What Are You Seeking?

By Eric Miller

What is it that you're seeking?

I find myself constantly fighting this battle where I'm so easily distracted by all of these "things" in life. Whether it's entertainment or relationships or even just rest ... I'm seeking them even when I don't realize that I am. I find myself trying to control my life based on and around the things that I want. So I asked myself a simple question ... "why?"

Why do I do this?

The only conclusion that I could come up with is that I'm not seeking God and allowing Him to satisfy me. I'm seeking other things or people to try to meet my needs. And I'm quickly realizing how very backwards that is.

Maybe you're like me and you can relate all of this. If so, then I encourage you to watch this challenging video below and allow God to speak to you through it. I pray that by the end of this 3 minute video, you'll know exactly what it is that you've been seeking instead of Him. And I will pray that before you leave this blog that you'll come up with a plan of action to start seeking God rather than the thing you've identified.

Thanksgiving Rest

By Lisa Catania

I want to encourage all the mothers out there who are like me and are starting to get frantic about the Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time to rest with our family, be thankful, and sing praises to our Heavenly Father, who loves us so much! However, many times I find I am busy fussing over the meal and missing an opportunity to love, laugh and fellowship with the family. So, join me as I am determined this year to leave my stress at the cross and fully enjoy Thanksgiving. So start with me by kicking back, read one of my favorite little stories below and laugh…..(yes….I can totally relate to this story…….)

"Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving – Author Unknown

I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes:

Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect. Once inside, our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea.

The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas. Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.

We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds. As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.

We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like.

Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to beam your sister in the head with warm, tasty bread. Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead ignorance.

Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice among 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice, though: take it or leave it. Thought you might all enjoy.

Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year either.

I am thankful."

Date Added: 10/01/08
Thanksgiving Christian Stories and Poems
http://www.christianstories.com

Staff Devotional - Our Psalms Part Three

Here's another look into our Staff Devotionals led by Erin O'Hara.

Last week at staff devotions, we read and studied Psalm 34. We learned it was an “acrostic psalm” – each line starting with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Together we worked on our own acrostic psalm:

Above all things, we exalt You, oh God

Behold Your majesty and sovereignty in our lives

Continue to guide and direct us with Your wisdom and love

Deliver me from the deceit of the flesh

End well my heart and life with your wisdom

Find in me a true heart of worship and praise for Your amazing love and grace

God is in charge and all-powerful

He hears our laments and delivers us from our enemies

I will praise Him forever

Just as you are Lord, help me to be the same

Knowing my weaknesses, God gives me opportunity to be strengthened and grow

Leading me and standing beside me, He is my strength when I have none.

My soul is heavy with other’s burdens, may I trust in You, O Lord

Now when I lay down to sleep, may I never doubt you’ll watch these other’s souls

Only when I seek your peace and rest in You will I know that You care for these others.

I will Pray to my God to give us wisdom as we serve the Lord our God together.

Our Quest is to honor you in all we do and say for You alone are our refuge and strength.

We will Rest in your unfailing love and share this with those who come.

Stillness is the result of resting in God’s sovereignty

Tithing is the result of obeying God’s command

Unbelief is what keeps us from taking new ground

Very important; do not try to please the complainers

We cannot get away from You God, we need your Spirit to guide us.

EXamine our motives, our thoughts and actions – may they be pleasing to you

You alone are our Redeemer and Savior, we surrender our lives to You.

Zeal for your Name is on our lips. May the Lord God, Jehovah be praised forever.

Some good truths in a silly way!

By Eric Miller

If you're like me, it's easy to get lost, frustrated and discouraged about the truth in the midst of elections. It makes me so glad that God is unchanging and no matter what happens in life He's always good. Sometimes the circumstances in life can change our view of God and His character and who He really is ... so here's a video by a Christian band called "Gungor" that gives us some simple truths on who God is.

The Favor of God ... During Elections!

By Emerson Work

With heated campaigns fueled by billions of dollars and election results fresh in our minds, I am reminded that the real answers to what we truly need are found elsewhere:

Psalm 85

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1 Lord, you poured out blessings on your land!
You restored the fortunes of Israel.
2 You forgave the guilt of your people—
yes, you covered all their sins.
3 You held back your fury.
You kept back your blazing anger.

4 Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.
Put aside your anger against us once more.
5 Will you be angry with us always?
Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
6 Won’t you revive us again,
so your people can rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.

8 I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
But let them not return to their foolish ways.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
so our land will be filled with his glory.

“The favour of God is the fountain of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons. When God forgives sin, he covers it; and when he covers the sin of his people, he covers it all. When we are reconciled to God, then, and not till then, we may expect the comfort of his being reconciled to us.” (IVP New Testament Commentaries)

Two more laments!

These were submitted anonymously and the second is written from the perspective of one of the Chilean miners. Great laments! Please keep them coming! Don't forget that you can send them to Eric Miller at eric@gccfred.org to be posted. Thanks!

"I am hurting.

I am weak.

I am not useful.

I don’t act like Your child.

Lord Almighty, only You can help me.

Only You have the power to change my heart, my mind, my tongue, my trust.

You alone know how I struggle with money, relationships, words, my tone of voice, & my sincere trust in You.

Dearest Father, I sit at your feet asking You to change me, even more than You already have. May others see You in my life & give me a servant attitude. Let me die to self.

But, Abba, Father, You have never failed me. I look for Your hand to touch me.

I praise Your holy name! You are my everything!"

From the perspective of the Chilean miners ...

"God, I’m in a real pit this time.

No one knows where I am. I am so alone.

Will I starve to death?

Will I kill myself?

Will I lose my mind?

What am I to do?

I am not only entrapped in my body but also in my mind, my soul, & my spirit.

Who can I turn to but you?

Where can I go but to you, my Salvation?

My eyes burn, my heart throbs, my chest is heavy from lack of air, my stomach moans.

You alone can save me.

You alone will tell them where I am, how to find me & how to save me.

I wait for you, O Lord.

But, I know You love me with an everlasting love Father.

I look for Your saving hand.

I will worship You forever.

I will remember Your kindness to me.

I will tell others of Your miracle when You save me from this forlorn place & many will come to know you."