Why not just be thankful?

 

Thankful anyway

 

God has been so good!

 

Praise God!

 

Follow leaders not losers

 

Simply say "thanks"!

 

Proud papa!

 

Just wanna say "Thank You . . . Gracias Señor!"

Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thessalonians 5:16-18)

One thing that really impacts me in our mission trips to Puerto Rico is how the people pray. Not just the pastor or church leaders, but everyone! They are a thankful people . . . rarely asking for anything from God. It is constant worship and thanksgiving!

When I grumble and complain, I am really telling God that He has forgotten something or messed up in some way. 

"C'mon God, why is this happening?" 

"God You know I need this or that!" 

"Fix this for me, God."

"You gotta do something, God!"

God, please help me to learn to be more thankful and less needy. Teach me to trust You more each day and to be thankful for each day! 

Gracias Señor indeed!

Looking back . . . .thank God!

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

Let's think back to challenges we have had to face over the years. For students, it may be making it through middle school or finally seeing graduation in the very near future after four years of struggles. For adults and parents it may be wondering how we ever raised our teenagers to be young adults: how did they make it through?

We all have faced challenges in life no matter our age and yet here we are today! We made it. Looking back, can we just take a minute to thank God?

Read this familiar poem once again and carefully look back . . .

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

Here it is in song: https://youtu.be/dCsZNalcaXM?si=FeYqZiibLucB-EZ1

Can we just praise God?

What have we done for Him lately?

I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name. (Psalm 34:1-3)

Seriously . . . we are always asking God for something! When is the last time we just did something for Him . . . without needing or asking anything in return?

Today . . . with so much to praise Him for . . . can we just praise God? Why not make a list?

Suddenly . . . it is CHRISTmas!

CHRISTmas . . . a time of celebration, family, gift giving, and time to reflect. Take a few minutes to take this all in . . .

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:14-15)

Ever think how shocked these shepherds were? Suddenly . . . in the middle of the night . . . angels appeared declaring news about the Savior and then singing God's praises! Suddenly, it was CHRISTmas!

Has CHRISTmas snuck up on you this year? Have we all been so caught up in the things of the world that suddenly, it is CHRISTmas? With all the past two years have given to us, we finally have time to sit back and rest . . . to reflect . . . to consider the time. 

Thank God for CHRISTmas! Thank God for God . . . with us! 

Celebrate  . . . Thank God for Immanuel! Gracias a dios por emmanuel!

https://youtu.be/vdNWCD9JueU

Keep thanking God!

Thank God for God! When everyone and everything else fails, God is always faithful. When all the world seems against you, God is waiting to step in and say:

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:“The Lord is my helper;I will not fear.What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Even an honest man will go through times of doubt, rejection, disapproval, and unbelief. People will let you down. They may not see us as we truly are today, especially if like me, you have a past!

However, keep trusting God. Keep praising God. Keep thanking God! He is faithful when no one else can be!

Now that Thanksgiving is over . . .

 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Ok, so Thanksgiving is over. All the food has become stale leftovers. The only thing left may be the turkey bones and some cranberry sauce! All the relatives have gone home. Memories have been made . . . some good and some not so good. So, now that Thanksgiving is over, what do we do?

Well, to Paul, it was simple . . . keep thanking God for everything! It would be what Jesus would have us to do!

Thanksgiving is not just a day or a weekend celebration. For the CHRISTian, every day is a day of giving thanks . . . if nothing else than for our eternal security in Christ!

So as we look back, of course thank God for the days off, the relatives and friends, and oh yes, for the food! But more than that, keep thanking God for today and the eternity to come!