A thoughtful and thankful Thanksgiving!

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Woke up to a gorgeous fall morning; there was not a cloud to be seen in the beautiful blue sky! The morning rays of the sun were shining and the leaves were practically glowing in the rich autumn splendour. A wonderful Blessing, to start a new day, methinks!

Our good friend was here for dinner last night; and it was a great visit! The meal was 'perfect'; and our friend contributed a bottle of red wine to accompany our special repas.

Tonight, our other good friend is coming over; so I have just reset the table for three etc. Now it is 'leftover city!' Yum! My son also, may be over tonight or tomorrow evening.

Our other friend (a neighbour), whose wife is dying from cancer (made mention of her in the earlier tid post), he has invited himself over tentatively for tomorrow pm. We have offered to help in whatever way we can; and he is happy with turning up for meals, every now and then. I think that is a good plan; as that will give him a bit of a lift and a respite. We went through the sadness of parents passing away; and we have empathy for the grief he is going through - perhaps worse for him, as it is his dear spouse.

Yesterday morning, I watched 'Hour of Power' (www.hourofpower.org) and the message is powerful! Here are some excerpts from the guest interviews; however, to receive a clearer understanding etc, best to go online to hear the whole story and what is behind it.

ie."Jason Frenn (JF) is an author and an international speaker. He has held more than 50 international crusades and preached the gospel to more than two million people. He has seen more than 200,000 first time decisions for Christ. In addition to being a missionary evangelist, Jason is a best selling author, including his newest book, Power to Reinvent Yourself. Jason and his wife Cindee live here in Southern California. Jim Penner (JP) interviews Jason."


"JF: This concept of forgiveness is so important because when we do not forgive, when we harbor bitterness, when we harbor anger, and we don't release that, it's the poison we drink hoping that someone else is going to die.

JP: Wow.

JF: But the person who winds up infected or full of disease is the person who ingests the poison. And so the best thing that we can do is to release those who have offended us and when we don't, we stay married to them emotionally. We stay married to them psychologically. In every sense of the word, we're connected to them even though thirty years have gone by and I know people who have not forgiven others over a period of maybe fifty years. So time does not necessarily heal all. That's why Jesus said to Peter you don't forgive your brother seven times, you forgive him seventy times seven and it's because He wants us to live a life of forgiveness. It's not for their benefit, it's for our benefit. It's for our healthiness. And so this is very important in this step process that God leads us through. Forgiveness and extending forgiveness to those who have hurt us, I think, is probably the most overlooked and most important thing.

JP: It's so powerful because you gave an illustration in the book of a man was literally lying in a hospital bed dying. His body was shutting down. And he got a visitor. Tell us about that visitor.

JF: Well this family had seen the deterioration of their father because he had held bitterness against someone else in the family. And every time he would hear that person's name, he would just simply explode. And so the doctors finally noticed a pattern every time they would walk in and ask him 'so how are you doing' and they couldn't find anything physically wrong. They couldn't find the causes for the symptoms. But every time they'd asked him, 'I'm doing fine if it wasn't for so and so.'

And so finally the doctor said maybe we need to bring in another expert and they brought in a pastor. And he asked the question, 'so how are you doing?' 'I'm doing great except for so and so.' And he says 'well I think found the source of your problem.' And he said 'what's that?' He says 'you need to forgive so and so.' He says 'what!? What do you mean I need to forgive so and so. If you only knew what that person did to me.' He says 'the problem is,' he said, 'this anger is festering in your life and it's affecting even your physical body.' And after about an hour of convincing him and then leading him through a prayer of extending forgiveness to that individual, within a day he walked out of that hospital room and a week later he was completely normal.

So what we harbor has an impact not only in our relationships and our relationship with God, and let me just say that I think that perhaps seventy percent of the people who came to the alters that you mentioned of repentance, the two hundred thousand, and seventy percent of the people in our churches all around the world have someone or something they've never been able to forgive. And it is so imperative that we live this life of forgiveness and then we can experience what God wants us to live."

Dr Sheila Schuller Coleman shares her message re: 'God's Wake Up Call'; and I suggest as well, that you tune into her wonderful insights. She also refers to the Biblical passage: - Galatians 6:9 says, "Do not become weary in doing good. For in due time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

This solid scripture from the Bible, is a reassuring tidbit of encouragement to me; particularly with the various bittid 'trials and tribulations' ( 'things coming out of the blue' - ie. spiritual attacks) that Alan and I have experienced; even as recent as Friday evening. However, Alan and I heartily Thank Him; because we are focusing all the more steadfastedly upon Him to Provide the just resolution; hence His Victory. 'He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Light.'

Did not get a chance to watch any other programs on the Vision Channel; as we were preparing everything for our Thanksgiving meal. As I mentioned (in the earlier post), each and every day is like a 'mini Thanksgiving' to us; we all have so much to be genuinely and joyfully Thankful for!

Tidbit - Best to forgive; life is too short to harbour grudges and resentments (some which may have been going on for years). No sense being consumed by misgivings; lack of communication / dialogue; and thus a needless breakdown of family relationships / friendships etc.

I know of an individual who is much older than Alan and I; and he harbours grudges and has become a bitter and cynical 'old man'; and not many people want much to do with him these days. Tragic turn of events. (Maybe the tidbitz expression: 'What goes around, comes around.') Also, he has been an arrogant 'bully' for most of his life; and if you do not agree with him, look out! ie. 'It is my way, or hit the highway.' I hope and Pray that in time, that before he passes away, that he will forgive all those he feels who have done him injustices etc. Truly, by 'his words, actions, and deeds'; he has brought most of the difficulties upon himself.

As a bittidz aside, years ago, I was in a situation whereby he was exerting his 'influence' and 'intellect' for the sole purpose of control etc, and I saw that the other person was being totally demoralized. Well, I spoke up in her defense. As it happens to this day, he has a respect for me. Am probably one of the few that is not intimidated or frightened by his gruff behaviour etc. I say an Intercessary Prayer for him almost every day; and I am hopeful to take over some Thanksgiving leftovers or a meal(s) to him, in the very near future.

Bittid - 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' As the saying goes: 'You reap what you sow.'

Also, a few days ago, our next door neighbour gave us some homemade scrumptious 'cheese cookies' (as a 'thank you' for Alan's Spaghetti Sauce we gave her and her husband;) and these tasty biscuits will serve as a delicious hors'd'oeuvres. I know my school chum will love this appie; as her Mum used to bake these as well.

The photo is of the beautiful hanging basket, that another one of our neighbours recently gave us. She was not watering it; and thought we might like to have it. Very gracious of her and it is amazing what a bit of TLC will do. ie. be it watering a hanging basket and / or doing acts of kindness to others.

Today, we are enjoying a reflective rest and a content calm; Thanking Him all the while for our Blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!'

Peace and God Bless.