Thankfulness!

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JC Bunkhouse

As I sat waiting for my food one day at a little café in a one-horse northern Kansas town, I noticed that a few others were watching me. It may have been because I was the only one in the place that spoke normal. Well, after receiving my meal, I removed my hat, bowed my head, and gave thanks for family, health, safety, and of course, the food. A young man who worked there cleanin’ tables soon came over to the table where I sat and said: “Excuse me, sir, but you must be a Christian. I have been looking and waiting several weeks for a Christian to come in here, because, well, I need Jesus. I want to be saved. The Bible says I must be born again.”

I don’t doubt that there were several professing Christians eating at that restaurant at the time this happened. And many more had no doubt eaten there over the last several weeks. Apparently not one of them had bowed his head in prayer. (This didn’t actually happen, but it could!) Wouldn’t that be awesome? All I have to do is pray thanksgiving over a burger and such, and He sends me someone to share the good news of the gospel. I will say that I do always pray at restaurants, and I have had people tell me how they appreciated this and the courage it must take to pray in a public setting. I encourage them to do the same.

THANK YOU, LORD! Fast food without prayer does not a good combination make. We should pray in all circumstances! God places us in such situations. For that I am thankful!

FOLKS, people needing the Lord, are not all goin’ to just walk through the doors of our churches. We must allow ourselves to be the church inside and outside the church building! We need to be prepared to respond!

Thankfulness! How about you? Have you thought about it? Are you thankful?

The weeks between Thanksgiving, Christmas and up to New Year’s Day have become a crazy time. There are turkeys and somethin’ called black Friday and pumpkin pie and gift shoppin’ and wheat pasture calves and cotton harvest and plantin’ late wheat and all sorts of things to do and also be thankful for. This is the season for bein’ busy! And then there is the birth of our Savior. Maybe some of us just need to slow down and be thankful.

Over in the gospel of Luke, ch. 10, startin’ along about verse 38, Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. Martha was cookin’ and preparin’ and her sister, Mary was helpin’… Wait, where is Mary? Mary had moved to the livin’ room and she was listening to every word Jesus spoke.

Well, Martha gets kind of upset and even complains to Jesus that Mary ought to be helpin’ her with the cookin’ and servin’ and all.

In Luke 10:41: but the Lord answered and said to her, “ Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (nasb)

If you think hosting your in-laws and outlaws for the Thanksgiving meal is a lot of pressure, what do you think it would be like to be Martha and host the Son of God for supper?

Martha had invited Jesus into her home and she was lettin’ the pressure get to her. Instead of being a happy servant she became the jealous whining sister. This should have been a happy moment, but in the end it became a day of worry and anxiety for Martha! Y’all ever have that?

This year, as you gather for the holidays, try to realize that your family isn’t quite as perfect as you would want them to be and accept them for who they are. And hope they’ll be doin’ the same towards you! Just love ‘em and tell them about Jesus! And remember also to pray at the table!

Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! Amen