Author: John Page 87 of 163

I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:  and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”

Today is the iconic annual Army-Navy football game (Go Navy! Beat Army! – my wife teaches at the Naval Academy so please excuse the bias).  While the quality of football varies year-to-year, there are few more impressive spectacles in the world of sports.

Earlier this year, a very rare thing happened in college football.  At the Naval Academy’s first game, they pulled their fourth string quarterback from the stands to play in the game.  Midshipmen Malcom Perry started the game in his dress white uniform in the stands, not dressing because he had been sick that week.  Due to a string of injuries and suspensions, the coach tracked down Perry in the stands after the game had begun and had someone run to the campus to get his uniform and his pads.  By the end of the third quarter, Perry was in the game and leading the team on a 90-yard drive ending in a touchdown.  What a rapid change of circumstances for the freshman, who seized the opportunity that he was unexpectedly given.  He transitioned well from the stands to the game.

Christians need to be ready for opportunities that come our way to make an impact for the Lord.  We need to pray for such opportunities.  We need to be always ready.

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHRISTIAN OPPORTUNITIES TO TURN SURPRISES INTO SUCCESSES.  We never know when something unexpected will come our way.  We must be always ready to transition from the stands to the game.

I Samuel 12:23 “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you:  but I will teach you the good and the right way”

I Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

Make no mistake about our responsibility to pray.  It is a command of God.  There is no wiggle room.  There is no way out.  He has clearly spelled out our responsibilities.  He has given us our marching orders.  We are to pray ceaselessly.

We are to pray for our friends.  We are to pray for our families.  We are to pray for our communities.  We are to pray for our churches.  We are to pray for our Pastors.  We are to pray for our teachers.  We are to pray for our bosses.  We are to pray for our leaders.  We are to pray for our governments.  We are to pray “for all men.”  We are to pray “for kings, and for all that are in authority.”

Our friends, our families, our communities, our churches, our Pastors, our teachers, our bosses, our leaders, and our governments need us to do so.  God has directed us to do so.  Failing to do so is wrong.  Failing to do so is faithless.  Failing to do so is sin!

PLEASE PRAY FAITHFULLY AS WE FOLLOW THE COMMANDS OF GOD.  Praying ceaselessly is our God-given duty and responsibility.  God forbid that we should sin against the Lord by failing to do so.

I Kings 17:16 “And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.”

There are plenty of ways to get discouraged by the world.  Thus, we shouldn’t look to the world to uplift us.  We shouldn’t look to the government to solve our problems.  We shouldn’t look for hope in man’s institutions.  Instead, we should look towards God and God’s people to be our ultimate sources of encouragement.

There are times when an article comes along as a massive source of encouragement, as if it were delivered by God Himself.  The following article on fallen aviator Troy Gilbert, who crashed in an F-16 in Iraq on November 27, 2006, provides just such a source of encouragement.  Please especially linger on the wonderful, Godly quotes from his widow Ginger Gilbert Ravella (referred to in the link as Gilbert Ravella), that were thankfully included in the article from the Air Force News Service.  They will undoubtedly encourage you:  http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/965011/remains-of-fighter-pilot-hero-return-home-after-10-years.aspx

Ginger’s profound words should ring in our ears as poignantly as the most powerful sermon.  God is forever faithful.  He is good regardless of the circumstances.  We are to praise Him for His infinite mercies.  We are to have a passionate love for Jesus Christ.  We are to pray.

PLEASE PRAY FOR A STRONG FAITH, ENCOURAGED BY A HOPE THAT ONLY COMES FROM GOD.

Romans 1:21 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Have a great Thanksgiving week, and please reflect on the many things that we have for which to be thankful.  Thanksgiving proclamations from presidents throughout our history, even in the darkest of days, are great reminders our historical, national spirit of humble thankfulness.  Though our national spirit has changed much over the years, our positive and hopeful spirit as Christians must stay unchanged.

Please take time during this holiday week to review some of these proclamations and be reminded of our Christian heritage: http://www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org/thanksgiving_proclamations.htm

Like our predecessors, we must glorify the Lord as God and be thankful.  We must not become vain in our imaginations, and darkened in our hearts.  We must never allow our focus to be distracted from the fact that this day is Thanksgiving Day.  It is not Turkey Day.  It is not Football Day.  It is day of remembrance that we are to be overwhelmed by a spirit of humble thankfulness.

PLEASE PRAY AND BE THANKFUL DURING THIS IMPORTANT HOLIDAY WEEK.  It is an important part of our lives and an important part of our history.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:  and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

On November 16^th, 1776, the Continental Army faced one of its worst defeats in the Battle of Fort Washington.  On that day, the last American stronghold on Manhattan fell to the British and over 2,800 patriots were taken as prisoners of war.  This loss allowed the British to solidify their control of a large geographical area and drove the patriots southwest to prepare for a long winter.

On that day, and on the days to follow, defeat seemed imminent and the revolutionary flame was nearly extinguished.  Their hopes were crumbling; the patriot cause faced discouragement and disillusionment.  Yet, seven years later, General Washington returned to Fort Washington on November 25^th, 1783 and publically reclaimed it for the Americans.  At that point, the Revolutionary War had been won and a peace treaty had been signed.  While things looked bleak in the dark days of November 1776, the end result was triumph.  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof!

In twenty-first century America, Christianity at times has faced defeat after defeat while our hopes crumble and our cause faces frequent discouragement and disillusionment.  Yet, we never know when triumph will overcome defeat, even when things look bleak in the darkest of days.  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE END OF THE THING IN AMERICA.  May we never be bogged down with discouragement when the end of the thing is better than the beginning thereof!