If you’ve been shopping lately, you’ll know that even though today is Thanksgiving Day, Christmas has been on the mind of shoppers and retailers for many weeks now!

Sometimes, the idea of Thanksgiving getting lost in Christmas frustrates people. But you know what? Every year I find that Thanksgiving meets Christmas - and I’m just fine with that.

Want to know why?

“for Demas, having love this present world, has deserted me.”

These chilling words from II Timothy 4 describe a collision course of the Christ-life and culture for Demas, a friend of Paul . He became a casualty of the culture because he loved the world and was caught in the compromise that loving the world brings.

Satan, the ruler of this world, doesn’t show us the heartache and heartbreak that comes with embracing this world. But like Demas, when we embrace the world’s ideas, philosophies, and view of life, we can find ourselves trapped.

Several years ago, I heard a conference speaker declare that the United States was the 4th most unreached country in the world with the gospel.

I was shocked. The idea that the United States, founded on Biblical principles and entrenched with a strong history of God at work, has now become one of the most unreached countries in our world was overwhelming to me.

That was over ten years ago and today, we might be even higher on that list!

Have you ever listened to a blues song? I was born and raised in Memphis, TN, the home of the blues. Blues songs are often filled with sadness, sorrow and agony that comes from trouble.

We all face trouble that attempts to rob us of joy and gladness. For many it causes discouragement, disappointment, or even depression. Trouble can steal our energy and leave us singing the blues.

Are you able to sing for joy instead of the blues in the midst of trouble? Psalm 90 helps us learn how to trade the blues for a song of joy.

Are you on a journey? Are you standing in front of a mountain, knowing you have to make the journey to be renewed, knowing that for your soul to experience the renewing winds of revival you have to make the climb? And you know it will be difficult?

Psalm 121 reminds us that God is our help for the journey.

David, the Shepherd-King wrote in Psalm 32:1 about forgiveness when he said, “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” David was a tender shepherd, a skilled musician, a courageous soldier and strong king. And yes, David was a man after the heart of God, but he was also a sinner. David’s sins recorded in Scripture are numerous and include lust, adultery, lying, murder, and deception.

But while we remember the sin of David, let’s not forget the forgiveness of God. David knew God’s forgiveness and so can we.

Many years of ministry stress and neglect of my health took a toll on me that was much greater than I realized. Reclaiming my physical health provided a fresh focus and renewed energy for God’s calling on my life.

After 38 years of vocational ministry, I have never been more excited about ministry than I am today. In many ways, the excitement and renewed joy I have is because we have taken the time to reclaim our physical health. We are physically recharged, we are mentally alert and we are committed to staying this way for all that God has before us.

Do you look forward to meeting with God everyday? Do you long for the presence of God? And do you live, dwell and abide in the presence of God each day? What an amazing thought! God invites us and enables us to dwell with Him each day. We can walk with God daily, talk with God instantly and dwell in His presence fully.

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you were being attacked?

Attacks can be more than physical. Attacks can also come as relational, emotional or even spiritual. Perhaps someone has wrongly accused you. Or perhaps you find yourself feeling anxious and depressed.

Psalm 3 helps us to know what to do when we are attacked.