JOEL 2 GENERATION

Today millions of Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving. Aside from the overeating 😎, this remains arguably the purest of all American holidays. A day wherein we gather with our families to give thanks and show our gratitude for all we have been given.  It dawned on me today that the exact opposite of all of that is complaining. May this be a day that we wage war on one of the ugliest characteristics that plagues our great country.  May Thanksgiving Day = NO COMPLAINT DAY May a day of feasting = a day of negativity fasting

The Apostle Paul urged Christ followers, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1). Let's consider today what that might look like in the wake of being mistreated. I was reading this morning in Acts 16 when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison in Philippi unjustly. They were beaten with rods and suffered "many blows" (Acts 16:22-23). They were put into stocks (v. 24). And what do we find Paul and Silas doing after this? Throwing a pity party? Writing letters to his friends to gain sympathy and get them to feel sorry for them?  No. Actually, we find them praying and singing praises to God at midnight? Why in the middle of the night? Because they were unable to sleep while their feet were in stocks and in pain because of the wounds they incurred during the severe beating with rods! In the middle of this, an earthquake happens and they could have escaped but rather they remain and minister to the Philippian jailer who asks how he can be saved! That very nigh