will spend eternity! Therefore this is the most important decision or choice you will ever make! What are you going to do with this Jesus? You have 2 choices:
1. Accept His awesome gift of Eternal Life (Easy as ABC... Ask, Believe, Confess/ Repent) then God will give you new life full of abundant love, joy and peace! (yes, we all face battles, struggles, trials, etc. but Jesus will help you through everyone one of these things and look up Rom 8:28! All things are not good, but they work together for good!)
2. 2nd Choice: Reject God's incredible offer and gift and basically say "I don't need you God! I can make it on my own. :(
* No choice or waiting to make a choice is the same as #2 = rejecting God's wonderful gift and the ultimate price Jesus paid for you and me when He gave His life as a ransom to buy us out of slavery to the devil! He bought us with His own life and blood! & to reject this is the same as spitting in the face of God! Maybe you have in the past and their are many atheists who have done this, but God who is so rich in mercy and love forgave all of their sins! & saved them!
Think about it: Jesus bought us out of being a slave to satan to set us free! Satan wants to keep you bound in slavery to him and beat you down every day and then take you to hell and the lake of fire forever!
I believe the choice is so very clear! Only you can and will make the decision of where you will spend forever! Heaven, where the fun and adventure will never cease and the party never ends! or Hell (that was never created for humans, rather it was made for the devil and his fallen angels... those who were stupid and deceived enough to think they could, under satan's warped and twisted "leadership", overthrow God! Ha!
Yes, one day all scores will be settled, wrongs will be righted, Punishment will be administered, justice will be served fully and all will be vindicated!
Who's side will you be on that day! It all can change for the better and start new and fresh today for you my friend! (Rom 3:32; 6:23; 1 John 1:9 & 2 Cor 5:17)
Are We All Going to Die?
Yes, you and I are all going to die! We are all terminal!
As addressed above, because of Adam & Eve we have all been born with a terminal disease! It's worse than cancer, Aids, Covid 19 and the black plague combined! It is called SIN ! Romans 6:23 The Wages (Payment) of sin = DEATH.
However, the rest of that same verse says, but the gift of God is Eternal Life!
Read on for the only antidote and cure for this terminal condition!
Is There Any Hope or Solution?
Yes! There is Hope!
The only hope for the cure for the terminal disease we were all born with is the precious Blood of Jesus! Jesus died for each and every one of us and as there is a price that has to be paid for our sins (see above section Rom 3:23 and 6:23) Somebody has to pay for our sins. This is why Jesus died on the cross for you and me! We cannot be good enough to pay for our sins, it required the precious blood or the only perfect, sinless person who has ever lived! Jesus! and He willingly and lovingly (even joyfully- Heb 12:2) allowed Himself to be tortured, beaten, spit upon, mocked, had his beard ripped out of His face, had a crown of thorns shoved down on His head and was nailed to a cross for us! Because of love that passes knowledge! (Eph 3:19) & the blood that poured out of His body that day is still so powerful that it can still wash away all of sins! If we believe that He died for us, repent of our sins (turn from, be sorry for the sins against God) and confess that Jesus rose from the dead! (He did the 3rd day!) Then we shall be saved, cured of this 100% fatal/ terminal killer called sin!
A couple of other thoughts: It should have been me on that Cross, dying for my sins, but Jesus said I will take your place! I will pay the price! What love! (Rom 5:8) ! Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners (still in our sins)! The other amazing thing is God knew before He created man that we would fall, sin and need a Savior! This is why I believe John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus "Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world! (John 1:29)
* God always has a plan! It is always perfect, right and just! (Just right) whether it seems like it or not! We walk by faith and not by sight! In the end it will all make perfect sense! (1 Cor 13:12)
Our Super Hero
In a day of fallen super-heros with scetchly motives and shady morals there is only 1 Super Hero Who has stood the test of time, has been tried and tested and ultimately sacrificed Himself for us! He has never failed and always comes through! Many times like a great thriller, He may seemingly come through in the last seconds before utter destruction, but He is always on time! & we learn a life lesson that we can use to help others along this journey of life!
JESUS is my Ultimate Hero! No one else even comes close! He has all power in Heaven and Earth and HE is able to leap over mountains! Cross oceans! Defeat any and all enemies and yet take time to come and visit with you everyday! (Rev 3:20)
The Ultimate Super Hero that is also my best friend! & is also the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Now What? Why Are We Here?
You are here because God created you! He has great and awesome plans for you! He has given you gifts and talents and a dream filled with excitement and purpose!
First, He wants you to be a Christian (Christlike) Born again (New life, see above).
Next He has a life of adventure (your life story) He has written to be lived out by you to the fullest! (See Heb 12:1-2; John 10:10; Jer 29:11) He wants us to fellowship (visit, hang-out, learn, laugh, grow) with Him every day (Rev 3:20) We do this by prayer and reading our Bibles (the living Word of God and yes! God still speaks today!) Through prayer (talking, but also listening to God) You can learn to recognize God's voice! Just as if I called you every day for the next 30 days, the first few days you might ask who is this? Oh, brother Steve. Then by the 20th day you would know my voice. Listen to what God has to say! Remember, He knows the future and has your very best interest at heart! He will lead you and guide you into all truth!
Start attending a church where the bible is being preached and taught as well as lived- out! Where the Holy Spirit is allowed to move and touch hearts and empower believers to reach this lost and dying world! One that is missions minded, not self-centered & man-focused, but God focused and seeking to please Jesus! One where you are challenged and changed and full of love and the real power of God is manifested! Where the devil is defeated, sins is detested not excused! Where God's purpose and power override people politics and plans! Where the color of someone's skin is not looked down upon in any way, but the condition of their heart is what really matters!
* Some might say but brother Steve there are not any churches like that in my whole area. Sadly, you may be right and if that is the case, Jesus is already aware of this and He will be sending you somewhere for training and in most cases to be the spark that ignites the fire of revival, repentance and resurrection power!
If you live around the Knoxville, TN area you will be most welcomed and we'd love to have you at the Park West Church, 7635 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN.
Finally, Acts 1:8, Jesus will fill you with that Holy Ghost power that we need to accomplish the mission that God has for us to do! Share the living, loving Gospel (Good News) with everyone! To be ready at all times to give an answer for the reason of the hope that is in us! (I Peter 3:15)!
3 Important Keys to the Kingdom:
ISA 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near!
MAT 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you
MAT 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled
* Seekers are finders, finders are keepers !