Thanks

Make Known His Deeds

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.” Psalm 105:1 (KJV)

The people of God ought always give thanks unto the LORD; unto YHWH.  He alone is the One who is Sovereign over all things, and over us.  He alone directs our paths, and our praise.

We make known the deeds, the works, the power of God in our lives.  It shows on the countenance of the faithful child of God.  It is revealed in the family of the faithful child of God.  It shines forth as the faithful child of God goes into the world with the message that God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus Himself said,

“This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you show the deeds the work of God among the people.

The Mercy Of The LORD

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.”  Psalm 136:1 (KJV).

For the following 25 verses of this Psalm it says, “…For His mercy endureth forever”.  The Psalmist wants us to know that God’s mercy endures forever.  You and I know that “Forever” is a very long time.  As a matter of fact the thought of God’s mercy enduring forever is to assure us that it never ends.

In the first thought of this verse we learn to be thankful.  Thankfulness is often missing in our lives.  There is much sickness in many families.  There are many family tragedies.  There is financial chaos.  Sometimes being thankful and grateful to our creator is the farthest thing from our minds.

Let’s try this challenge, though;  the next time you start feeling like the world is weighing down on your shoulders; the next time the doctor tells you things don’t look good; the next time you want to complain: offer God a word of thanks.

Thank Him for the things He has made.  Thank Him for the breath of air you just inhaled, and exhaled.  Thank Him for that step you just took, and even if you are in a wheelchair, thank Him for the next roll of the wheel.  Thank Him for that next beat of your heart.  If we would just look beyond our problems we can see much to be thankful for.

When you start being thankful, and you are trusting the Lord more fully, then you might even get to the place where you are thanking Him that He is working in your trials for your good and His glory.

Thank YOU Father.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Just A Thought 02/20/09

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

I don’t guess that anyone has noticed that we are in the midst of “Recession” in the United States and around the world.  I am smiling as I write that statement.  At least that is what we are being told that it is called. 

Far too many are fearful, because, they have all their lives tied up in their houses, businesses and such and have no life outside of those things.  That is truly the worst shame of all.  Remember there is a difference between a house and a home. 

I am hoping that the words I write here will be encourageing, and cause someone to think for at least a moment of something and even more someone who may be worse off that they are, and then to be grateful for what they have.

We don’t have to look to far to find people who are without a place to live, who have no job, no income, and who didn’t have a meal last night.  I was watching the evening news last evening, and there was a story of people in Chad who were refugees from Darfur, where there has been basically genocidal attempts toward many people there, rapes, murders, and all kinds of crimes agains humanity.  That made me grateful to be a part of the United States of America where we are blessed beyond what we truly deserve.

I am thankful to be a Christian, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ my Lord, to know that I have a place in heaven with Him, and that until then to know that I am truly blessed beyond what I deserve.  I thank YHWH for His bountiful blessings on my family, my church, my country, and myself.  I also thank Him fro His blessings upon on all.

May YHWH truly bless you all, and thank You LORD for doing so.

-Tim A. Blankenship

An Enlarged Aorta

/ Tim A. / 10 Comments

You may wonder what a title like that is about, and I will tell you in a moment.  It is great to hear of someone who has a “Big heart”, and by that is usually meant that they are generous, caring, never seeking for themselves.  That can be said of many people.  The last thing, though, than any of us want to hear is that a loved one has a sickness, disease which is or could be fatal.

My wife [Madge] has just been diagnosed to have an anuerism (not sure of the spelling there) of the aorta.  From all that I understand about it it is quite serious.  I know that it is to us at this point. 

To the readers of Fire and Hammer I wanted to ask those of you who are followers of Jesus Christ to pray for her healing.  I am however, praying for His glorious will, whatever that may be. 

My wife and I have been married for 34 and one half years, and I have grown in love with her more through each year of our lives.  It can be frightening to feel that the life of one you love is hanging by a thread.  There is peace in knowing that our lives are in God’s Almighty, life giving hands, and that no one of us knows the day or timing of our death.  Life and death are in His hands.  I am thankful for the days my wife and I have together, and am looking forward to many more.

Please pray for us.  Thank you for doing so.

May God bless you all.

T.A.