Heavy-Hearted Thanksgiving Preparations

     My heart is heavy at the moment, and I just needed to write about it.  I have folks that I love that may go to the Lake of Fire one day, because of their choices:  to refuse repentance, to refuse that Christ died for them and His crucifixion is the proper and acceptable sacrifice to God for them, to deny that they deserve punishment for sins against God, to deny that God does deserve to be in control of their lives; and any other host of reasons to ignore God's pleading.
     I know that tomorrow is "Thanksgiving Day."  I know that nearly everyone in the U.S.A. is making merry in preparations for it.  I, too, am thankful.  I also am heavily burdened with the souls I love, who have yet to see the most gracious, most thoughtful, most loving, most undeniably good gift ever to grace any person:  GOD HIMSELF, in the form of JESUS CHRIST, willing to save them from the penalty of breaking the law of the CREATOR.
     I wish, with all my being, I could impart some spiritual understanding, some spiritual discernment, and some God-fearing humility, to the lost.  I know I cannot bequeath it to them.  I can plead with them.  I can reason with them.  I can pray to God for them.
     I wait upon Him for the chance to bring some weary, thirsty soul to the Living Water.  I wait upon Him to see Him work miracles:  changing a stony, dead heart into a fleshy, quickened heart!  Yet, as I wait, my heart yearns for them!
     I am thankful that God wrought that same miracle in me one day, long ago now it seems.  I am thankful, that though I, for a time, heeded the lusts of the flesh rather than the desires of the Spirit, God chastised me:  making life M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E, and with some heavy consequences:  suspended license, bankruptcy, unstable living situations, broken relationships, a 2500-mile move away from all I knew...To bring me back to a Spirit-led life!  I have a GOOD FATHER!
     I cannot afford to grow apathetic, complacent, or carnal in this life.  I learned, sorely, what that sort of life can bring.  I, the recipient of grace and mercy, am learning of the abundant peace that ONLY comes through whole-hearted submission to Christ.
     Tomorrow is not promised.  All the preparations, all the desires, and the dreams, have no guarantee of fulfillment.  I cannot waste time, hoping to "build bridges," when I can not even say with certainty that I or the one whom I wish to reach will be in the tomorrow of this world!  I can only keep working to reach them while it is yet today.
     My esteem in their eyes, my feelings, are not worth the demise of their soul.  I am remembering, with a fiery fervor, that very fact.  Though my cheeks may flush with embarrassment of ridicule, though I may make them uncomfortable, though I may be ostracized, though I may be name-called; I cannot ignore, anymore, the need to share Christ, and their need of Him, to them.
     I will be given, mayhaps, opportunities tomorrow to speak on "religious" matters.  Will I skirt by them, in order to "keep the peace?"  I pray not!  I pray, with all that in me is, that I will rise to Christ's call to be a beacon in a very dark world.  I dare not lord over them, but I dare not cower to the devil, either.  I pray to be bold in Christ, unashamed of the Gospel of grace, giving HIM thanks that I am able to be used by Him in the lives of those who need Him!
     Sure, it is comfy to be comfortable.  It is pleasant to not rock the boat.  It makes digestion all that much easier.  Yet, if God wants me to, according to His Spirit (in a meek and quiet spirit), stand up for what is right, to speak up when lies are being spread, to walk away from ungodliness...Then, so be it!  At the very least I will, and others, be uncomfortable; for this present time.  At the most I may be told to leave.  For them, what will they endure?  What if they arise not the next day?
     These matters are on my heart.  Oh, to say "nay" to the call of comfort, when so many need the Comforter.  That I may confidently and humbly honor God with ALL my being...For that, I can and will be thankful!

ROMANS 10:8-16

"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."