Thanksgiving

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. Psalm 100:4 HCSB

When I was a young child, it was hard for me to distinguish the concepts of having thanksgiving in my heart and having thanksgiving dinner with my family. Whenever I heard that I was supposed to enter His gates with thanksgiving, I pictured my entire family carrying turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie through the front gate of the Lord’s house, and then sitting down with Him, Pilgrims, and Indians for a giant feast at an enormous table. Then, before we ate, instead of bowing our heads, we simply turned to the Lord and thanked Him face to face. In my mind, He always nodded graciously in a noble and righteous way. Even now as I remember it, tears come to my eyes.

Even though I misunderstood the meaning of thanksgiving as a child, I think I had a big part of it right. When we come before the Lord, we are to thank Him for His many blessings. We should never forget to thank Him and to praise Him in response to all He has given us.

God, may we always come before You with thanksgiving.

Above All

Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 HCSB

Sometimes it’s just hard to get excited about worshiping the Lord. I get so consumed with everything that’s going on around me that it’s hard for me to shift my mind to the goodness of the Lord. I know that I need to lift Him up regardless of my circumstances, but often I just don’t feel like it.

One thing that has helped me overcome this is remembering everything that the Lord has done for me. Sometimes, I even have to run through them verbally or mentally.

1. He died for me.
2. He is always there to offer me counsel.
3. He loves me more than I could ever imagine.
4. He’s provided for me time and time again.
5. He’s given me an awesome wife.
6. He’s given me a home.
7. He allows me to serve Him.

Somehow, counting my blessings reminds me of how faithful He’s been to me. That, in turn, helps me to worship Him faithfully.

Thank You, Lord, for all that You’ve done for me.

Remember

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith…
Hebrews 12:1-2a

Being the son of a career Marine, many of my formative years were spent on or around military bases. Even as a child, I was always impressed by the meticulous upkeep of military cemeteries. The seemingly endless rows of neatly manicured identical graves made an imprint on my memory. The men and women buried in those places served our country well. They deserve to be remembered as heroes.

As Christians, we should have an even greater tenacity in remembering the faithfulness of those who have gone before us. We should never forget how we could not be where we are today if they had not remained loyal to Jesus. These Christian leaders, pastors and laymen alike, deserve to be remembered as heroes.

Lord, thank You for the faithfulness of Your people over the years. Help us to remember them and to allow them to serve as a never-ending example to us.

True Faith

If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up. Daniel 3:17-18 HCSB

When I was a child, I played the part of Nebuchadnezzar in a musical, which told the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I enjoyed getting to rant and rave in church because these three men would not worship my gods.

Several years later, I made Jesus my Lord. Suddenly, I realized that the Bible stories I had learned growing up in church were true and that there really were three men who stood before a hateful king who ordered them executed because they refused to worship his idols.

Now, as I remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I see three men so full of faith in God that they were willing to give up their lives. In their refusal to worship the gods of the king, they truly worshiped the one true God.

Lord, help us to always faithfully worship You.

Reflect

I will reflect on all You have done and meditate on Your actions. Psalm 77:12 HCSB

This is my Father’s world; O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. Mark Babcock*

Often, when I come to God in worship, my mind is filled with thoughts of horrible things that are happening around the world. I think of terrorists wreaking havoc, financial institutions crumbling, devastating natural disasters, orphans crying out, and people living in hunger. When this happens, I can’t help but echo the words of Asaph: Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He is anger withheld His compassion? (Psalm 77:9 HCSB)

However, as I begin to worship, God reminds me of how often He has provided for others and for me. He reminds me of how it’s only by His mercy that the world is not consumed. He reminds me of how He offered His Son as a sacrifice to pay the price for our sins. Then, I remember the further words of Asaph: I will reflect on all You have done and meditate on Your actions. (Psalm 77:12 HCSB)

Lord, when we remember Your faithfulness, help us to worship You?

*This Is My Father’s World

Loyalty

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? Proverbs 20:6 HCSB

Many years ago, I learned a song about faithfully praising God during difficult times. I sang it whenever I had the opportunity. I wanted it known that I was extremely loyal to Jesus.

But then, life happened. My car was stolen, twice. Bills and taxes became a reality. My metabolism slowed. I gained weight. Church business meetings wounded my heart. I lost my ministry position. And then came the miscarriage. It took me lower than I ever thought I could go. I considered leaving the ministry and abandoning my faith.

But then, I remembered all that the Lord had done for me. I remembered how He had always provided for me. I remembered the love that He had for me. And then, I remembered that He died for me. How could I turn away from Him when He had been so faithful to me?

I still want to praise the Lord, no matter what happens. But now, I understand that it’s more reflected in the way I live my life through difficult times than in the songs that I sing about them.

Lord, help us to be faithful to You, always.

Return

Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” Genesis 22:5 HCSB

Abraham never thought that he would be a father, but there he stood, on a mission of faith, with his son Isaac beside him. The Lord had told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as an act of worship. Can you imagine how Abraham must have felt upon hearing God’s request? As an old man, he had finally seen the beginnings of everything that he had been promised by the Lord and now he was being asked to willingly offer it all back to God in worship. Talk about a crisis of belief! What was God thinking? Didn’t He remember His promise to Abraham? Didn’t the Lord know how much Abraham loved Isaac? Surely something inside Abraham encouraged him to disobey the Lord and spare the life of his son. But, that didn’t happen. Abraham obeyed God, but he also had faith that somehow he would return from worshiping with a live Isaac beside safely beside him.

Lord, help us to have the faith of Abraham as we worship You.

Harry, Larry, and Fluffy: A Tale of Great Sacrifice

I hope you enjoy this youth drama I wrote for my friend's Steven's church. It was presented at the Arkansas Assembly of God drama contest in 2010. Thanks for reading.



Larry is a nervous overachiever. Harry is his calm friend. Fluffy is a stuffed animal, preferably fluffy and white.

(Larry nervously enters, grabs stuffed cat by the tail and raises toy sword over his head. Harry enters, is shocked by what he sees, and runs to Larry.)

Harry: Larry! What are you doing?

Larry: Something that I should have done a long time ago.

Harry: What are you going to do with that knife?

Larry: Stand back, Harry! This could get ugly.

Harry: But what are you doing?

Larry: I (long dramatic pause) am going to sacrifice Fluffy’s tail!

Harry: You’re gonna do what?

Larry: Yes, Larry. (Melodramatically) I am going to sacrifice my dear beloved cat Fluffy’s tail!

Harry: Why would you want to sacrifice your cat’s tail?

Larry: It’s what I must do, Harry. We all have to sacrifice something sooner or later. And don’t you dare try to stop me…

Harry: But…

Larry: Like I said, you had better not try to stop me! Don’t you dare try to stop me.

Harry: You’re not seriously…

Larry: Harry! Don’t try to stop me! Don’t you dare try to stop me!

Harry: All right, I won’t try. What’s one less cat’s tail, anyway?

Larry: Harry?

Harry: What?

Larry: (changing his tone) Try to stop me. Please try to stop me.

Harry: Well, I, uh… (Ponders for a moment, then adds nonchalantly) No, I won’t do it. You seem to know what you’re doing. You must have thought this through. Just try not to make a mess. You know how your mom hates a messy room.

(Harry starts to leave. Larry drops the knife, grabs Fluffy and runs after Harry.)

Larry: Wait, Harry! Wait!

Harry: (Turns to face Larry) What?

Larry: Didn’t you hear me? I said that I was going to sacrifice Fluffy’s tail!

Harry: Yeah, I heard you.

Larry: But you didn’t try to stop me!

Harry: You asked me not to.

Larry: Yeah, but then I changed my mind. Why didn’t you stop me?

Harry: (smiles) It looks to me like I did stop you.

Larry: (drops jaw) You did stop me! Oh, thank you!

(Larry and Harry sit)

Harry: Larry?

Larry: Yeah.

Harry: Why were you going to cut off your cat’s tail?

Larry: Well, I’ve been reading through the Bible this year and I’ve been in the Old Testament for weeks now, and all that they talk about is how you’ve got to make some type of animal sacrifice to atone for your sins.

Harry: Yeah, Old Testament people did have to make animal sacrifices, but…

Larry: (interrupts) You know that the only animal I have is Fluffy.

Harry: Okay, I see where you got the idea, but…

Larry: I thought about sacrificing Fluffy all the way, but I just couldn’t bring myself to kill her because she’s just so, uh, uh…

Harry: Fluffy?

Larry: Yeah, so instead I thought that I would cut off her tail as a sacrifice.

Harry: (shakes his head) I can’t believe you.

Larry: What?

Harry: First, you know that Jesus died on the cross to atone for your sins?

Larry: Yeah, I know that and I asked for forgiveness for my sins.

Harry: Then why were you going to cut off your cat’s tail?

Larry: I guess I was still feeling guilty and far from God.

Harry: (Shakes his head in disbelief) It doesn’t matter how you feel, Larry. It matters that you’re forgiven. You said that you asked for forgiveness, right?

Larry: Yeah.

Harry: Then God forgave you.

Larry: (Starts to cry. Speaks to Fluffy) Did you hear that Fluffy? You get to keep your tail!

Harry: Secondly, if you cut off Fluffy’s tail, she would have been the one making the sacrifice.

Larry: (Raises one eyebrow) Oh yeah.

(Harry and Larry Exit. Larry runs back, picks up Fluffy and exits, holding Fluffy close.)

Beautiful Feet

Here's a video I created for Kathy for last year's Minister's Wives Retreat at Tall Timbers Retreat Center. I thought you might enjoy seeing it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnJFrady#p/a/u/0/ZW-vQxAduNI

Have a great day.

John

World's Largest Pyramid

Sometime around the 200 BC, construction began on a massive pyramid in what is now the state of Pueblo in highland Mexico. It was built with the snow topped Popocatépetl volcano as its backdrop and was dedicated to the deity Quetzalcoatl. The base of the pyramid, known as the Great Pyramid of Cholula, was greater than that of the Great Egyptian Pyramid and has been called by some to be the largest ancient pyramid ever constructed. Over the years, the original pyramid was either built upon or neglected by various conquering people groups. By the time the Spaniards conquered the area, the Pyramid of Cholula was so neglected and covered with vegetation that it was believed to simply be a natural hill.

Today, on top of the ancient pyramid sits the Nuestro Senora de los Remedios (Church of our Lady of Remedies). Visitors from all around the world come to the small city of Cholula to see the largest pyramid ever constructed, climb its steps, explore it tunnels, and visit the church building at its summit. It is truly a wonder to behold.

As I now view the pictures of the Great Pyramid of Cholula, however, my mind is not drawn to the ancient Mayan or Toltec people, although they certain did achieve much in their civilizations. What I actually think about is another ancient structure, the Tower of Babel, described in Genesis chapter 11:

At one time the whole earth had the same language and vocabulary. As people migrated from the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let us make oven-fired bricks.” They had brick for stone and asphalt for mortar. And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, “If, as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Hopefully, sometime in my life, I will have the chance to visit the Pyramid of Cholula and the Nuestro de los Remedios. To me, it is a monument that communicates to the world that no matter what man achieves that it will eventually be nothing more than a footstool to the glory of the Lord. Every structure, every achievement, every performance, every talent, every known thing is subject to Him.

The apostle Paul wrote the following words to the Philippians:

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross. For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow-of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus, You are Lord of all things! We give You glory and declare that everything and everyone is subject to You.

Unique

This blog entry has been reposted by request.

So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. Genesis 1:27 HCSB

But hold up and let the river rush in, you can turn around and start livin’ again, Cause your life is a beautiful bloom in the image of the One that created you. Toby McKeehan*

To my dismay, I was not selected to be the soloist with the choir at a conference I attended in college. Sitting in the choir, I allowed myself to feel miserable and defeated during the evening of worship. Following the service, an older lady approached me and said, “When the choir sang, I watched you. You are unique and loved by God. You were created in His image and you are valuable to Him.”

Do you ever feel worthless? Do you ever feel of little value? Remember that God made you in His own image. Remember that He made you for a purpose. Remember that you are unique and loved by God. You are valuable to Him.

Lord, I know that You adore me. Thank You for creating me in Your image.

*Atmosphere

The Glory

So, on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. The populace began to shout, ‘It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!’ At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died. Then God’s message flourished and multiplied. Acts 12:21-24 HCSB

It’s written right there in the Bible. Herod died because he didn’t give God the glory. He accepted the praise of the people as if he were the God who deserved their praise and adoration. The Lord did not appreciate Herod’s actions, so, He caused Herod to be infected with worms to the point that he died. It’s interesting to note that after this happened, that God’s message flourished and multiplied (vs. 24). God will ultimately get the glory.

God deserves our worship. He deserves our praise. There is nothing that we have done that could have possibly been accomplished without Him. He deserves all of the glory and honor and praise for anything good that has ever happened. Because He is the Lord of all and creator of all things, God is serious about receiving the glory. He does not appreciate it when we try to steal the glory that ultimately belongs to Him.

In Philippians 2:10-11, Paul wrote, So that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow-of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (HCSB) This scripture even indicates that when we give praise to Jesus, it is to the “glory” of God the Father.

All the hard work that we’ve done, all that we’ve accomplished, all that we own or ever will own, all of the beauty in the world, every good thing that ever has or ever will be, all of those we lead to Christ or lead in worship or disciple or mentor, all of our families, friends, small groups, marriages, education, and vocation – everything – absolutely everything – is because of the Lord and all of the praise, honor, and glory belongs to Him.

Lord, help us to give You the glory in all that we do and in all that we say. It all belongs to You alone.

Hog Island

So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow-of those who are in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11 HCSB

Hog Island is a short distance from the Port of Nassau. For years, it was a farming island where many Bahamians raised their hogs. When investors purchased the island, hoping to convert it into an upscale tourist destination, they realized no one would want to spend money to stay on “Hog” Island. So, in 1962, the Bahamian Parliament changed the name to “Paradise” Island. Today, it is home to the world-renowned Atlantis resort.

Sometimes, a name changes everything.

The name of Jesus is powerful. There is salvation in His name. Saying His name adds power to our prayers. When we speak it aloud or sing it in a praise song or hymn, everything changes. His name is a strong and mighty tower when we are under spiritual attack. When we are weary from the battle, the name of Jesus is a refuge where we can rest. His name transforms lives forever.

Jesus, Your name changes everything. We worship You.

Midnight

About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. Acts 16:25-26 HCSB

The day could have been better for Paul and Silas. They were dragged to the authorities, accused of disrupting the peace, beaten with rods, and thrown into prison with their feet secured in stocks. Most people would call that a very unproductive day. However, Paul and Silas reacted quite differently. In fact, in a moment that should have been filled with despair, they opted to spend their time in prayer and worship.

If it had been me, I probably would have said, “What? Pray? Excuse me! My arms are bruised from where they dragged me, my back is covered with welps from the rods, and these stocks are very uncomfortable on my feet. You go ahead. And by the way, it’s midnight. I just don’t feel like praising Him right now.”

No wonder I haven’t experienced many earthquakes lately.

Lord, when we find ourselves in pain and in trouble, remind us that it’s time to worship You.

This Cup

Then He said to them, "My soul is swallowed up in sorrow —to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me." Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." Matthew 26:38-39 HCSB

According to the above scripture passage, before Jesus was arrested, He was overcome with sorrow. He knew the beatings and the cruel death that awaited Him. The stress He was experiencing must have been overwhelming. So, Jesus did the right thing. He cried out to His Father.

Jesus’ prayer showed His humanity, but it also showed the ultimate act of worship – obedience. He fell before God and asked to be released from the task before Him, but immediately responded in obedience and agreed to do the will of the Father.

Jesus continued to worship the Lord in obedience as He was arrested, tried, flogged, beaten, spit upon, and crucified. His extraordinary act of worship was enduring the pain of death on a cross so that you and I could one day have a relationship with Him.

Lord, help us to worship You through our obedience to You.

Front Line Worship

Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of His holiness. When they went up in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithful love endures forever. 2 Chronicles 20:21 HCSB

I don’t know about you, but when problems arise in my life, my first thought is not usually worship and praise. Unfortunately, most often I try to “fix” these situations in my own strength and ability, only to later come crawling to the Lord when I’ve come to the end of myself.

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, tried a better technique when the people of Judah went out to battle with the Ammonites, Moabites, and Meunites. Instead of assigning his largest and fiercest men to the front lines, he placed several worshipers who sang continually about the faithfulness of the Lord.

Fighting battles through strategic praise and worship is not a strategy that has caught on with most modern armies in our world. However, it is the best strategy for Christ followers when we are preparing for our own battles.

Lord, when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable situations, help us to respond with worship.

Position

You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:17 HCSB

When I was in first grade, I played t-ball for the Sherwood Sharks. On the first day of practice, our coach watched us catch, throw, hit, and run. On the second day of practice, he assigned us our positions. Much to my dismay, I was placed in left field. Left field doesn’t see a lot of action in first grade t-ball. I hated it and thought about quitting. However, as the season continued, I realized that left field was the best position for me and for the entire team.

When the inhabitants of Judah were about to be attacked by a massive army, the Lord instructed them to position themselves for battle by standing still and watching. This assigned position certainly did not seem appropriate for the nation on the eve of their destruction, but it was the Lord’s instructions for them, which meant it was the best position for Judah at the time. Therefore, when they heard the Lord’s instructions, they fell before the Him in worship.

Lord, when we don’t understand Your instructions, help us to worship You all the more.

God's Fight

This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15b HCSB

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was afraid, so he called his people together for prayer. The Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites had joined forces against the people of Judah. All seemed hopeless as the massive army came closer. So, Jehoshaphat led his people to seek the Lord. As they were praying, the Lord spoke to them through a Levite named Jahaziel and told them not to be afraid because the battle they were about to fight actually belonged to God.

So many times, life seems overwhelming. Troubles come and multiply on our doorsteps. Enemies come out of nowhere to accuse us. When we focus on the problems, all we can see is the enormity of our hopelessness to endure. However, God doesn’t want us to focus on our forecasted disaster. He wants us to focus on Him. He doesn’t desire for us to be dismayed by the bad things happening around us. Instead, He desires for us to seek Him and worship Him through the battle.

Lord, help us to worship You even when it seems that all is lost.

What To Do When You're Afraid

Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he resolved to seek the Lord. So he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 HCSB

What would you do if you heard that someone wanted to hurt you? What if you discovered that it was your neighbors joining forces to attack you? Would you be afraid?

When Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, heard the reports that the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites had come to fight against him, he was afraid. However, he chose not to run, hide, or to attack them. Instead, he chose to seek the Lord. He declared a fast for the entire nation and residents from every city of Judah joined him in seeking the Lord.

What should we do when we are afraid? Should we run away? Should we hide in our closets? Should we rush out to face the source of our fear? Or should we seek the Lord?

When evil comes our way, we should pray. When we are afraid, we should pray. When it seems that all is lost, we should pray.

Lord, remind us to seek You when we are afraid.

Fight

For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. Ephesians 6:12 HCSB

I wasn’t prepared for a fight, but I had offended the fifth grade bully. When school let out, I walked home paranoid. Every sound made me jump. Suddenly, I heard a noise in the bushes behind me. I turned and saw the bully standing two feet away. Not knowing what to do, I ran home as fast as I could. There was no way I was going to let Elizabeth Zenkman lay a hand on me!

I escaped from the fight that day, but there’s another fight that Christians encounter daily. Satan, the enemy, wants to destroy our lives. He wants to steal our joy. He wants to kill our Christian witness at any cost. We must realize that he is looking for every opportunity to launch a spiritual attack against us.

We must be prepared for these attacks. We must realize that Satan wants us to conform our thoughts and our actions to those of the world around us. We must clothe ourselves in the armor of the Lord.

Father, help us to daily prepare for the attacks of Satan.