Stand Bold » John 8:32

“It is the duty of nations as well as of men to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subject to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins; to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”

ABRAHAM LINCOLN – 1863

In an attempt to avoid conforming to a cliché list of perennial blessings that are annually recited in the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas, I began to search for some things that, as Americans, we often don’t consider to be all that extraordinary, but nevertheless, serve to enhance our quality of life.  I began this quest by typing the following phrase into Google, “What America has to be thankful for”.  Out of the first twenty results that appeared, five praised Obama or one of his policies, four were re-syndications of Chuck Norris’ [insert Chuck Norris joke here] recent article “Thankful for Fading Freedoms”,  three related to professional sports stars, and one praised the decline of religion in America.  The rest discussed general topics like patriotism, and Thanksgiving food and fun.  Overall most shared a common theme of either praising or condemning a big picture assessment of our nation.  Those that praised America’s current state did so with a sense of fulfillment, as if they’d been waiting for such things to take place for an extended period of time.  Those who condemned its predicament conveyed feelings of betrayal and helplessness, as if a new enemy had just revealed itself to the people’s eyes.  Both seemed to blame the other for the past, and all resigned themselves to an uncertain future.

I wonder; what if instead of considering all of the political, cultural, and temporary things that take place around us, we focus on the basic values, ideas, and gifts that will last us the rest of eternity.  Earthly death is inescapable, and the entire world will one day pass away.  How we use our blessings now will affect the whole of our existence.  Everyone has their share of problems material and spiritual alike, but even the least citizens of our country enjoy more wealth than the richest of many nations.  Because of this immense blessing I think we are more susceptible to taking things like faith and family for granted.  I urge you this Thanksgiving to take some time and think about the little things that bring joy to your daily routine, as well as the permanent blessings that provide you with hope even in times of trouble.  Fortunes can be rebuilt, and wounds will heal.  Our hope in God is everlasting.  Whether you’re sitting down to a feast, or struggling for a meal, remember God’s almighty sacrifice, and rejoice in His eternal promise.

Stand BOLD ~ Mike V.

We had previously seen how the human body is very similar to the body of Christ. Each one of us is unique, which brings diversity to the body of Christ. Now, let’s turn once again to the analogy of snowflakes. There are at least three similarities that make snowflakes and Christians alike:

First, the makeup of each snowflake is completely unique and diverse. There are so many different types that they have been arranged into categories and charts. Capped columns, bullet rosettes, and stellar dendrites are just a few of these categories.¹ In the same way, every one of us are unique and bring diversity to the body of Christ. This benefits the body, but it can also bring tension. But regardless of any tension, God designed the body not to split. It is for this reason that the body must not split. What good would a half or a fourth of the body do? No; we must all work together to accomplish God’s purposes for the body.

Second, not only are snowflakes unique in their makeup, but also in their paths to the ground. Each snowflake will experience a different humidity, temperature and atmosphere in their dissension. Some may fall straight to the ground, and some may be swirled by the wind. Similarly, each one of us has a different path through life. Our lives may be smooth sailing or filled with turmoil. We may have an easy journey through life or be swirled by the wind. Despite the differences in our backgrounds, the body of Christ can come together to reach out to those who need the gospel. In fact, wemust work together. How else will we make a difference in our country?

Lastly, but perhaps the most important similarity is the reflection of light. We’ve all seen the spectacle of freshly fallen snow: completely untouched, glittering in the sunlight. Because every snowflake has many angles, each one is able to reflect light from the sun. Likewise, each of us has many aspects of our personalities and spiritual gifts that reflect the Son’s light. The reflection of light from snow catches our attention, causing us to look at the snow and take in its beauty. If we reflect God’s light, it catches people’s attention.  By catching their attention, we may be able to lead them to Christ.

Which type of snow is the body of Christ like: powdered or packing? Are we like packing snow: ready to stick together, to bind and work together for the glory of God? Are we willing to be molded into whatever shape God plans for us? Or are we like powdered snow:  resistant to one another and difficult to shape (if at all)?

In our country, living without disputes is almost unheard of. But Psalm 133:1 says “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” If we live together in unity, maybe our unity will witness to other people, including fellow Christians. And just maybe our unity will inspire others to live together peacefully… almost like a snowball effect.

Stand bold for Christ!

~Lindy A.

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¹ SnowCrystals.com “A Guide to Snowflakes” February 1999 http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/class/class.htm