Psalm 139:13-18

13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. NKJV

Matthew 10:28-31

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. NKJV

These two sections of scripture are so revealing. The Lord knows everything! The very hairs on your head are numbered! DNA has destroyed the possibility of the evolutionary process of our origin. We are code and God is the author of that code. As we are teaching on understanding one another on our Wednesday night services, I want to call to mind the fact we were created and we are not self-made people. I shared recently from research that is shows even our personality types are a part of our biological makeup.

We all are different by design, and the Lord designed us to fulfill a specific role and none of us can do it all by ourselves. This has a consequence of keeping us dependent on not only Him, but on one another. Even though there are four primary temperaments that are measurable in mankind, two of the same are not the same. Take the weather as an example of this: We have four measurable seasons but no two seasons are alike are they? Summer is hotter, but all summers are different, right? In the same way we know all sanguine, melancholy, choleric and phlegmatic temperaments have a likeness but they are all different!

We are fearfully and wonderfully made for sure. Just as it is good to try to plant in the spring, grow in the summer, harvest in the fall and rest the ground and replenish in the winter, it is easier for certain temperaments to work in different environments. The other day we were working on some construction (there were several of us) and I needed a job done. “I need a perfectionist on this, so Gary you do this”, I said. Gary gave me that look like, “Why me?”, and then thought a moment and said, “yea your right I should probably be the one to do this.”

If I need a perfectionist to do a task I am going find a melancholy. A choleric can be a perfectionist, so can a melancholy or a phlegmatic, but they are not going to enjoy it! I try to choose and assign tasks by temperament and it keeps everyone happier and more fulfilled. Two temperaments are people oriented and two are task oriented, which are you? Would you rather work with things or people? Choleric and melancholy people see the task as the goal and people the means. Sanguine and phlegmatic folks see the people as the goal as the task as the means. My wife loves to work alone, I hate to work alone. My wife loves the details and I just want the bottom line. I’m a starter and my wife is the finisher. There is a lot to digest in this and I hope you learn and apply these truths so we can all work together!

Until next week, be blessed!

• Date - December 4, 2019
• Author - David Chisholm

I love being thankful!

I wrote how thankfulness changed my life a couple of years ago. (link at bottom) That writing has become one of my favorites, for it is truly my heart to be thankful, and when I purposed in my heart to live more thankful, it really did change my life!

I didn’t always live with thankfulness at the forefront of my life. I remember always being thankful, but I don’t remember always activating my thankfulness. There is a difference.

Thankfulness is a choice and when you make that choice consistently, it becomes a lifestyle. And let me tell you, I am so much happier living a lifestyle of thankfulness!

There are so many benefits to being thankful. Just one example is: when you are truly thankful for your job, even when things go wrong, or someone rubs you the wrong way, frustration has a hard time taking root, because your heart is so full of thanksgiving and focused on the blessing of your job, that a bad day just becomes a bump in the road.

Pastor Dave has said something he learned from his pastor many times. He says “Thank God things are as good as they are and getting better every day!” What an attitude! Thankfulness also fosters faith! When you are thankful for what you have, it is easy to believe good things, even better things, are coming. The beautiful part is, even if they take awhile to improve, waiting won’t bother you like it used to because you are content where you are.

See, thankfulness fosters contentment. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13 – “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” NIV The word content in verse 12 means “independent of external circumstances” – in other words, in spite of what is going on around us.

I have said this before, If Jesus never does another thing for me, His sacrifice on the cross was enough! Everything else is a bonus!

I have found taking the attitude of being thankful, of being content in what Jesus has already done for me, has taken much stress off my life as well. I do not feel compelled to wrestle with situations and force an outcome because I know that not only is it possible to be content, but that I CAN be content and remain thankful through every situation because I have complete faith and trust in my God.

Thankfulness fosters joy. Do you know how much better your mood and outlook is when you are thankful? It changes the way you perceive and look at everything. If I can be thankful for where I am right now, today, then I can be thankful for what I am believing for, until it comes! How? The same God who gives me strength to rest in today, is the same God that gives me confidence to trust Him for my future, for my family, for my health and every promise in the word of God that I have declared as my own.

Thankfulness fosters peace. Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

The word careful means troubles, anxious, and the word supplication means asking. Paul is telling us – don’t worry, pray and ask with thankfulness, have thankfulness in your heart when you pray to God. The Passion Translation says “with overflowing gratitude” – I love that. When we do this, do you know what follows? Verse 7 says ” then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” THEN – meaning AFTER you pray with thankfulness.

Let me tell you, there is nothing better than being in a situation that makes no sense, but the peace of God is carrying you through. The word says it will even guard our heart and mind! The Passion Translation says the peace of God that transcends human understanding will make answers known to you through Jesus Christ. Wow, how awesome is that? Peace that guards and informs us in His understanding and ways.

But, let me share with you another meaning of the word guard from the Strong’s Concordance. Are you ready? To guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight! Friends, this covers our protection, even militant protection! Think of having armed guards outside your home while you sleep – that kind of protection in the spirit!

Peace, Joy, and Contentment, all hinge on thankfulness!

(The purpose of a hinge is to open doors, but I will save that for another article.)

Still in Philippians 4, the very next verse then show us our part in maintaining the peace – Think on GOOD things! Phil. 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

The Passion Translation says – “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. 9 Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.”

God has thought of everything. Even when we are purposing to live thankful, the world we live in can often bombard us with ugly, depressing and evil things, and while we need to be informed, we cannot allow it to dictate our feelings, lives or thoughts! So what do we do? His higher ways, His instructions say to think on good things, lovely things. Notice as we do, the God of peace will be with us in ALL things.

Sometimes, when I get bad news or hear something depressing, I begin to rehearse the victories of the Lord in my life. After a few minutes of this my faith is stirred, and the enemy has fled because it is nothing he wants to be reminded of.

I remember one night several years ago, I was with three friends and we were staying in a bed and breakfast old farmhouse built in the 1800’s. It was in the middle of nowhere and very dark and secluded. We began to notice we were not alone, as there were unexplainable weird things happening that were not of human origination. After praying and pleading the blood of Jesus over us, I said, let’s rehearse the victories of the Lord in our lives. Do you know that the atmosphere began to change and we were able to sleep and get through the night! What were we doing? BEING THANKFUL for what the Lord has done for us, and guess what? His peace, the militant peace that guards showed up! He is faithful!

So, I get that November is a month where even secular people will focus on being thankful. That’s good. But, as believers and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, we have every reason to live this way every single day, regardless of circumstances, because greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world!

What if more believers began to practice, on purpose, living a thankful life every day? Would that not show a difference in our lives to the world around us? Would that not set us apart? Would that not show others the goodness of God? And remember, it is the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. (Romans 4:2 TPT “Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?”) Extravagant kindness…is that not attractive? Yes!

Thankfulness is attractive. Joy, peace, and kindness is attractive, especially in the times we live in. Without Jesus, no one has any true peace, joy or contentment. What a witness we can have just by living thankful.

I challenge you to start today and practice being thankful. It will start out as practice and being purposeful, but as you make this a priority daily, pretty soon, it will become natural in your walk and you will notice quickly when you have stepped out of this mindset. The beautiful thing is, it is very easy to correct and step back into. We often make things harder than they really are. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden light. It truly is. Start with being thankful and watch joy, peace and kindness increase….watch faith arise!

I hope this sparks a hunger and desire to submit yourself to a greater degree of thankfulness in your life. I hope all the things you are thankful for are crossing your mind right now. I hope you grow in thankfulness and know that as you do, peace, joy and kindness will follow. What an awesome way to serve our Lord! What a great day to be alive. I am truly thankful! Selah!

(Being Thankful Will Change Your Life)

• Date - November 14, 2019
• Author - David Chisholm

Matthew 6:1-4
6:1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
NKJV

What does a Christian life really look like? Today’s culture has put forth a “screen life” in place of a “real life”. “People strike a pose” on Instagram and Facebook, but frown in their service to the Lord. When we serve God in humility, we don’t get that many likes or comments do we? Likes and comments feed self-gratification and become a false narrative in our psyche. The principle of the Kingdom of God is to walk in humility and look for reward from the Lord. What trends on earth probably doesn’t have much fame in Heaven.

My world was rocked many years ago when a book by E. Stanley Jones called “The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person”. The big take away from the book for me was the fact that for many, Christianity is an “ideal” but it should be real. That kind of describes the façade of social media, a lot of ideal, but short on real. A life of serving Christ is a life of faith and our rewards will come from the Father not from likes, or comments, or views. Just the other day I read a statistic that nearly 80% of young people today dream of trending on some social media platform. Kind of shallow in the big picture of life!

Matthew 6:5-6
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
NKJV

In a lot of ways culture’s desire to have others see and praise lives is a reenactment of an old play called “I want the praise of men”. I challenge you to think before you post and when you do post, do it to serve and help another, not to try to gather esteem for yourself. All that society popularizes is not the way of the Lord even though it may have an appearance of good. If my life causes another to stumble I have not kept the purposes of God.

John 12:42-43
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
NKJV

Walking in the truth of the Lord will usually cost you the praise of men, not get you more of it. A simple life of service to the Lord and one another, like we are instructed to live in Ephesians 5 may not get us trending on earth, but it will sure get the attention of heaven.

Ephesians 5:8-21
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
NKJV

• Date - November 13, 2019
• Author - David Chisholm