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Through It All! 11/25/15
Isaiah 53:3 (KJV)
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
And GOD BLESS YOU today-whenever and wherever you are!!!!
You may think I picked a strange Scripture to preach on today.
I did, BUT I did NOT pick it!!! PRAISE THE LORD!
As I was leaving Walmart's parking lot, I heard the SWEET VOICE of OUR Lord and Savior, distinctly speaking to me the above Holy Scripture.
Beloved, for those of you suffering today and/or tomorrow, for those of you grieving the loss of a too recent loved ones, for those HEROES on distant battle lines-this sermon is for you!!
For those of you enduring family quarrels, for those of you separated by divorce, anger or greed, for all too sick to eat and/or celebrate........
JESUS KNOWS, JESUS CARES, JESUS UNDERSTANDS!!
Jesus is and was "A MAN OF SORROWS AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF!"
Our Lord and Savior even TASTED the bitterness of death:
John 19:29-30 (KJV)
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Jesus, too, TASTED the heartbreak of the loss of His dear friend Lazarus-in fact, it is the shortest Verse in the Bible:
John 11:35 (KJV)
35 Jesus wept.
Jesus UNDERSTANDS your tears.
As I continued my drive home from Walmart, Jesus reminded of a Thanksgiving some 13 years ago.
I can SMILE at it now, having experienced equally and more, troubles and trials since.
My beautiful six month old grandson-my Joseph with the many colored coat I loved him so-had just died.
My safe and happy world destroyed, faith devastated and tested by each FIRST holiday since his passing.
And too soon came my FAVORITE holiday-THANKSGIVING!
How my heart ACHED to be whole and well again!
But God, how can I be THANKFUL on THANKSGIVING???????
I decided to not even try and planned on spending the day in bed.
My oldest daughter, Wendy, would have none of that for me, however.
In she came, determined to make me smile and give me a happy Tday!!!!!
The night before I had gamely done my one job-that of baking the turkey which she had purchased- a HUGE bird to be sure.
I had cooked it and placed dutifully in the refrigerator, ready to be carved the next day.
In the kitchen, my wife and daughter slaved all morning creating a bountiful meal.
Finally, all was ready, the family assembled at the dinner table and they came and forcibly ejected me from my bed.
All eyes were upon me as I raised the knife and began to carve the beautifully browned turkey, until........
On my first slice, pink juices began to flow and the more I cut, the worse it looked-I had under cooked the bird!!!!
SMILE!!!
I vividly remember how calm I was!!
I simply took the under-done turkey to the kitchen trash can, briskly dumped the entire contents in the garbage and headed back to Walmart.
All they had left of cooked fowl were two BBQ routisure chickens, which I purchased, headed back home and plunked UN-ceremoniously on the table.
THEN I retreated back to bed-THANKSGIVING 2002!!!!
I received a comment today from a dear friend who wrote me this:
"It would be fair to say I have had everything I have ever wanted including my dream home and purchased it all myself.
Now I no longer want but am happy with what I have.
I have almost forgot what it feels like to want in the physical world other than the basics, the few true friends I have are more than money can buy."
TODAY, as I type, she lives all alone, sick with cancer, having HAD "everything she ever wanted!!!"
She closed her letter with this:
"After my PET scan I will be coming down that dirt road so that you and Wanda can both have your own time without any worries and I will be so blessed and honored to be on Stone Road, with my friend (Amanda), laughing and playing under our Lords watchful and pleased eye."
In all her troubles and trials, she thinks of OTHERS!!!
Can You say:
"Now I no longer want but am happy with what I have."
TODAY, "be CONTENT with such things as YE have!!!"
Because, HE "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee!!!"
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Here is a short video of my singing to my beloved Amanda:
PASTOR DOUG
404-295-5644 or
CHURCH ADDRESS:
70 Stone Rd.
McDonough, GA. 30253
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