Showing posts with label Thankfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thankfulness. Show all posts

Thankful All the Time

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Tuesday, December 01, 2015 11:21 AM

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Thankfulness is a trait characteristic of all cultures from all ages whether or not they know God personally. This is because God’s common grace invades everyone’s life to make them grateful. However, not everyone is thankful all the time. Usually people are grateful when good things happen to them, but when an event turns bad that’s when the gratitude attitude takes a vacation. This is not true in the believer’s life…at least it shouldn’t be. God’s children are thankful when the bad times are rolling, when the wheels fall off, when things aren’t exactly going our way, or when someone has sucked all the sweet off our sucker.
At the end of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians he pulled out his automatic gospel gun and just fired off a bunch of commands. One of them that’s gets right up into our faces and screams for us to practice in our world today is,
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
As simple as this command is, it is equally difficult to practice. It is not easy to give thanks in a culture that is discontent at every turn. We live in a world that is not a happy one. People around us are not happy with their jobs, spouses, friends, vacations, church, or even their happy meal! We are a complaining society, and we are defined as odd and out of touch with reality if we aren’t griping about something.
Sometimes we need to change our circumstances, but usually that’s not what God is calling us to. He is calling us to change our attitude and press into Him more closely during harrowing times. All circumstances are under the control of our sovereign God. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens to God’s child that doesn’t first pass through His hands, and His hands are always gracious, kind and loving.
Instead of following the path of our complaining culture let’s just scrape the pickle off our happy meal hamburger and eat, thanking God that we have something to eat, teeth to chew, taste buds to enjoy, and a digestive system to process the food. Not everybody has those!
Grace & Peace,
Scott

Everything Comes from God

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Monday, November 23, 2015 9:28 AM

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Living should never be defined by getting what we think we deserve whether that is a gift, cash, job, promotion, trophy, applause, position, or whatever. For those who are in Christ really living is defined by the relationship we have with the Creator of the universe. This relationship isn’t something we truly sought for and definitely not something we deserved.
God adopted us into His family through the costly sacrifice of His one and only unique Son, Jesus Christ. We could never try hard enough nor pay enough to gain entrance into the family of God. Through a great act of mercy, compassion, love and grace God sovereignly gave His Son and Jesus willingly laid down His life to secure our place back home with God.
Everything we enjoy now had its beginning, middle and end with Jesus. We can’t name a blessing we enjoy that doesn’t ultimately find its source in the holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Think about it in light of two verses:
“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16).
These verses just don’t apply to believers, they apply to everyone, whether they are a child of God or not. However, only God’s children will recognize that everything comes from the hand of a gracious God; therefore, only those who are His will return genuine thanksgiving for the gifts they receive.
Have you counted your blessings lately and given thanks to God for them?
Grace & Peace,
Scott

Looking Back on 2012

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Sunday, January 20, 2013 3:52 PM

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As I sit here on the first day of 2013 I am looking back. It is a good thing to reflect on what God has done over the last year. So many things have happened that I am thankful for as a pastor of Calvary Baptist Church. My heart is filled with joy and gratitude. Here are some of the highlights that came across my mind on this night…

We are in a new building. I am thankful that we made it. I am grateful for God’s faithfulness to His church since its inception in 1923. I will always remember the old buildings on North Church Street that served as a place for God to be glorified and people’s lives to be transformed. I am glad that we aren’t packing and moving, and I’m thankful for the warm water in the bathrooms. Praise the Lord!

God has added 63 new people to His church. These are God’s children from all walks of life and ages. It has been a huge privilege to baptize some of these. Preacher Crocker and I look forward to baptizing a handful more soon. One of the indicators that we are obeying the Great Commission is that people will be getting baptized. It is not our responsibility to get people saved, that’s God’s job, and He is good at it. Our responsibility is to witness and live out the Gospel before the world. Praise the Lord!!

We exceeded the budget, not in spending but in giving. The faithful and sacrificial giving of His children has honored God. This is the first time that I can remember that a church has meet its weekly budget giving needs. We stepped out by faith and God blessed. We needed $5,004.17 each week to meet the 2012 budget; we received $5,572.65 each week. God gets the honor for that – Praise the Lord!!!

We commissioned two mission trips (Tammy Gilbert to Nicaragua and the young people to Blythewood, SC) and commissioned and sent off one to start a church (Ben Linnerud with Awaken Church in Charleston, SC). In 2013 we plan on commissioning Tammy again to Nicaragua, a group to Haiti, and our young people to the West. Praise the Lord!!!!

The student ministry at Calvary Church is off to a good start. VBS was a success, we have an active weekly ministry on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings for them. I thank God for those who serve in the nursery, children’s groups, Kid’s Church, and youth. The kids singing with the choir at Christmas was beautiful. Praise the Lord!!!!!

We need to be a church that is joy filled, Gospel centered, mission minded, God adoring, and servant oriented. We have to begin our missions at home. Spartanburg County must become a place not just where we live, but about whom we are burdened. That will be some of the focus of my preaching this year.

I love being a part of what God is doing here. And we will always be careful to let others know that this is what God has done.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

A Thanksgiving Primer

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Monday, November 19, 2012 9:48 AM

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We are coming into Thanksgiving week. One of the quintessential attributes of a believer is to be grateful, and this doesn’t apply to just one day or one week out of the year. Thankfulness should permeate our lives everyday, all year long. We can always see the bad in people and events, but what marks the difference for someone who has a genuine faith is to be thankful no matter what. I was thinking this week that I would like to share a short primer on giving thanks to help and encourage each of us.

We can give thanks in every situation because we see our lives under the control of a loving God.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

We can take great comfort in the fact the God is God and we’re not. We can confidently face anything that comes our way knowing God has His hand all over it. He is not going to turn His back on us or forget about us. He is God and can handle everything all at once for us.

We can give thanks in trials because we look beyond the circumstance to the purpose. Suffering doesn’t just happen to Christians haphazardly; God has a purpose behind each and every event in our lives. God custom designs trials to produce, grow and perfect our faith.

…We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. (Romans 5:3; cf. James 1:2-4)

Giving thanks guards our hearts against our enemy.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will GUARD your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Satan is not that concerned with a complaining, non-praying Christian; he is quite satisfied to leave us alone if that is how we’re going to live. However, a believer who is praying will be attacked. Praying with thanksgiving guards our hearts against the onslaughts of the evil one.

I hope everyday is a day of thanksgiving for you. Even when life is severe you can give thanks, but especially when life is good we should be shouting thanksgiving from the top of our lungs. For what are your thankful?

Grace & Peace,
Scott

1st Homecoming @ the New Property!

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Monday, November 05, 2012 10:52 AM

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“Thank you” doesn’t even seem to touch the surface about how I feel toward everyone who helped this past weekend for Homecoming. From those who helped plan, to set up and tear down, those who decorated and built, Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes, the Kitchen Crew, everyone who cooked, baked, mixed and fixed food, the “parking guys”, and those who purchased the chicken and ham! We all owe so much to you for helping make this year’s Homecoming such a successful event. Thank you, every sacrifice of obedience is greatly appreciated.

Something I have grown to realize and appreciate about doing ministry is that it cannot be a one-person show. Long ago somebody said to me (don’t know who), “Many hands make light work.” I can’t imagine giving one person the responsibility to get Homecoming ready. The diversity of the people involved is exciting to see. For example, I didn’t relish the idea of getting up Saturday to go to 4000 Parris Bridge Road and set up tables and chairs. I knew it would be a lot of heavy work. But, as the morning progressed people saw where they fit in and pretty soon we had a slick running machine. And then, to our delightful surprise the Kitchen Crew had ham biscuits for lunch – AWESOME! Yeah, food will do that for me.

To say the least Calvary Church is a pretty neat place to serve. I am grateful for those who are able to put their hand to the plow and get the job done. I am thankful for the many people who stay behind the scenes, not seeking praise, but simply wanting God to be honored through their service.

One more thing I want to add…another “thank you” goes out to those who took the youth to the Hearts on Fire Conference in Gatlinburg, TN on Friday and Saturday. Everything I’ve heard has been great. As a former youth pastor I know how memorable those times can become to the youth. Again, your obedient sacrifice will pay off in the end. Parents and college students, you are a blessing to all of us.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

You Refreshed My Soul!

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Monday, November 21, 2011 11:38 AM

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There are times in our life when we need help. You know what I mean...times when it feels like we've been crossing a desert and we need a refreshing drink of clean, cold water. The problem is that we know what we need, but we can't get it on our own; we need someone else to give us that drink - we need someone to refresh us. Honestly this has been my life lately. With everything going on with the new building, messages to get ready, people to see, decision to be made, family to pay attention to, and life to live, I've simply needed someone to come along and refresh my soul. My family does a great job of this on a daily basis. Barb tells me how much she loves and appreciates me, and my children send me texts and Facebook posts. But sometimes you need a little more...you need to know from other people that you're doing a good job. And this is exactly what took place Sunday morning when a group of men came forward at the end of the service and each of them said a meaningful, heartfelt word of encouragement to me. Each of those embraces and words spoken in my ear reached their intended target. I walked away not just thinking that we are going to get through this relocation, but that I'm going to stick around and cast a vision for this congregation and teach this congregation until they can't stand me hanging around anymore!

Now before you go and think that I've gone all narcissistic on you and I need to be mollycoddled, I want you to remember that even the great apostle Paul needed encouragement and refreshing from time-t0-time. When he wrote to the Corinthian believers he made the following statement,

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus...for they refreshed my spirit... (1 Corinthians 16:17-18).

Now I realize Paul was under a great deal more pressure than myself or most contemporary preachers, but I believe the application is available for today.

During this Thanksgiving week I want the congregation of Calvary Church to know that you are the best flock to under-shepherd. I love being your pastor and count it an honor to be a part of each of your lives. Thank you for coming back week after week.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Being Thankful

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011 11:50 AM

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Entitlements kill gratitude. We think, because we exist other people exist for us (they owe us something). Can you see the tangled knot that type of thinking creates? If everybody fell into this trap then who will be doing anything for anybody...the government? One of the tragic results of an entitlement mentality is a severe lack of thankfulness. I'm afraid that we've become a society of ingrates.

We must not take people for granted! Easily said (or typed) but hard to practice. Do we know how much we need one another? This is a two-edged sword for a Christ-follower because we do live to serve one another, but we don't live just to have others serve us.

Hundreds of kindnesses are shown to us everyday and if we don't stop and say a simple, "Thank you" I believe a little part of the pipeline of God's grace gets plugged. Let me try to explain...

The Bible teaches about two general categories of grace operating in the world: uncommon grace and common grace. Uncommon grace is the grace of salvation. It's God's amazing grace that does something to change a person's life forever. This type of grace is secured by God's love through the cross. The gospel is what rescues us from the clutches of Satan; it delivers us front he punishment that our sin deserves. Uncommon grace is uncommon in part because not everyone experiences this grace.

The other type of grace is common grace; it is what touches the entire world every day. This is why it rains on the sinner's crops as well as the saint's. This is why the sun rises every morning and sets every night on the whole world. This grace God shares with the entire world in thousands of ways every day.

Because believers have been dramatically changed by uncommon grace we become conduits of God's common grace. Everybody in the world can show kindness (and by and large they do), but I believe it is those who've been uncommonly grace-touched who have a greater responsibility to be more grace oriented than the rest. No Christian can make it rain, but we can express kindness to those around us. We have an obligation to let God's grace flow through us to others. We can pause and say "Thank you"; we can help a young mother with three preschoolers in tow load her groceries into her minivan; we can take one afternoon a week to visit a shut in.

This is just a reminder to us all to make sure we spill out God's grace to the world. Let's not use being tired or busy as an excuse to miss grace pouring opportunities.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

"Thank You" Notes

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011 1:29 PM

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We have almost lost the practice of appreciation; we have misplaced the habit of saying thank you. I think this happens because we take people for granted. We see each other week after week and day after day. It is normal for these people to be a part of our lives. We get used to what others do for us and we only take notice of what they do when they don't do it. Does that make sense to you? I hope so.

Paul is a good example of showing his appreciation to his fellow believers. In almost every letter he wrote, he expressed his thanks (cf. Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 4). This week I would like to point out just a couple of observations about Paul's thank you notes:

First, Paul's thanksgiving was directed to God. Yes, he did openly express his thanksgiving in his letters, but he was thanking God for these believers. He was careful to make sure they knew that he was thankful to God for them. This is a great compliment we can pay to others. A God-ward thankfulness is sincere whereas a man-ward thankfulness can be hypocritical and self-serving.

Second, Paul's thanksgiving was about spiritual qualities. He saw things such as faith, love and hope as important. There was never a focus on the external, temporary traits; he kept his attention on those things in believers that we lasting and world-changing.

the avenues of communication we have today are both wonderful and quick, but they should never take the place of a timely written and much needed handwritten card. I hope all of us will be challenged to take the time to occasionally write a personal note to someone and tell them that we are thankful for what God has done in their lives and how God is using them in ours. When God brings someone across your mind take that as a prompting of the Holy Spirit to get out pen and paper and put words to your feelings.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Let Us Exalt the Name of the Lord!

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Thursday, January 13, 2011 11:55 AM

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Its cols outside, hey its cold inside; its cold up north and its cold in the south; its cold everywhere! In fact 49 states have snow right now. The only place you can go to escape the snow is Florida...anyone for a road trip? Seriously, I hope you have enjoyed this week of "staying in." I also hope that "cabin fever" has not set in too dramatically for you and your family. If it has, it is easy to cool off, just step outside.

Let me help us get a proper perspective on this cold and snow. Imagine living in a place where the temperatures are 20 to 30 degrees colder, you only get 5 1/2 hours of daylight, and the annual average snowfall is over 7 feet! If you lived in Anchorage, Alaska that would be your world (just ask Mike). We don't life in a cold climate like that and I am pretty sure that by the time you read this the kids will be back in school and most, if not all, of the snow will be gone. I guess I'm writing this to get all of us to count our blessings. We are truly blessed to live in the south. I think we are especially blessed to live in the part of the south where we can look down Highway 9 and see the snow on the mountains in North Carolina, and then turn around a travel 4 hours and be walking on the sandy shores in Myrtle Beach.

We have so much for which to be thankful. Take a moment while reading this and think about seven things for which you are thankful. God ahead, I'll wait. What are the first seven that came to you mind? Now, write them down and spend the next week thanking God for how He has blessed you. Focus on one of those things each day of the week. Change your facebook status each day to let your friends know what you are thanking God for that day.

Let's spend a week just thanking God for the blessings He has showered upon our lives.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! (Psalm 34:3)

Grace & Peace,
Scott

A Tearful Thanksgiving

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010 10:35 AM

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Every week in my pastoral ministry I encounter people who are going through a "severe trial." The trial they face comes with many faces and with differing severity. Some who read this have faced seeing a loved one go to the hospital, some are waiting for death to overtake someone close to them, some have had to make a visit to the funeral home to make arrangements, some have had to deal with very difficult family issues, some have lost jobs (or are at least facing that possibility), some are struggling financially, some are wresting with emotional issues such as loneliness, depression, anger, bitterness, etc., and the list of trials goes on.

I was planning to preach a series of messages on the names of God, but the Holy Spirit has been directing me to change course and work on a series that helps us wrestle with the trials we all face. Not a single disciple reading this is exempt from facing a severe trial of faith, and I want to encourage, challenge, and inspire all of us as we face these difficult times. For now I want us to consider just two things:

Trials attack faith. What is being attacked in the trial is our trust in God. James is very specific; he wrote that when we are tested it is a testing of our faith (James 1:3). This is encouraging because faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and it is the one thing with which we can please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Be thankful in trials. This is the most difficult thing to do. Being thankful, especially in a severe trial is almost impossible. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers that they should be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This is something which which I would encourage all of us to wrestle. It certainly will not be easy, but it is necessary. The thanksgiving we give to God in times of severe testing is a tearful thanksgiving.

Stay tuned. I hope and pray you all will have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Why don't you join us for a worship service of giving thanks on Tuesday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m.?

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Magnify the LORD with Me!

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Monday, November 01, 2010 11:27 AM

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Homecoming for Calvary Baptist Church is here again! The Family Life Center floor is being scrubbed and waxed as I write this, the Homecoming Committee has put together all the plans for a wonderful day, decorations are planned, tables are being hauled out and set up, sign in pages are being printed, name tags are ready to slap on your chest, and delicious food is being cooked. What more could we ask for? The answer to that is very simple: YOU! We want you to come and be a part of this annual celebration of fellowship.

We will also have our tentative future building plans on display in the Family Life Center. We are excited about what God has accomplished in the past--the many who have come to know and follow Jesus, the weddings that have brought two into a covenant of sharing their lives, the babies who have been brought by parents to dedicate their lives to raising them for the honor and glory of God, the countless lives that have been changed through the changeless message of God's amazing grace, and so much more. We are also anticipating a future that God still has for His wonderful church. We look forward to more people being saved, more brides walking down the isle, many more babies being given their first Bible on their dedication day, and thousands of more people who will find their way back to the Father through the message of His amazing grace.

It is one of our desires at Calvary to lift high the name of our majestic God. We want to spread the fame of His name everywhere we go and in all that we do. God has been so good to us that we cannot help but praise Him. God is so great that we cannot help but stand in awe of His majesty. Our first and foremost value in life is to glorify this great and awesome God. We will never cease to praise Him and thank Him for giving us the opportunity to sing His praises.

Please come and be a part of this wonderful annual celebration of fellowship. Add your voice to those who are thanking God for a past that gives us a future to which we look forward. See what God is doing at Calvary and taste His goodness.

"My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
Let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt his name together" (Psalm 34:2-3).

Grace & Peace,
Scott

I Am One Blessed Man

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Monday, October 26, 2009 4:27 PM

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As I think about this weekend in light of Homecoming 2009 at Calvary Church I consider myself one blessed man! I have so much for which to be thankful because God has blessed me in overwhelming and sometimes surprising ways. Let me explain...

I am the son of the most wonderful Father anyone could ever have. I have been adopted into a spiritual family that gives me a sense of belonging. With the spiritual inheritance that is mine in the heavens there is not a single think I really lack. Sure, there are things I want, but when I consider the spiritual treasure house that is available to me all my wants fade into dust and ashes. They are but dreams that sometimes turn into nightmares. They are things that quickly pale in comparison to the spiritual community to which I now belong.

I have been super blessed in my earthly family. God has blessed me with a wife who is second to none. She is one I don't deserve and certainly because of the grace of God has been my support in everything we've done over the last 25 years. God has gifted me with four children who deeply love God and are part of my spiritual family as well. I have parents who have always loved and supported me. And a sister and brother who have consistently expressed that they are "for me" even when it wasn't convenient.

I am the pastor of the best group of genuine followers of Jesus Christ. They have grown through the Word I have the privilege of preaching each week. They never grow tired of my rantings, and are quick to forgive when necessary. I have the greatest job in the world and often pray that it will never end. Calvary is a church where the cross is central in everything we do. No, we aren't perfect, but we are striving to live in light of Calvary.

When Homecoming rolls around for me it is an opportunity to take stock of my life and thank God for magnificently blessing me. What is your reflection this year? For what do you give thanks? I would encourage you to spend some time after reading this and think about God's blessings, and then actually write them out to share with others. You may not have the platform of a weekly article, but certainly you have people in your life who would love to hear how thankful you are. Maybe a good opportunity for you would be to come to Homecoming 2009 and share some of those blessings around the table.

Grace & Peace,
Scott
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