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Thankfulness

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4)

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:57

Many years ago ten men were walking down the road. They each had an incurable disease. All ten men were instantly healed yet only one of the ten returned to say -ÔÇ£thank youÔÇØ You say, ÔÇ£I canÔÇÖt believe that.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£If I got AIDS, then someone gave me a miracle drug to permanently cure me, I would be forever grateful.ÔÇØ But donÔÇÖt be so fast to judge. All of us are basically selfish, ungrateful, and can see only our current ÔÇ£needsÔÇØ and desires. Everyday hundreds of others serve us and we only pause to complain to the one of 100 who did not perform up to our standard.

Have you said thank you lately to the fire fighter, law enforcement officer, store clerk, teacher, doctor, pastor, or the service person? Even more importantly what about the friend who is always there, that special grandparent, your brother or sister, your mom or dad, your mate, or even your children? Why are we so ungrateful to those who love us the most and are closest to us?

In a world bent on satisfying ÔÇ£selfÔÇØ with power, pleasure, and possessions the gracious thankful person with a smiling face and positive words is a rarity. America is one of the greatest nations on this earth, but even on Thanksgiving Day few will even pause between the turkeys and T.V. to offer a word of thanks to their creator. Billy Graham says, ÔÇ£Thanksgiving is a part of the intimate relationship that exists between us and God. Yet there are thousands today who are not thankful. We arenÔÇÖt thankful as individuals nor are we thankful as a nation.ÔÇØ

Robert Woods quoted in Forbes Magazine says, ÔÇ£We donÔÇÖt thank God enough for much that He has given us. Our prayers are too often the beggarÔÇÖs prayer, the prayer that asks for something. We offer too few prayers of thanksgiving and praise.ÔÇØ Just because most people we meet will be ungrateful does not mean that we should return in kind. ÔÇ£It is anotherÔÇÖs fault if he be ungrateful; but it is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man, I will oblige many that are not so. I had rather never receive a kindness than never bestow one. Not to return a benefit is a great sin; but not to confer one is a greater.ÔÇØ ÔÇô Seneca

More than one hundred thirty times in the Bible we are called upon to give thanks to God. In the Psalms alone we are reminded of it thirty times. ÔÇ£Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.ÔÇØ (1) ÔÇ£It is good to give thanks to the LordÔÇØ (2) My favorite is in the New Testament when we are instructed to ÔÇ£thank God no matter what happensÔÇØ (3).

As we enter this holiday season may we form a life-long habit to be thankful to our family, friends, and everyone that we encounter. And let us all be thankful to God. He has given us all things. And remember, spiritually speaking, we are all born with an incurable disease, yet He has freely offered the cure.

May we all learn to be ThankfulÔÇôeven in the difficult times.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

May this day we all remember that God owns it all, and we are His steward, We should be Thankful for Everything, and I am thankful for You. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!