This morning I have a thankful tune in my head, and a long list of things in my heart that I am thankful for. I am thankful for the gift of life and the love of God in my life. I am thankful for a lot and I am thankful for a little. And even though there is lack in my life, I am thankful that there is liberty in my life. I am thankful for all my loving family and my loyal friends. I am thankful for laughter and lessons learned in my life. The list continues as I lift my hands and heart in sincere thankfulness this morning. Yes, most times we reserve these kinds of thanks for the "Season of Thanksgiving", but I'm learning that it becomes "our season" when we live a lifestyle of thanksgiving. I'm learning "When we turn UP the PRAISE, God will turn ON the PROVISION". So sing with me - "Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, yes He is good. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good yes He is good. For He is worthy, worthy, for He is good, yes He is good"!!

I'd love to spend my day in prayer and meditation, but who's going to get dinner on the table?

Has sorrow sapped your strength? Has suffering stolen your spark and has sadness stripped your smile? Do you feel that you are slipping, slouching and suffocating naturally and spiritually? Do you feel suicidal? Well Satan's scheme is to swarm you with a success of stinky satanic feelings and emotions, which helps him to sabotage your self-control, which then helps you to surrender to his control. But if you would strike back by allowing the Holy Spirit to take charge and control, you don't have to submit or permit, and you will survive, thrive, and stay alive. Remember Satan's strategy is always meant for evil, but God will always turn it around for your good. So you don't have to continue to be sad, mad or want to do bad because you serve an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent "DAD" that will not allow you to be had!!!

Dear Dr. B,

My girlfriend Terri and I have been dating for almost a year now. The other day we discussed the possibility of getting married soon. We do have a lot in common. We go to church together, we love hiking and canoeing. Most of the time we get along great but lately we have been arguing a lot. It’s as if Terry wants to make all the decisions and feels that I am supposed to go along with it. It seems as if everything I suggest is not good enough or acceptable to her. If she doesn’t have her way she pouts and says that if I loved her I would do what she wants. It’s gotten to the point where I just let her have her way in order to avoid any conflict. I love her but I’m not really happy with it. A friend at church advised me to get things worked out before we get married. When I told Terry this she laughed said that once we get married things would work out just fine. I am really troubled about our relationship. I have been praying and reading the Bible hoping that I could get some insight. I don’t see how our marriage will last if we keep on arguing. Any thoughts? 

Sincerely,

Mark

If you don't ever run into any resistance as you travel on the road of righteous living, you could be on the wrong road, you could be running in the wrong race, or you could be on the wrong side of the road.

Over the weekend I heard a great teaching and again, I’m going to pass it along to you… but with my own twist! If you’re human, then there has been a time when you were treated harshly by others simply because of being misunderstood. And if it hasn’t happened to you yet, don’t worry because it will. As I write this, I’m reminded of something, actually it’s screaming in my mind... Whenever God calls you to do something, it doesn’t matter what it is, you will always meet up with opposition, and most of that opposition COMES FROM YOUR OWN CAMP! Amen?

Although they need to receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah in order to get to heaven, God in faithfulness to his word has blessed the Jewish people and has blessed the world through them.

I really wasn't in the mood for Christmas; certainly not one like Mom had planned. I pictured myself fourteen hours away in my favorite cushy chair, a bowl of chips and a bottle of rootbeer on the table, watching football (taped from Christmas Eve). Ah that vision wooed my heart like a siren--a fine celebration of Christ's birth, tinsel resting on the television. Please don't misunderstand; I love my family. But I rather enjoyed the previous year, my first Christmas on my own, spent quietly in my apartment without obligatory conversation about rather mundane topics.

Humming an old English hymn, I drove along MacDonald Street, splashing puddles onto the cracked, grassy sidewalk.