It is important today as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving,
  that we remember how truly blessed we are in this Country, and
  that all blessings flow from our Heavenly Father.   So as you
  prepare to celebrate this Holiday, be sure to give thanks to God
  for all of your blessings?

      I am closing this message today with a poem that I hope
  you will enjoy.

             AUTUMN IS NATURE'S MASTERPIECE

                  Autumn is Nature's masterpiece
                  When every tree's aglow;
                  Before the leaves have fallen
                  And the hills are white with snow.

                 The bounty of the harvest
                 Is a treasure to behold,
                 For the fruits of our labor
                 Are more valuable than gold.

                 There's a change in the weather
                 That fills the heart with cheer;
                 With the holidays approaching
                 In the twilight of the year.

                 There's a feeling of Thanksgiving
                 That comes to one and all;
                 When we count our many blessings
                 As the leaves begin to fall.
                                            Poet: Clay Harrison

      Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and may God Bless You!

FOUR WIVES

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most
and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took
great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd
wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to
his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might
run away with some other men. He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very
considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante.
Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife
and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great
contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care
of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and
although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to
die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4
wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be! Thus, he
asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing
and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me
and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away
without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the
merchant's heart.

The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all
my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to
remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've
always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you
follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this
time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your
grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was
devastated.

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter
where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She
was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved,
the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I
could have!"

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives. The 4th wife is our body. No
matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll
leave us when we die. Our 3rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth.
When we die, they all go to others. The 2nd wife is our family and friends.
No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the
furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. The 1st wife is in fact
our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual
pleasure. Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us
wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now
rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.

-- Author Unknown

FROGS

A group of frogs was traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into
a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit.

When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the unfortunate frogs they
would never get out.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit. The
other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead.

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and
simply gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.

Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and suffering
and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs asked him, "Why did you continue jumping
Didn't you hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He
thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

------------ --------- --------

This story teaches two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to
someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill
them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

The power of words....it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging
word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob
another of the spirit to continue in difficult times.

Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another. May
your words be a blessing to someone today.

-- Author Unknown

The Blessing of Gratitude 
Colossians 2:6-7

Believers have the amazing privilege of praying to their heavenly Father. But it may come as a surprise to some that bringing requests to God is just one aspect of our communication with Him. Another important part of prayer--which, sadly, is often overlooked--is thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6).

In fact, the Father wants His children's lives to be characterized by gratefulness. His Word tells us that an appreciative attitude should be evident in our worship (Ps. 95:2-7; Col. 3:16), giving (2 Cor. 9:12), relationships (Phil. 1:1-3), and even the way we approach spiritual battles (1 Cor. 15:55-57). In other words, thankfulness to the Lord should permeate everything we do (Rom. 14:6).

In the Scriptures, the Lord mandates our gratitude (1 Thess. 5:18), which some people find perplexing. But He knows how a grateful attitude affects our hearts. Thanking Him ...

• Keeps us aware of His presence.
• Focuses us on Jesus Christ; pride diminishes when we remember life is about Him. 
• Drives us to look for His purpose in our challenging situations. 
• Reminds us of His goodness, which leads to hope and submission to His will, even when we don't understand the reason for our pain.
• Encourages continued dependence on Him.
• Replaces anxiety with peace and joy.

When we maintain an attitude of thanksgiving in both happy and difficult seasons, our lives will feel purposeful and fulfilling. But more importantly, God will be glorified. Ask Him to bring blessings to mind so you can say "Thank You."

A Hymn of Thanksgiving

Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God, 
    With heart and hands and voices, 
Who wondrous things has done, 
    In Whom this world rejoices; 
Who from our mothers' arms 
    Has blessed us on our way 
With countless gifts of love, 
    And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God 
    Through all our life be near us, 
With ever joyful hearts 
    And blessed peace to cheer us; 
And keep us in His grace, 
    And guide us when perplexed; 
And free us from all ills, 
    In this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God 
    The Father now be given; 
The Son and Him Who reigns 
    With Them in highest Heaven; 
The one eternal God, 
    Whom earth and Heaven adore; 
For thus it was, is now, 
    And shall be evermore. 
             --Martin Rinkart c. 1636 
(translation by Catherine Winkworth)

A Heart of Gratitude 
Psalm 100:1-5

The Bible instructs us, "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18) That directive might seem easy when life is going well. But if painful circumstances arise, expressing gratitude can become difficult.

It's interesting to note that this instruction to thank the Lord in all things was written by Paul--the apostle whose loyalty to Christ earned him severe persecution. You might wonder how he was able to be grateful to God.

While many situations weren't to his liking, Paul knew that His riches in Christ Jesus far outweighed any earthly discomfort. Consider the blessings he so valued, which are available to all believers. First of all, we are invited to have a personal relationship with the one true God--the sovereign, omniscient, and omnipresent Lord of all creation. Second, our Creator loves us with an everlasting and unconditional love. Third, He sent His Son to die as payment for our sin-debt so that we could spend eternity with Him. As a result, when we place trust in Jesus, we are freed from the fear of death.

And the list of blessings keeps going: God adopts believers as His children and seals them with His Spirit (Eph. 4:30). He has a plan for every life--and bestows special gifts and empowerment to make it happen. He also promises to meet every need through His limitless resources (Phil. 4:19) and provides His Word and indwelling Spirit to guide us.

No wonder Paul was grateful! Count his blessings as your own, and let God know how appreciative you are.

BE THANKFUL...

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
  If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
  for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
  During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
  because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
  because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
  They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
  because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

Things God Won't Ask

~ God won't ask what kind of car you drove, He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

~ God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

~ God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

~ God won't ask what your highest salary was, He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

~ God won't ask what your job title was, He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of our ability.

~ God won't ask how many friends you had, He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

~ God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

~ God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.

today'sTHOT============================

Trouble is inevitable, misery is optional.

=======================================

TURKEY RIDDLES
So bad, they're good...

What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?
If your father could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!

Why do Pilgrims have trouble keeping their pants up?
'Cause they wear their belts on their hats!

What is the difference between a chicken and a turkey?
Chickens celebrate Thanksgiving!!

What is the Turkey's favorite black tie celebration?
The Butter Ball

What do you get when you cross a turkey, the beach, and Broomhilda?
A turkey sand-witch

What kind of music did Pilgrims listen to?
Plymouth Rock

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside

Why do turkeys eat so little?
Because they are always stuffed

Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken's day off.

What key has legs and can't open doors?
Tur-key.

What sound does a space turkey make?
Hubble, hubble, hubble.

How do you keep a turkey in suspense?
I'll tell you at Christmas.

today'sTHOT============================

Asked to write a composition entitled, "What I'm thankful for on Thanksgiving," little Johnny wrote, "I'm thankful that I'm not a turkey."

=======================================

THANKSGIVING FORECAST

Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

today'sTHOT============================

Woman to stock boy: "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"
"No ma'am, they're dead"

=======================================

LIVENING UP THANKSGIVING DINNER

1. Load your plate up high; take it to the kitchen, toss it all in the blender and take your "shake" back to the table. Announce that it's the new Thanksgiving Weight Loss Shake.

2. When everyone says, in turn, what they are thankful for, say, "I'm thankful I didn't get caught," and refuse to say anything more.

3. Bring along old-recorded football games and pop them in the VCR (or DVD) when Dad's not looking. Make sure it is set to the last two minutes of the game. When he comes into the room, turn off the VCR and turn on the regular TV.

4. Bring a date that only talks about the tragic and abusive conditions known to exist at turkey farms.

5. During mid-meal, turn to Mom and say, "See mom, I told you they wouldn't notice that the turkey was past the expiration date. You were worried for nothing."

today'sTHOT============================

These days about half the stuff in my shopping cart says, "For fast relief."

=======================================

TOP TEN SIGNS YOU'VE EATEN TOO MUCH AT THANKSGIVING DINNER

10. Hundreds of volunteers have started to stack sandbags around you.

9. Doctor tells you your weight would be perfect for a man 17 feet tall.

8. You are responsible for a slight but measurable shift in the earth's axis.

7. Right this minute you're laughing up pie on the carpet.

6. You decide to take a little nap and wake up in mid-July.

5. World's fattest man sends you a telegram, warning you to "back off!"

4. CBS tells you to lose weight or else.

3. Getting off your couch requires help from the fire department.

2. Every escalator you step on immediately grinds to a halt.

1. You're sweatin' gravy.

today'sTHOT============================

He ate so much over the holidays that he decided to quit cold turkey.

=======================================

EXERCISE FOR OLDER ADULTS IN PREPARATION FOR THANKSGIVING

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. 

With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can.  Try to reach a full minute, and then relax. 

Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. 

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato sacks. 

Then try 50-lb potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. 

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

today'sTHOT============================

Forbidden fruit creates many jams.

=======================================

Getting Ready 
2 Corinthians 1:8-11

We have learned in the last blog two ways to prepare for life's difficulties: biblical thinking and balanced judgment. First Peter 1 has further instructions, which include . . .

Fixing our hope on Jesus (v. 13). No matter how hard the circumstances, life has purpose and meaning in Christ. The Savior has promised always to be with us and to keep watch as a shepherd cares for his sheep (Matt. 28:20; John 10:14). Through the Holy Spirit's transforming power, troubled times can become opportunities to learn more about God's faithfulness, draw on His strength, and experience personal growth.

Resisting our former lifestyle (v. 14). When troubles come, it is tempting to revert to ungodly habits or take up new ones. In these seasons of life, Satan will encourage us to pursue any path that leads away from the Lord. We need to remember that we are new creations whose lifestyles are to match our position as God's children. That old behavior does not fit us anymore.

Making holiness our goal (v. 15). Being "holy," or "set apart," begins with giving up control over our life to the Holy Spirit. As we submit to Him, He will begin to express the life of Christ through us. By learning what pleases God and acting accordingly, we cooperate with His efforts to conform us to the Son's image.

While struggles are part of everyday life, we do not have to be overcome by them. Think about a specific step you can take to start carrying out these instructions today.

Being Ready for Rough Times 
1 Peter 1:13-14

The apostle Peter knew that hard days lay ahead for his fellow believers. So he reminded them about their security as children of God: they were chosen by Him, born into a living hope, given spiritual protection during this life, and guaranteed eternity in heaven with their Father. Peter then gave them specific ways to prepare for the coming trials. His words, divinely inspired by the Lord, can guide us as well.

His first instruction relates to our minds: What we believe has a direct impact on our response to life's problems. If we trust that God is looking out for us, then we will feel less threatened by hard circumstances. But if we decide we must rely on ourselves, then we are more likely to react poorly to situations beyond our control. A negative attitude--whether from anger, fear, worry, or jealousy--can make a hard time worse. Preparation for the future starts with developing biblical thinking.

A second lesson from Peter is to be "sober in spirit"--in other words, to maintain our balance in the midst of crises (v. 13). That requires resisting quick fixes to problems and refusing to embrace ungodly ideas or philosophies. Our enemy Satan is quick to offer suggestions designed to trip us up or turn us away from God's path. With the Spirit's help, we can learn to stand firm in a crisis and steadfastly follow the Lord.

Our culture is increasingly distancing itself from Jesus Christ and opposing His followers. Are you preparing spiritually for whatever the future holds?

Unraveling Worry From Our Life
Philippians 4:8-9

People fret over all kinds of issues, from safety and job security to election results. For many folks--and maybe you are one--anxiety is woven so tightly into the fabric of their day that they've learned to live with it.

We treat worry like a benign emotion when in fact it can actually be harmful. Anxiety clouds our thinking, divides our focus, and robs us of concentration. To complicate matters, the body can react to prolonged pressure on the psyche. Stress can manifest physically through tension headaches, elevated blood pressure, and even heart attacks.

Drifting through a mentally and physically exhausting life is not the Lord's plan for us. Our challenge is to take captive anxious thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5) and replace them with God-pleasing ones--dwelling on that which is pure, good, and right.

The best way to remove stray threads of worry is to crowd them out with something positive: weave Scripture into your mental grid instead. God has something to say about everything that concerns us. Feeling weak or under-qualified? "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). Afraid your paycheck won't cover this month's rent, clothes, and food? "Do not worry . . . for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things" (Matt. 6:31-32).

Jesus said worry adds nothing to our life (Matt. 6:27). In fact, we waste time and energy dwelling on concerns instead of affirming our trust in the Lord. We must choose to set our minds upon Him before anxiety leaves us feeling frayed.

When Anxiety Strikes
Philippians 4:6-7

If you needed a consultant, would you hire just anyone? Of course not. You'd want to be sure your advisor had experience to back up his suggestions. The apostle Paul was certainly qualified to teach on the value of contentment--he wrote from a prison cell.

In today's passage, Paul says that prayer safeguards the believer's heart from anxiety. Praying appropriately will result in the most effective protection, so we are wise to follow the pattern Jesus gave us. The Lord's Prayer underscores adoration of the Father and de-emphasizes self-talk (Matt. 6:9-13). God does desire to hear our concerns (Phil. 4:6).But if problems are all that keep us on our knees, then we have missed the main point of our relationship with Him.

Why does the Lord expect us to honor Him when what we want is immediate help for our problems? Because where the mind dwells, the heart follows. Focusing on His greatness puts our needs in perspective and encourages us to rest easy. He is in charge and at work (Matt. 6:30; Rom. 8:28). Consider Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. (Matt. 26:36-46) Even as the Lord was crying out for relief, He nevertheless submitted to the Father's greater will (v. 39) As a result, a supernatural peace fortified Christ and enabled Him to face His executioners.

Paul offered a radical peace plan: Praise the Lord while suffering persecution; thank Him when facing trial; and pray about everything. Each prayer braces your heart against anxiety. That's solid advice from a man who practiced what he preached.

The Breaking of Peter
Luke 22:54-62

Peter's pride in his own cleverness and strength got in the way of God's purposes. Christ sought a servant-leader to guide believers after He returned to heaven. The former fisherman was an impulsive know-it-all, but the Lord saw through Peter's arrogance to his potential. And so the master Craftsman used a sharp tool--humiliation--to break him.

When Jesus' words conflicted with Peter's opinions, the disciple boldly rebuked the Teacher (Matt. 16:21-22; John 13:5-8). Christ responded with a pointed reprimand meant both to silence and to teach (Matt. 16:23). In fact, the Lord had to correct the disciple in front of his peers on several occasions.

Ultimately, Peter failed in an area where he'd once felt great confidence--his commitment to die for the Lord. Instead, he denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed. This final humiliation, witnessed by a group of strangers, shattered his self-assurance.

Jesus chipped away at Peter's pride for three years before the disciple gave up his notion that Christ was Israel's grand deliverer from Roman oppression. Achieving glory ceased to matter when he chose to focus on the Lord's plan for lasting personal salvation. And thanks to Peter's newfound humility, God had a servant-leader (1 Peter 5:5-6).

How are you hindering God's work in your life? Be aware that He is determined to break you for your good and His glory. The Lord restored Peter as a more humble yet much greater man than before. He does the same for every believer who yields to His will.

A LITTLE GIRLS PRAYER

Helen Roseveare, a missionary doctor from England to Zaire Africa, told this
as it happened to her in Africa.

"One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in
spite of all we could do she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and
a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby
alive, as we had no incubator. (We had no electricity to run an incubator.)
We also had no special feeding facilities.

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous
drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the
cotton wool the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire
and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me
that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical
climates. "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed.

As in the West it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa
it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not
grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

"All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and
sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. "Your job
is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of
the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters
various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny
baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning
the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also
told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual
blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send
us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead,
so please send it this afternoon."

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of a
corollary, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for
the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly
say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know
that He can do everything. The Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't
there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by
sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four
years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle?
I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training
school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the
time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the verandah, was a
large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not
open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we
pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper,
taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or
forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I
lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them
out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and
the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and
sultanas--that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I
put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and
pulled it out--yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle!

I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He
could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward,
crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!"

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted. Looking up
at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to
that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the
girls had put in a dolly for an African child--five months before--in answer
to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."

"Before they call, I will answer!" Isa 65:24

-- Author Unknown