Giving Thanks

By Donna Franklin

Text: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Did your upbringing include saying, “Thank you” for all the ways others did nice things for you? If so, you were considered polite, folks felt good about you, and as a result more good things came your way. We don’t give to others in order to receive thanks; but if there’s no acknowledgement, the desire to keep giving is lessened somewhat and eventually dries up.

If we humans expect to receive thanks for blessing others - and actually look forward to it - how much more should God expect each of us to recognize all His wonderful blessings by giving of thanks? And the Scripture above tells us that not giving thanks means we are out of His will…Wow! 

Does God respond to our acknowledgement of what He gives us? Sure! One example is found in the Old Testament concerning the paying of tithes and offerings. Even though the required 10 percent belongs to the Lord to begin with, He promises to reward the faithful: "...and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)

Our first national holiday and feast - Thanksgiving - was instituted as a time of offering thanks for the bountiful way the Lord God Almighty helped His people. How much more are we, 400 years later, blessed by His goodness and mercy! As we celebrate this month, let’s keep an attitude of thanksgiving and look for ways to show our appreciation to God and to others. We have so much to be thankful for!   

Editor's Note: Donna Franklin and her husband attend the United Pentecostal Church in Paoli, Oklahoma - Pastor Terry Erwin. She loves the writing ministry and  has written many articles and poems. 

The Seeds of Joy

Editorial by
Marjorie Kinnee

Text: Psalm 107:21-22 - "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declate His works with rejoicing."

In a recent devotion, I read that the New Testament Greek word, chairo, is translated as both joy and grace. It's also the center of the Greek word for thanksgiving. The author suggested a connection and I began to ponder on the significance of this concept.

My mind drew a pathway between thanksgiving and joy and found it paved with grace. It came to me that the seeds of joy are implanted by and in a thankful heart, and, that thanksgiving is the soil in which joy grows best. I began to think about people I have known who displayed a heart of thanksgiving. To a man, (or woman,) each name and face that came to mind were persons of joy. It radiated from their faces and in their actions. What's more, many of the other "fruits of the Spirit" were also manifest in these joyful ones.

It appears as though I've stumbled onto a secret, that really isn't a secret at all! It does require a bit of "seek and ye shall find," but it's not hard to see once you know where to look. We know that Jesus is the Author of our joy, so when we begin to think on His goodness and grace toward us, our families, our friends, and in general; thanksgiving is artesian - it just springs up and flows out.

If joy springs up out of a thankful heart, it behooves us to begin to voice our gratitude. Once we convert our thinking into the thankfulness mode, the reasons to be thankful are like the spores of dandelions, prolific and broadcast on and by the slightest breeze. The Joy dishwashing soap people used a commercial some years ago. It simply said, "Your Joy Shows." How appropriate!

If you want to radiate the joy of the Lord to the lost and dying world around you, cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. It's the seedbed of your joy!

Thank You is More than a Word

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Luke 17:11-19 - The story of the 10 Lepers.

Ten lepers stood afar off and called upon Jesus, asking for mercy. Note that Jesus makes Himself available... to those who seek Him, to those who need Him, and to those who look for His coming.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 tells us His thoughts are toward those who seek Him.
John 10:10 says He brings life, and life more abundantly.
Psalm 139:7-12 declares that He manifests Himself! There is no place we can go to hide from Him.

Leprosy had separated these men from their former lives; family, friends, home, all that was familiar.
In their need (afar off) they saw Jesus. They recognized Him for who He was and what He could do.
They chose to reach out to Him. And in their obedience, they were cleansed "as they went."

When you're in darkness, you cannot see Him for who He is. Saul was like that until he traveled the Damascus road. Mercy is not only for the innocent, it's also for the guilty. If we, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to our children - how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to His children? Psalm 51 speaks of the need for a repentant approach to God.

• Ask - and you shall receive,
• Seek - and you shall find,
• Knock - and it shall be opened unto you.

Psalm 37:4-5 tells us that He wants to bless us. James 1:17 says He is the source of all good things. His blessings should provoke us to Thanksgiving.

Yet, sadly, only the Samaritan remembered to be thankful - and he was a double outcast. Not only was he a leper, he was NOT of the household of faith. BUT - his thankful heart gained access to further blessings. The nine were cleansed/healed (outside), but the Samaritan was made whole (completed/inside and out).

If we're not thankful, we can lose out for all eternity! See Romans 1:21-22.

A thankful heart can lead us all the way to heaven!
See Psalm 34:1; 50:14; 103:1-4; 107:1-2; 116:12-13; 118:1.

Attitudes of Gratitude

Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, a pouting, disgruntled teen-ager was overheard talking on her cellphone. "There's nothing to do here," she moaned, "I'm bored!" Her discontent in the face of this most awesome place caused many emotions to squirm in me. I marvelled and wondered at the same time... What an attitude!

How is is that such a scene did not produce in her a sense of how big God is and how small we are? Why wasn't she speechless in wonder? What was it that made her oblivious to her surroundings and concerned only with the here and now? Thinking on this prompted consideration of the attitudes that produce gratitude. After reading an article that highlighted the following six points, sharing them and the thoughts they produced made this Thanksgiving season special.

1.) I have what I need. Jehovah Jireh ~ God provides. "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

2.) I appreciate you! My family, friends, and mentors ~ again, God's provision ~ is a support system with skin on. They encourage me and make me aware of my blessings and I value them. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 20-21)

3.) I believe. This is bedrock, foundational. Martin Luther said, "Here I stand, I can do no other." Jesus said the wise man built his house upon a rock. Paul said Jesus is that Rock. Solomon said, "Buy the truth and sell it not." (Proverbs 23:23) When your convictions are built on the rock of truth, you won't be overwhelmed by the storms life brings. Even deadly calm cannot pull you off course!

4.) I love. I Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter. It speaks of love's giving nature and how it focuses on the good, the hopeful, and the potential with patience and grace. "Finally, brethren, whatsoeverthings are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."(Philippians 4:8)

5.) I want to know. Desiring to learn, to understand, seeking after wisdom ~ these are signs of a hungry heart and an inquisitive mind. It is good to wonder why, to be interested. The psalmist said, "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." (Psalm 34:10b) Jesus said, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginnning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) and, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7) You see, knowing Jesus puts life's events in their proper perspective.

6.) I want to see beyond. Bishop Grisham often said, "If you see a turtle on a fence post, know that it didn't get there by itself." He was quoting Bro. J.T. Pugh, but the truth remains. True appreciation goes beyond what's readily apparent. Although I don't know who the author was, an old poem goes like this...

"Back of the bread, the flour,
And back of the flour, the mill,
And back of the flour, the sun and the rain,
and the wind and the Father's will."

 



For Who He Is!

A poem by Donna Franklin

 

We PRAISE the Lord for what He's done,

But we worship Him for He's THE ONE!

The One true God, the Mighty King,

The Great I AM, Lord of everything.

 

Our testimonies are our praise,

Thanking Jesus in so many ways,

We tell the world of blessings given;

Praising God for this new life we're living.

 

This brings us to worship of the Lord Most High,

Glorious in power, Perfection we magnify;

Acknowledging His greatness, exalting His Name;

Jesus Christ, our Creator, for ever the same.

 

 

 

Editor's Note: Donna Franklin attends the Paoli United Pentecostal Church (Pastor Terry Erwin) in Paoli, Oklahoma.



Thanksgiving Prayer

A Poem by Charles R. Grisham

Thank Thee God, for everything,

Praise to You we ever sing,

For food, shelter and happy life,

In our great nation, free from strife.

 

Bless each one as here we gather,

That we might dwell with You for ever,

Abide with us, we humbly pray,

Till we behold Your face some day.

 

Mold our lives in peace and love,

Direct our eyes to things above,

Forgive the sins that we've committed,

That each mistake might be remitted.

 

Protect us, Lord, throughout the year,

Daily draw us ever nearer,

Hold our lives within Your hand,

Until we meet in Heaven's land.