Thanksgiving with Brenda Smith

Even though Thanksgiving was last Thursday, it is still important that our hearts are still in that mode. We should be thankful all year around. Thanks, Brenda.

Without any stretch of the imagination, the WORD TODAY IS THANKSGIVING!!!

 

THANKS means a grateful feeling or acknowledgement of a benefit, favor, or the like, expressed by words.

GIVE means to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; bestow.

GIVING is the act of putting it into action.

 

As believers, our gratitude should overflow because of benefits we receive as children of God. In fact, a thankful heart is a defining characteristic of a godly person because it's an expression of His indwelling presence. However, even in the Old Testament, The Lord desired gratitude from His people. They didn't have the Bible, so HE used a sacrificial system of worship to teach them He - the holy, sovereign God - was the source of every good thing. They learned to express their gratitude by bringing Him offerings.

 

Although we are usually thankful for blessings such as good health and family, we should not overlook the many spiritual blessings, we gain through Jesus Christ. For example: We were chosen by God before the foundation of the world. We have been given the gifts of the Spirit to help us accomplish what God calls us to do. We serve a God who has promised to meet all our needs. We have His Holy Word to teach and guide us.

 

Now, I defined the word "thanksgiving" by the world's perspective.  Let me give you the Biblical perspective of what thanksgiving mean. The world is always expecting you to give them something before they consider bestowing anything upon you.  Paul declared in Philip 4:11 "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content - or a real praise of thanksgiving to God for everything in one's life. Biblical thanksgiving is not what one does, but rather it is what one is - what one has become as a result of absolute and complete trust in Christ Jesus. It is the "spirit" in which one accepts "all things." This is your spiritual attitude toward life. Because of our rebirth, Jesus now resides in us. He lives within us and He desires to live that divine life through our daily life.

 

We want to look beyond what is happening right now because these things are temporal. God is eternal and one day we will all sit and rule with Him in eternity.  Can you just imagine that Thanksgiving Day?  When all the saints of God come together and sit at the welcome table and enjoy a feast like non other on earth.  That is what we need to keep in our foreminds..."There's A Great Day Coming!"   A Day of Thanksgiviing!!!

 

Let me leave you with this out of (I Corinthians 10:13)  It says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." What a wonderful promise God has given to us in His Word. This power within us - that is released through praise - will enable us to face any circumstances. God commands us to "Be thankful in all things." We may not always feel like it, but being thankful is not based on how we feel towards our given circumstances, but on how we feel towards our God.  So you didn't get the promotion...be thankful you have a job.  So, you did not get the car of your choice - thank God you have a dependable car to drive. And what if you did not finish first....you were able to run the race.  Thank God in all things - BIG and small.

 

God commands that we be "cheerful." Jesus said, "I have come that your joy might be full" (John 15:11). Thanksgiving is not a question of whether we are going to give thanks or not, but it is a question of what spirit we will allow to rule us. We have the characteristics of the Holy Spirit within us and He expresses Himself through praise!

 

.....Come on...Let's Praise HIM!!  Come on!  Come on!!!