On behalf of the staff here at (NAME OF CHURCH), I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving Season.
Without a doubt, we could spend much time focusing on the many things going wrong in our Nation, but I want to remind us of the tremendous importance and calling we have to be a people of Thankfulness!
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NKJV) 34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Whether you are a regular attendee or this is your first time with us, we wanted to make sure you know how much we appreciate you joining for worship today here at (NAME OF CHURCH)!
Today is recognized nationally as Grandparents Day, and we wanted to just take this opportunity to express our love and appreciation to all the Grandparents in attendance.
Have you ever had the enemy try to convince you when you are faced with impossible situations that it's because God doesn't care? Or, possibly, even that you are there because of the bad decisions you have made?
We are often in difficult situations but have you ever stopped to think that there are times God puts us there to trust Him more?
Consider the following scripture:
Exodus 14:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.' 4 Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.
As the people were leaving Egypt finally after ten plagues had convinced Pharaoh that it was time to let them go, God knew that even after this, his heart would harden once again as he saw all his “free labor” leaving.
While we go through difficult times as believers in America and around the world, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a beautiful thought, and it is this: “Our Times are in His Hands”.
The entire chapter of Psalm 31 tells the story of David, who was a man after God's heart, speaking of the difficulties he was facing and his resolve to continue to trust God. Especially referring to “times” that were beyond his understanding.
The main verse of scripture that is powerfully encouraging is in Psalm 31:15 (NKJV) 15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.
The “times” being spoken of here in this scripture refer to the various events that come into our lives, whether we see them as good or bad.
Moses had led the people to the brink of the Promised Land, yet due to a lapse in his judgment and through disobedience to God, he would not be the one to lead them into the land.
A time for leadership change had come, and Joshua was now leading the people. One can only begin to imagine how difficult this was for Joshua, as well as the people. Change in leadership is challenging for everyone, but following a legend of a leader is difficult on another level!