DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY – HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY.

Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him. - Col 3:17 .

In his book FOLK PSALMS OF FAITH, Ray Stedman, tells of an experience H.A. Ironside had in a crowded restaurant.

Just as Ironside was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited his to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, Ironside bowed his head in prayer.

When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, "Do you have a headache?"

Ironside replied, "No, I don't."

The other man asked, "Well, is there something wrong with your food?"

Ironside replied, "No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat."

The man said, "Oh, you're one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don't have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!"

Ironside said, "Yes, you're just like my dog. That's what he does too!"

Today is Australia Day, and it is a public Holiday.

On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip celebrated the first Australia Day with his fellow officers when they "drank the King's health and success to the settlement."

Today we celebrate Australia Day in different ways; at picnics, at concerts, at pubs, in restaurants, backyards, in the lounge room in front of the TV watching the tennis or cricket.

As for me and my family, it is so good just to relax and have a barbeque, but at the same time it is good to give thanks to the Lord for bringing Jean and I to this country in 1970, when we were so young, I was 26, Jean 25, Meg 3 and Bonnie 2, and Jeannie and Janet came later.

Since then we have added into our family… Malcolm, Jon-Paul, Jordan, Chelsea, Ryan, Lachlan, Jack, Adrian, they are everyone of them, fantastic people, and we love them all very much!

It was tough at first, having to leave all our family and friends in Scotland, but we did it. We soon made new friends and a new life, but it wasn't until we got saved in 1980, that our lives really became new, and the Lord Jesus has brought so many good things into being...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Cor 5:17.

I give all the Glory to the Lord Jesus on behalf of my family, and today just reminds me of the importance of being Australian, and of Christ in our lives.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remember Jesus at all times, and in everything I do and say, that He may have the pre-eminence in all things. In the wonderful name of Jesus I pray! Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY