I’m thankful that I belong to the God who rules an unshakable kingdom and is as powerful as a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:

²⁵ Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! ²⁶ When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”^{[a] 27} This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

²⁸ Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. ²⁹ For our God is a devouring fire.

I’m thankful that I can trust in God day by day. In Hebrews 12 it talks about correction from God. Honestly, I really don’t want to go through that. But step by step and day by day I walk by faith and not by sight. Jesus promised in this world we will have tribulation but He also told us to be of good cheer because He has already overcome the world. So I rest in that important promise. But this is also good to know, when God corrects us He is putting us with the huge crowd of people we read about all through the Bible that have been highlighted in Hebrews 11. I admire many of those people and even though they had imprefections God has used their examples for a few thousand years! Wow!

Hebrews 12:

⁵ And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

¹² So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. ¹³ Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Wow! There are many great riches to be discovered in God’s Word! I thank God so much for His amazing truth. I cling to His promises especially for my family and then for my church, my friends and myself!

This morning I boldly go to the Throne of Grace that Jesus has given me privilege of attending there as much as I desire! And I proclaim and speak out Psalm 112 for all those I care about! I know I’ve read Psalm 112 in the past but reading it this morning was like opening a giant treasure chest and admiring all the sparkling jewels and glistening gold and then suddenly in all the attractive objects to look upon I catch a glimpse of an object that is far more beautiful than every other. I reach and pull it from all the amazing treasure. There it is. Gorgeous and I claim it as my own.

So that’s what happened this morning. The gorgeous treasure of Psalm 112. It is mine. At the start of this day, I pray it aloud over my loved ones. And then trust God that it will shine forth in our lives so that others would be drawn to the amazing treasures of our Heavenly Father who’s love is unending toward us.

Psalm 112:

It’s 5:47 in the morning! I want to the first or among the first to honor God early today during this Thanksgiving season. He deserves much honor for all His goodness and greatness! I’ve been studying Him and the Bible everyday for a few years now. I see His provision fulfilled in my life and my family’s life.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all you do. Thank you for your Son Jesus, who covers for my wrongdoings and thank you for the unexpected blessings that help me and give me added happiness.

I live my life to say thank you.

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Psalm 111:

I thank God that Jesus’ death, then resurrection, made it possible for me to connect with God in His most holy of holies, sinless place. This is the most vital, critical part of my personal Christianity. It is the foundation of my life that is lived to tell others of the Gospel through my actions and words.

Hebrews 10:

¹⁹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. ²⁰ By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. ²¹ And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, ²² let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

²³ Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. ²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

It’s Thanksgiving time. I refuse to ignore Thanksgiving and focus on Christmas. I’m so thankful to God for the provision of this year. I’m thankful for every second of my 52 years that He has kept my heart beating on this earth. I’m thankful for my family, my friends and my church! I know as creator, He spoke and breathed and made everything my eyes can see from absolutely nothing. Wow X3!!!  I’m confident and peaceful that He sustains me on this earth with His perfect provision in every sense and it’s tailor made for my life! He deserves the greatest honor and praise that I can muster up!

Yes God, from me personally~ Be exalted above the Heavens! Use me, my family, my church and my friends to let your glory shine over all the earth!

Psalm 108:

My heart is confident in you, O God;
    no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
² Wake up, lyre and harp!
    I will wake the dawn with my song.
³ I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
    I will sing your praises among the nations.
⁴ For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
    May your glory shine over all the earth.

I’m very thankful God can calm thestorm. Whether it is a literal storm on the sea or more importantly a raging storm of major issues I’m going through in my personal life. God can calm it all. He created it all. I can cry out to Jesus in the scary moments of life and He will settle me down with peace that is beyond human understanding. I fully trust Him to do this. Thank you, God, even before a storm comes, you are there with me calming my life and helping solve my problems step by step!

Psalm 107:

23Some went off to sea in ships,
    plying the trade routes of the world.
²⁴ They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
    his impressive works on the deepest seas.
²⁵ He spoke, and the winds rose,
    stirring up the waves.
²⁶ Their ships were tossed to the heavens
    and plunged again to the depths;
    the sailors cringed in terror.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards
    and were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
²⁹ He calmed the storm to a whisper
    and stilled the waves.
³⁰ What a blessing was that stillness
    as he brought them safely into harbor!
³¹ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
    and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
³² Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation
    and before the leaders of the nation.

I’m so thankful to God today. He redeems ANY situation I go through. He can redeem anyone. He helps the homeless find homes. He helps prisoners of all kinds to be set free from bondage. He helps rebellious fools find wise direction. He helps those who are in the midst of tumultuous storms of all kinds. He changes situations of all kinds for those who follow Him and turns deserts into places where abundant harvests can be gathered. He helps the poor small in number to flourish.

Psalm 107:

1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.
² Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
    Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

Psalm 107:

10 Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
    imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
¹¹ They rebelled against the words of God,
    scorning the counsel of the Most High.
¹² That is why he broke them with hard labor;
    they fell, and no one was there to help them.
¹³ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
¹⁴ He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;
    he snapped their chains.
¹⁵ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
    and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
¹⁶ For he broke down their prison gates of bronze;
    he cut apart their bars of iron.

I’m so thankful for my New Living Translation One Year Bible.  I learn so much because it’s such an understandable version. I don’t know the details of the group of people who put it together but I know it is a Godsend to me.

This morning I read in Ezekiel that God warned His people hard times were coming because they refused to turn away from their wrongdoing. God’s heart is to infinitely love people but He also corrects those He loves. In Ezekiel, God tells His heart about dealing with wickedness.

And here’s an amazing part, when I read in Psalm 106 in today’s reading it also talked about God’s heart toward His people in the midst of great sin.

Ezekiel 18:

²⁰ The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. ²¹ But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. ²² All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

²³ “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.²⁴ However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

²⁵ “Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you? ²⁶ When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. ²⁷ And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. ²⁸ They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die. ²⁹ And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I.

³⁰ “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! ³¹ Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? ³² I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!

Psalm 106:

In the Old Testament, God appointed individuals who were sinners like everyone else to be priests and enter the place called the holy of holies in the tabernacle where God made His presence known. The priest had to carefully get forgiveness of their sins and then carefully help God’s people get forgiveness. It was a long tedious process.

Things changed in the New Testament after Jesus lived a sinless life and took on the sin of all humanity past, present and future when He died on the cross and then Came back to life. Jesus became our high priest. Today, as Christians, we simply talk to Jesus about any and all needs we have including the forgiveness of our sin. Sin and wrongdoing separates from our sinless God. This is an exciting and peace giving truth; Jesus sits next to God at His right hand, praying for us. When we pray, Jesus takes our prayers and turns them into a perfect conversation with our Heavenly Father that will best meet our needs!…That is so awesome!

I am so thankful today, as the day begins, that Jesus is for me and my family! Wow!

Hebrews 8:

8 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. ² There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle,^[a]the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

³ And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. ⁴ If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. ⁵ They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”^[b]

⁶ But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

⁷ If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. ⁸ But when God found fault with the people, he said:

¹³ When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.