[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Friday November 10, 2006

[bludwig at zlc-aa.org]

Daily Devotion Friday November 10, 2006

The devotions this week are written by Pastor Barry Ludwig. Having just
returned from a weekend in New York City where his oldest daughter ran in
the NYC marathon, he reflects upon the season of Thanksgiving.

 

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

 

"Manhattan is a different world," I thought as I walked on the crowded
streets filled with buyers and sellers, the homeless mingled among the $700
a day hotel dwellers, the poor shoulder to shoulder with Prada purse-bearing
Elites.

 

There was one of those individuals that you cannot take your eyes off.  You
know the one that you see and then continue to sneak furtive glances at as
you draw near and then pass.  At first he looked like a homeless man who was
the victim of a stroke-produced paralysis that curled up one side of his
mouth into a permanent smile. As I drew closer I could see that he was
likely a homeless person who had lost the use of his legs (he had none). The
smile however,  was not a smile etched on his face by paralysis. He was
simply happy! He was smiling!  As I placed some money in his basket and a
toothless smile said to me, "Thanks."  I said to him, "No, no.thank you.for
the smile."  I walked away ashamed of my crabbiness earlier in the day.

 

Sometimes it is downright hard to be thankful. Life can be cruel and
unpredictable.  Yet, St. Paul reminds us that thankfulness is not so much
dependent upon our current circumstances as it is upon our continuing
connection to God through Jesus Christ.  Whatever this day brings you, it
will most certainly bring the promise of God's strength and peace. Give
thanks.

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