Thanksgiving Is Over, But Not Giving Thanks!

I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving Day celebrating and giving thanks to the Lord surrounded by friends and family.

Brian and I enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our home this year. We had the joy of having with us our son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, Brian's Mom and Brian's Grandfather, who will turn 103 years old in December!

Emma and her Great Great Grandfather!
She just turned nine years old on November 15th,
and he will be 103 on December 18th! 

We praise the Lord for the amazing memory-making day which the Lord gave to us!

However, just because another Thanksgiving Day has come and gone does not mean that our "thanksgiving" stops!

I read the following on facebook a few weeks ago,

"November .... the month where people who have complained on facebook for the past eleven months become thankful for thirty days!"

We may chuckle at that saying, but unfortunately, it's the truth for so many.

If we're not careful, even we as Christians, can become very complacent in our thanksgiving to the Lord.

It's so easy to replace,

Praise with pouting!

Gratefulness with grumbling!

Rejoicing with ranting and raving!

Just ask me, I know all to well the reality of what I just wrote.

Let my symptoms flare up a bit and my praise to the Lord seems to develop wings and goes flying straight out the window.

But give me a small break in the action and the worship and gratefulness roll off my tongue loud and clear for all to hear.

Here-of-late, this is something which the Lord has been pointing out to me in a HUGE way! 

Is it easy to admit and confront that my lack of being thankful at times (too many times) is a major problem?

NO!

Wait, let me back up and NOT just call my ungratefulness a problem, let me call it by its PROPER NAME.

SIN!

That was

NOT easy

to do!

But it's

the truth!

I'm SO VERY thankful the Lord desires better for me.

He wants me to continue to grow in my relationship with Him and that is done by following and obeying His Word.

God's Word says,

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1

Did that hurt you as much as it did me?

Okay, I'll make it a bit easier

"I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works."
Psalm 9:1

Still stung a tad, didn't It!

What about,

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24

As those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we can ALWAYS find something in which to give thanks.

First and foremost our salvation! The fact that Jesus died for our sins. Knowing He took the punishment so that we didn't have to. Thank You, Lord!

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
II Corinthians 5:21

We have the TRUTH that Jesus is ALWAYS with us. We may "feel" alone, but we NEVER are! As believers, The Holy Spirit of God lives within us! Thank You, Lord!

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
John 14:16-17

We have God's Word which provides wisdom, guidance, peace, comfort, joy! Thank You, Lord!

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
Isaiah 40:8

We have the JOY of talking to our Heavenly Father any time day or night about anything great or small! Thank You, Lord!

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."
Psalm 55:17

We have the splendor of Heaven awaiting us! Thank You, Lord!

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
Revelation 21:24

Add to that everything else which the Lord does for us on a daily basis! Thank You, Lord!

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah."
Psalm 68:19

I know many of you are in the midst of battling lingering life-altering chronic illnesses, marital difficulties, financial problems and so much more.

I KNOW when you are in the center of such circumstances, it can be very difficult to give thanks to the Lord, BUT it is possible. 

Even just to say,

"Father, I give You praise for loving me!"

"Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins."

"Lord, thank You for hearing me when I pray!"

Let's you and I, purpose together, to praise and give thanks to the Lord by faith despite our circumstances!

Let's remember to not just thank the Lord for all He does and provides for us, but let's also give Him thanks and praise just for Who He is!

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May God Bless You,

Barb