Stand firm.
Even though the plain where we stand may seem unlevel and precarious below our feet—STILL STAND Firmly Rooted.
And although we may feel defeated in the smallness of self, compared to the LARGENESS of the villains we face, may we remain—BOLD & STAND, FIRMLY PLANTED as a great cedar of Lebanon. 
Though the winds of distress blow hard against our bodies, so much so that we bow and bend as if ALMOST BROKEN FROM THE GREAT WEIGHT—Even Then, may we rise to our feet—& STAND BECAUSE  OF JESUS, OUR SAVIOR & LORD.

Today, I desired to write words of Thanksgiving, giving gratitude for all that has been given, for all that we can enjoy on this national holiday that first began in the late 1780s, (under the direction of General George Washington); nevertheless, I am compelled to write differently today.  Before the 4am alarm sounded, I awoke today and was blessed to have time to read the Bible. Immediately, God focused my attention to the opportunities we are gifted to experience.   We are given daily moments to stand firmly planted, unshaken, and deeply rooted.  Yes, every day, we can be amazed, forever grateful for the gift of God’s amazing salvation.

That’s Right. 
Even though we may be deeply BURDENED and even as we may carry HEAVY WEIGHTS upon our bodies this side of heaven—STILL WE CAN PROCLAIM “THANK YOU, GOD, FOR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS.”

Many days ago, I learned that in order to grow 100,000 plants, one must sow between 125,000 to 140,000 seeds. Yes, we must scatter more seed than what will actually take root and grow.  So, every day, we leave home with a pouch full of seed, and we must scatter as we walk, emptying our seed as we go through our day.
If we have read the Bible, then we may remember why.
We will recall how the seed (the Word of God) can fall upon a variety of terrains and how some precious seed can even become lost in the wind; yet that does not negate the TRUTH—WE ARE STILL CALLED TO SCATTER SEED.

Yesterday, the question came to me from the passenger, from the one who sat beside me in my Subaru.  “Have you read the whole Bible?”
“Yes, I have.” I replied as thoughts began to fill my mind.
“Then you must know everything in the Bible,” she said, as I sat there surrounded by the realization of how much of an authority I was Not!
Seconds later, she remarked, “I tried, once, to read the Bible, but it was difficult to understand and did not make any sense.”
That’s where our conversation began as we rode together across the parkway, driving toward my home.  Her college roommate slept in the back seat, and in my mind, I began to thank God for this opportunity of conversation.  “Thank You God for a conversation about You, one that I did not even need to start, but one You began as we sit together, side-by-side, talking about Your Word and how it has changed me.”

Seeds Planted.
Seeds Taking Root.
Seeds Sown through the simple act of hospitality.
Seeds Scattered when I offered my home as a get-away, as a chance to experience the American tradition of Thanksgiving with my family.
Seeds—when I said one day after class, “Stay with me in my home and enjoy a reprieve away from the university campus”

“Thank You, Jesus, for Your Word, for the way it has changed me, for how it changes ALL of us, for the way You love—HUMANITY.
Thank You, God, for the deep work You are doing in my life, for the relationships You orchestrate even before we meet one another. 
Thank You, God, for the sweet Spirit You offer as we walk through life, to guide and lead us as we go.
Thank You for providing the only Way to rescue us from a hopeless eye without You.
Thank You LORD for the strength and courage and boldness You provide because we know with mankind, “with him [mankind] is only an arm of flesh, but with us [through You] is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” (2 Chronicles 32: 8)

Today, we can Stand Firm because of we have been saved through the love of God.
Today, we can Remain Deeply Rooted because we are anchored by our LORD Jesus Christ. 
Today, we can Offer up Our “thankfulness” and Our “praise” because Jesus resurrected from the grave and because He will come again to take those who believe and who follow Him—HOME to ETERNITY with GOD.

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD
And to sing praises to Your name,
O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning 
And Your faithfulness by night. . . .
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 
Planted in the house of the LORD,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

(Psalm 92: 1-2 & 12-15)