A couple of weeks ago I had a nagging question come to mind…”if I could ask God for one thing what would it be?  As I pondered this question throughout the day, many things came to mind – a nicer car, a new suit, a healthy year?  My nagging question was eventually answered by the words of a song I had put music to many years back.  Words written by King David who was described by God as “a man after my own heart.”  (Acts 13:22)  The words come from Psalm 27:4 “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”  I began to look back at my life and see how incredibly good and faithful God has been to me and I quickly concluded that nothing in this world satisfies my life – nothing but Him and Him only.   Why am I fasting?  The answer is very simple I want one thing and one thing only – MORE OF HIM!   Jesus said these words to his disciples“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”   I have found that fasting refocuses my life and develops a hunger for God in my life.  Every time I feel the discomfort of fasting I am reminded – One thing only Lord!  Are you hungry for Him?  Let’s keep pressing on together – it is all worth it. 

Out of all the days we set apart as a nation to celebrate different “holidays,” (set apart days) Thanksgiving is one of my favorites.  The food, spending time with family and friends and taking time out of our busy schedule to give thanks.  What could be better?  The more I grow in Christ however, the more I realize that Thanksgiving isn’t just to be celebrated once a year in November, but it is something I must celebrate every day.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”   Many times I have wondered “God what is your will for me today?” and it comes back to the choice I have to make no matter what is happening in my life to give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.  Webster’s dictionary defines Thanksgiving as “the act of giving thanks.”  If I am to practice this on a daily basis it needs to be acted upon.  Not how do I feel right now, but am I going to choose to give thanks?  Am I going to put it into practice?  Am I going to acknowledge that God is good in spite of what is happening in my life?  My prayer is that I can celebrate Thanksgiving every day by acknowledging God’s goodness and faithfulness in my life as I yield to his will of giving thanks both verbally and with my heart.  What is God teaching you about Thanksgiving?

 

 

 

It is hard to believe that my wife Elizabeth and I have been at New Life for 22 years and still counting.  But as they say, “time flies when you are having fun.”  I will never forget walking into a small church of 20 people that would in time come to be known as New Life Community Church.  I could have never imagined what God would have in store for that small group of people.  We had our own plans of church planting in a Spanish speaking country, but God’s plans are greater than our plans, and looking back I wouldn’t trade our journey for anything - it is priceless.   Presently we are one church that meets in 11 different locations with a vision to reach 1% of the City of Chicago.  This is a God-sized vision and I am praying that God would allow me to see this vision fulfilled in my lifetime.  Will you be part of this vision?