My church, my Savior, my health, my family, my friends, my freedom, my house (even though I hate it), my car (even though it's falling about), my job, my boss, my children, my children's hugs, my husband, my husband's hugs, my husband's talks, my husband's example, my dad, my dad's advice, my dad's trait of making lists, my mom, my mom's advice, my mom's love for her family, my brother, my brother's love for my kids, my sister, my sister's advice, my sister's love for me, my sister's help, my mother in law and father in law, my mother in law's recipes, my mother in laws prayers for me and my family, my father in law's wisdom, my "sign in" team at chuch, my nursery team at church, Davis and Kathy Jones who touch my kids hearts and guide them in their decisions, my friends who live far away but still love me when I don't call for over a month, my friends who live close and still love me when I don't have time for lunch, pictures, email, communication, my 5 senses, life....
I could go on and on but I won't. Just wanted those few of you that read my blog to know that I'm thankful for you during this Thanksgiving week and always......
Gratitude is an attitude of being thankful for what He has done for me! When we fully recognize that our greatest problem has been solved, our indebtedness of sin, we can feel and know gratitude and thus honor God, by leading a life of response to Who and what He has done! even when we do not see what we have. This is an aspect of worship, expressing to God, and others, how they have benefited our lives by showing them support, appreciation, and benevolence. Because His blood has redeemed us, we are grateful. Although gratitude can mean thankfulness, or to respond to a favor we have received, it is a much deeper response where our hearts are filled with gratitude for the many blessings that God gives, even when they seem small to our wants, or even though we may not be able to see them. David was a man after God's own heart, and his heart was full of praise to God, even in times of dire stress. He knew what God has done for him. He was the least in his family, and his family the least in his tribe, yet he was chosen to be king. It was something he did not earn or deserve, and even when he sinned, he saw God’s Grace restore him (Psalm 34:1; 107:15).
As a Christian, we must strive to be more thankful to Him and do our utmost to live up to the call given to us in Heb 13:15, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."We need to have the mindset that we are merely sojourners here on this earth, that is we are just passing through, preparing ourselves for our true home in heaven. The result will be a life filled with praise to God, as we will see Him, and not just our circumstances. Perhaps we will then be able to appreciate His goodness to us and have even more praise to and for His name. This praise will overflow to others instead of the rotten fruits of Gal 5: 19-21! Let our worship be true because of what He has done for us! Let us give our loud expression to Him! Praise God forever and ever (Psalm 150)!
Please don't think I'm smart enough to write all of this. It came from a website (Into Thy Word and was written by a Dr. Richard J. Krejor). I just thought it was really good.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
