Cornerstone

 Christmas gifts, birthday gifts and gifts of appreciation warm our hearts. When we receive gifts we know that it really IS the thought that counts. Yes, some do give out of obligation, but it is because of the gifts of love and remembrance that our hearts enlarge with the desire to say, “Thanks.”

How do you adequately express gratitude? I am not sure. I continually feel that I fall short when I try to tell people how much their prayers, their moral support, their encouragement, and their help means to me. Often the gifts that are wrapped only with love carry much more meaning than those that are hidden behind ribbons, wrapping paper and bows.

I never will forget the telephone conversation with my four-year-old grandson. He excitedly told me about preschool. He counted, sang the ABC song, quoted Psalm 23, and then began to sing song after song. It was sweet music to my ears. One song that I especially liked, however, has been rebounding against the walls of my memory. He sang in his childlike voice, “God is good, God is good, God is “berry,” “berry,” berry,” “berry” good. God is Good” etc. Those few moments on the phone where a gift I will treasure forever.

I can’t say it any better. Because God is “berry,” “berry” good I can say thanks. He is the great gift giver. He set the pattern. To Him I owe the ultimate word of thanks. Because of Him I enjoy family, friends and the bounty of life. He is “berry,” “berry”, “berry”, “berry” good. Since every good and perfect gift comes from Him, every time I say thanks in life I am actually lifting words of gratitude to my Lord.

by Dr. Gayle Woods

Genesis 3:16-24 (23)

  [23] Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

The Rejection Hotline is a fake phone number you can give out instead of your real number. Callers hear the Rejection Hotline message and are not-so-subtly informed of your non-interest. 

Who hasn’t known the pain of being chosen last for a game of basketball?  Who hasn’t known the pain of being rejected by a lady that you asked out to dinner?  Writers receive rejection slips.  Actors receive rejection notices.  All of these say, “You are not good enough.”  “You are not our choice.” 

New research suggests that the same areas in the brain that signify physical pain are activated at moments of intense social loss. (“Social Rejection Shares Somatosensory Representations With Physical Pain,” by Ethan F. Kross, Marc G. Berman, Walter Mischel, Edward E. Smith and Tor D. Wager)

The greatest rejection was first felt by God when Adam and Eve chose to leave Him out of their lives.  This was followed by an automatic rejection that comes because Divine justice cannot countenance Sin.  “Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden.”  That was a terrible day which is only overshadowed by the immensity of the prophetic assurance that eternal rejection awaits all who chose to reject God in this life.

Dr. Gayle Woods