By GARY ANDREWS
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I think that each one of us should realize that we are special and unique. God made us this way He wants us to be this way and we need to accept this. In this world today we find many people, who want to change their bodies, alter their lifestyles, and go against the norm in everyday living. I believe that these type individuals are searching for something that will build them up and let them know they are accepted.
Something that everyone should realize is that God doesn’t make mistakes! We alter His plans because we are driven by worldly values and go searching for better things than we have.
Many of us believe we have no friends and that the people around us don’t like us and just tolerate our being. In some instances this is true but it isn’t because of them, it is because of us.
When I was a youngster in junior high school I was very shy. I was afraid to speak up and state my case even when I had something to say. I kept quiet in class knowing that I had the correct answer to questions and would sit back in my desk waiting for someone else to speak up. My shyness led to some form of insecurity in the classroom because I was afraid to talk to my fellow students.
Yes, I had many friends but I wanted everyone to be my friend. I would search out the students that were shyer than I was and talk with them trying to help their ego. I would forego the opportunities of talking with the more popular students because I felt inferior.
As I have matured and gone in a different direction than most of my classmates I realized that if I wanted to succeed in this world I was going to stand up and speak up to make a difference. When one goes into the sales profession the first things he or she learns is that you cannot be shy on sales calls, you must know your product and speak to the advantages of it, and to listen to the customer.
I have learned through the years that even when I thought I was inferior to some of my classmates I was really their friend. Many that I have come across in my retirement years are very cordial and recall some of the good times we had in high school. I find that most of them are interested in where life has taken me and I am pleased to learn the direction they have gone also. I have overcome my shyness and the Lord has placed me in some tremendous locations allowing me to have friends throughout a vast area.
A friend from long ago once said that every time he saw me I was smiling. This is a trait that I have because God gave me happiness and I want to share it with others. There is an old saying, “A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you.” This is a true statement and over my years of management and dealing with the public, I have found this to be a very worthy help mate.
The one friend that I have always had and count on is the Lord God. Proverbs 18:24 states, “A man who has friends must himself by friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
We all need to realize that every night, someone thinks about us before they go to sleep. To someone else you may mean the world to them and this is why God made us special and unique. We need to live up to our potential and quit worrying about what others think about us and lead the life that God has allowed us to have. Be a friend to everyone whether you want to or not. It will pay dividends in your future.
Prayer: Lord I pray that I have befriended all of the people that you want me too. I pray that I can be the example that will lead someone to you. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Luke 5:17-26; Monday – Isaiah 41:8-10; Tuesday – John 15:11-17; Wednesday – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Thursday – 2 Timothy 1:13-18; Friday – Proverbs 17:17-18; Saturday – James 4:1-6.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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Sometimes I find it hard to sleep and get up early in the morning because I have something on my mind. Most of these times of insomnia I have a particular subject on my mind and until I get up and talk with the Lord about it, I cannot ease my mind of these thoughts.
My family and I have been thoroughly blessed and I wonder if I have praised God enough for all the blessings He has given me. I once heard a pastor say to his congregation, “What if we wake up in the morning and all we have is what we have thanked or praised God for?”
A Psalm of David tells us, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Have you ever thought that the word “Bless” also means “Praise”? Everything we have or ever will have is given to us by the Lord God and many of us never take the time to say “Bless you Lord” or “Praise you Lord” or “Thank You Lord”.
Many will tell you that the Lord had nothing to do with their success and that through hard work and dedication on their part they earned what they have. It is a sad day when anyone would think this, especially a child of the Living God, but there are many people in the world today that will tell you this. It is a sad day that when people believe all of their riches came from within them and what they have done to obtain them. They live it up on earth and never realize that when their time comes to an end what is going to happen to all of their riches. They are certainly not going to take it to the grave with them. These riches are going to someone else to squander and use as they see fit or either to someone that will say “Bless you Lord” and use these riches for the kingdom of God.
In verse two of this Psalm we are told, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” What is your definition of benefits? Again, many of us do not think that all we have is a benefit of the Lord. Where would we be without Him and what would we have if the Lord God had not created us and give us a world to live in? Not only has He given us a world to live in but He has given us a Christian nation to live in. We are the most blessed nation in the world and have riches beyond belief compared to others in this world. To the ones of us that complain about what we don’t have should really stop and thank God for what we do have. There are many people in other countries that don’t have the luxuries that we enjoy and complain about.
The Psalmist started his chapter with “Bless the Lord” and ended his chapter with “Bless the Lord.” In everything we do or say we should bless the Lord’s Holy Character. He is a merciful God, a forgiving God, and a gracious God. If it were not for the grace of God where would any of us be? Whether we are His child or not, each one of us will stand before Him on judgment day and give an account of how we spent our life and what we did for Him. Our God wants to be praised and when our time on earth is done and we go to eternity with Him, this is what we are going to be doing. Why should we praise God; because He is God.
Prayer: Father God, I do praise you in everything. You are the light of the world and I give you all the praise for all you have blessed me with. Thank you for loving a sinner such as I. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Psalm 103:1-22; Monday – Nehemiah 9:1-6; Tuesday – Revelation 7:9-17; Wednesday – 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Thursday – Daniel 2:19-23; Friday -  Psalm 115:1-3; Saturday – Acts 12:21-24.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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What does Thanksgiving mean to you? Is it a day of family fun, visiting, eating, watching ballgames, etc. or is it a time that all of us should realize what the Almighty God has blessed us with?
Thanksgiving ceremonies first took place in 1565, however we recognize Thanksgiving from the Pilgrims and the Indians held at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623.
This day was set aside following a time of drought, when prayers for rain resulted in a subsequent rain shower and the Pilgrims were able to save their harvest. It was a time when the Indians helped the Pilgrims in their time of need and were invited to the celebration feast. Thanks were offered to the Lord for His bounty and good blessings.
President George Washington issued a proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government on Oct. 3, 1789. Within this proclamation were the words: “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.”
For the next few years the Presidents of the United States proclaimed a time for Thanksgiving Day because of the bountiful mercies that only God can give. The U.S. Congress in 1941 passed a bill requiring that Thanksgiving be observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November.
For many years the people of America have celebrated Thanksgiving because God has blessed them in so many ways. It is a time when all of us should count our blessings and be encouraged that we have a great and mighty God looking out for us. Remember what Jesus tells us in John 14:27; “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
It is my sincere hope that each one of us will take time and count the many blessings that have come from the good Lord above. We can continue to have our fun, food, and fellowship with our family and friends but let’s remember why the first Thanksgiving began.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for watching over me, my family and friends. Continue to bless us as you have and allow us to serve you through our actions. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Psalm 25:16-18: Monday - 1 Peter 5:5-11; Tuesday - Proverbs 3:5-6; Wednesday - Psalm 34:1-8; Thursday - Matthew 11:28; Friday - Isaiah 25:1; Saturday - 2 Corinthians 1:20-22).
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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Not so long ago my wife and I were able to spend a few days at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. At our age our biggest adventure was spending time in Epcot and for most of our visit this was very educational and beneficial. The only down turn to this trip was our visit to the show that talked about the energy of the earth. The show was good and factual, I assume, with exception of one item and this is when the hosts told us the earth and the solar system were formed from the big bang theory.
Being a Christian this was completely out of line because I believe the Bible to be the inspired and inerrant Word of God. I am saddened to see a family oriented theme park promote the non-Christian values that man has come up with. I often wonder if Walt Disney were still alive would his theme parks promote such anti-Christian movements and cave in to the world’s desires instead of what our country was built on.
Disney World is a beautiful park and attracts millions of people from around the world. During our trip is was very evident that many people from other countries were here enjoying the sights and shows of America’s beloved theme park, because not many of them spoke our English language. I often wonder if their business from American tourist is off because of the stand they have taken from worldly values instead of Christian values. What made the energy show even more disappointing is to see television icon Ellen DeGeneres as hostess throughout the program and a promoter of the big bang theory.
I firmly believe that we as Christians are turning our backs on the generations that will come behind us. What is the United States going to be like in the next 25 years? Will our grandchildren even have a chance to voice their Christian views in this humanistic, unethical, immoral environment?
We as Christians have dropped the ball because of our lackadaisical attitudes and non-involvement theories. Where in the Bible does it tell us to remain silent and allow Satan to run rampant over the land and the people? For the past 50 years many of us have stood silent and let the humanistic approach take hold of our schools, our governments, and for some instances, our churches. Going to a theme park is a privilege and the opportunity of sharing the Christian faith is not barred from these outlets. It is a sad day when we as Christians, and I am as guilty as anyone, support these parks without speaking our peace about Christianity and telling all of these visitors about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
We need to remember what we are told in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Many of us are not doing this because we are missing the blessing of going to our knees and talking to God about what He would have us to do. Even if we do pray consistently about this, the prayer has no effect until we put feet and speech to it.
Prayer: Father guide me in the way you want me to go. Help me to have the strength to stand up and speak up against the world and to tell others about your Saving Grace. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Ephesians 6:10-20; Monday – Joshua 24:14-15; Tuesday – Hebrews 1:10-12; Wednesday – Jeremiah 33:19-26; Thursday – Matthew 11:25-30; Friday – Lamentations 1:9-14; Saturday – Psalm 36:1-12.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.