MUSIC BLOG 08-21-2025
Music Blog
08-21-2025
Come Into His Presence with Thanksgiving:
- God’s blessings are around us everyday
If you are reading this, then you had to wake up from your sleep. You probably had a cup of coffee, tea, juice or some water. You might have enjoyed a quiet breakfast on your back porch, or at a local diner with some friends. Maybe you’ve done yard work, or had a Dr.’s appointment or been to work or logged in some hours at school. You may have had to drive a car today or travel by plane and for you it’s late in the evening. The point is, most of us had things to do today and now, you are looking for entertainment, inspiration, or God’s direction. If you have reached the point of reading this blog, then you have already experienced God’s blessings today.
- When we experience God in a powerful way there is a tendency for us to become critical of things that we had on our agenda but obviously God did not have on His agenda.
Have you ever experienced God’s blessings and been full of joy and all of a sudden, something unexpected happens: You get a phone call from work while you are on vacation that ruins your time away, or you wake up in the middle of the night and feel like your abdomen is being cut in two sending you to the emergency room at 2:00 a.m., You have a conversation with your child, or boss, or “friend” that knocks the wind out of you and you are not only speechless you are puzzled, perplexed and broken. I could go on, but you get my drift. It is amazing how very quickly our joy is turned to sorrow. What happened? Did God change?
- Be grateful for everything, Let God do His work His way,
One of the most difficult lessons to learn in life is trusting God when life takes a turn. Paul said be grateful for all things. I heard a preacher say that you couldn’t be grateful for cancer, a loss of a child, or divorce or maybe even losing your job, house or family. If Paul had considered an exception, I believe he would have included that in his letter.
6 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Take a moment and reread the entire chapter of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-23. Paul reminds the church that the end is coming and coming soon. It’s going to get bad and if it’s bad now, it will get immeasurably worse. But then verse 18 happens, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” The next is a warning about what happens when we choose not to give thanks, “we quench the spirit”. Our churches, I believe, are rife with those who prefer to grumble and complain over those who give thanks in all things. I’m literally preaching to the choir. The church may be floundering in self-pity because of you and me. This lesson is vital for the working of the Holy Spirit in me, in you, and in the church.
- Let me be ready to join Him when I see Him working
God is at work around you. I believe that He has shown you today, where He is at work. If you didn’t see God at work, then that’s a whole new problem. God is working and Him showing you is your invitation to roll up your sleeves. Maybe we all need to stop criticizing and complaining and joining shoulder to shoulder with those in the pews. Look for something or someone who needs help. Chances are God is already at work there, your joining is following God and saying yes!
Blessings,
Marty