A IS FOR ABIDE

A

IS FOR ABIDE

Jesus the Savior came to abide

To live in a world of sin.

God had a plan for this small child.

Our soul’s he came to win.

Who gave himself for us

that he might redeem us from all iniquity,

and purify unto himself a peculiar people,

zealous of good works.

Titus 2:14

KINDNESS; AN OPEN WINDOW TO SHARE CHRIST

Do you pray for the Lord to open the window 

or the door for you to share Jesus Christ?

Many days I do and then don't carry with 

me the very thing that I should that 

gives me the opportunity to do what 

I am diligently praying for. 

Last night after going to bible study at our church 

I stopped at the grocery store down the road.  

As I began to check out there was a woman 

who spoke very little English.  She was from 

Vietnam and seemed shy.  As I began to speak 

to her and encourage her to have confidence 

and not be afraid of the new world she has 

entered she smiled and asked, "Are you a Christian?"  

Now how can someone speak with you 

for two minutes and identify your love 

for Christ?  

For this woman it was because someone 

had already planted a seed deep into her heart. 

My response was, "Yes, I am a Christian and 

one who loves to give hope to others."

She said, "I have a teacher where I am 

learning English and he is kind, patient 

and helps me learn and explains things 

to me until I finally understand them.  

He told me he is a Christian and I can 

see that you and my teacher act the same.  

What an open window we have been 

given to radiate Jesus Christ through 

our kindness.  

I work at a location that has nationalities 

from all over the world and the thing I 

have noticed is when they walk through 

the hallway they do not smile.  When 

they walk past certain people they do 

not smile but when I walk past them, 

because I have showed them kindness, 

they smile and greet me with joy.  

This is not a huge dose of kindness. 

I don't go out of my way to show 

them deep affection or kindness.  

I don't do special things for them.  

I just explain things to them in a 

kind way and it opens the window 

of their heart to listen to the words 

I express to them.  

After speaking with the woman for 

a few moments I told her about our 

Ladies Christmas Dinner and invited her. 

She wrote down the address and my 

name and I pray through this encounter 

we will be given even more opportunities 

to take the love, hope, and kindness of 

Jesus Christ even deeper into her heart 

and into her family. 

It only takes a minute to be kind, yet 

sometimes we are in such a hurry to 

get the next bargain, the next dollar, 

the next big raise at our job, the next 

spot in the line, that we slam the window 

tightly and never get to see the face of that 

person beam with joy after a small act 

of kindness.  

 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy 

and beloved, bowels of mercies, 

kindness, humbleness of mind, 

meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:12

And let the peace of God rule in 

your hearts, to the which also 

ye are called in one body; 

and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:15

WHAT TO DO UNTIL THAT DAY COMES

Photo provided by Pennie Beth Saum

Driving to work this morning I began to 

pray about what I should be doing. 

The drive is 45 minutes to work and 

coming home takes sometimes up to an 

hour and fifteen minutes.  

As I pondered on the wasted driving 

time I began to ask the Lord a few 

questions.  

Why do people live the way they do?

Why do people we love dearly, 

who know your truth, turn their backs 

on you as if you don't even exist?

Why am I living in this area?

Why do good people make bad choices?

Why didn't things turn out as planned?

The questions just kept coming and 

my last question caused me to stop 

asking questions.  

What should I do until that day comes?

I felt the Lord lay it upon my heart to 

keep on keeping on.  Keep on writing, 

keep on giving books away and keep 

on encouraging others to be what the

Lord wants them to be and just let 

him be God and fill in the rest of 

the blanks. 

Don't worry, don't make plans because

God has a plan he is working out and

all he asks us to do is be diligent that

we may be found without spot. 

...what manner of persons ought ye to be

in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming 

of the day of God, wherein the heavens 

being on fire shall be dissolved, and the 

elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his 

promise, look for new heavens and 

a new earth, wherein dwelleth 

righteousness.  Wherefore, beloved, 

seeing that ye look for such things, 

be diligent that ye may be found 

of him in peace, without spot, 

and blameless.

II Peter 3:11-14

LEAD ME IN THY TRUTH

Photo by Kassidy Mitchell

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach

me thy paths. Lead me in thy 

truth, and teach me: for thou 

art the God of my salvation; 

on thee do I wait all the day.

Remember, O LORD, thy tender 

mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; 

for they have been ever of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth, 

nor my transgressions: according to thy 

mercy remember thou me for thy 

goodness’ sake, O LORD.  Good and 

upright is the LORD: therefore will he 

teach sinners in the way. The meek will he 

guide in judgment: and the meek will he 

teach his way.  All the paths of the LORD 

are mercy and truth unto such as keep 

his covenant and his testimonies.

Psalm 95: 4-10

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN THE LORD

This is our most read scripture on the blog.  Thought I would share it with you once again. May you find strength in the Lord as you walk through life. 

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. (Psalm 84: 1-5)

THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN IRA

Photo provided by Becky Whiteman-Sparks

One evening while sitting at the supper table with our five children, enjoying laughter and fun with the kids, we suddenly heard a very loud bang and the lights went out.  Everyone froze as we knew it was stormy, but this was no bolt of lightening like we had ever heard before.  

Steve and I proceeded to the front door to see sparks flying.  What in the world was going on?  We finally realized to our astonishment, there was an 18 Wheeler flipped over on its side.  Instantly I ran to the phone and called 911 while Steve ran across the street to see if anyone was hurt.  There was a man and his young son trying to get out of the truck.  When Steve looked down on the ground there was glass.  This was not broken glass from the truck but it was glass made from the impact of the power line and the heat hitting the sand.  The sand had become so hot at such a rapid speed that it had formed a layer of glass on the ground.  

The man and his son was able to get out of the truck with very little wounds but what happened that night had a lasting effect on many lives.  As the people gathered at the church to worship and the lights were out, it was decided to worship by candlelight.  This was one of the greatest services we ever had on Wednesday night as three people ended up accepting Jesus as their Saviour.  

We never know what the Lord has in store for us when He changes our normal schedule.  Many times we become angry because we don't have things in place.  We tend to think that if the aroma isn't perfect and every item clean and in it's correct place that God can't move but when we let go and let God have his way, great things happen. 

The Lord has a way of moving through the storm, through the sunshine, through birth and even through death.  He is all powerful, all knowing, the everlasting father, the King of Glory and when He decides to show up, great things will take place in spite of the circumstances all around.  

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, saith the 

LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than 

the earth, so are my ways higher than your 

ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the 

snow from heaven, and returneth not 

thither, but watereth the earth, and 

maketh it bring forth and bud, that it 

may give seed to the sower, and bread 

to the eater:  So shall my word be that 

goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall 

not return unto me void, but it shall 

accomplish that which I please, and it 

shall prosper in the thing whereto 

I sent it.

Isaiah 55:8-9

IT'S STILL THANKSGIVING

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light


Photo by John Eric Marababol on unsplash

I know. You sat at the table with relatives, ate two pounds of turkey with all the trimmings and sweets to boot. You probably watched some football and might have gone out and played a little football. That's Thanksgiving, the holiday as we know it.

Sorry, but that's not thanksgiving of heart soul and mind. Maybe you truly said "grace," speaking words of thankfulness to God when you ate your meal yesterday. That's what we should all do, but don't stop there.

We've covered "Thirty Days of Thanksgiving" in this blog, I'm through typing out these posts each day on this subject for awhile. I might even take a hiatus for a few days to catch up on a few things, but I'll be back.

If there's anything we've tried to express to each of you, it's this: Thanksgiving should become a lifestyle. It should come from the heart. We should express our thanks to God early and often even when we're going through trials. And, above all - DON'T STOP.

Just as it is important that we don't only go to church on Christmas and Easter; it is also important that we don't just give thanks on Thanksgiving. Let's be thankful every moment of every day. Take time each day to get alone with God and say "thanks." Take time when you eat together as a family to stop and say "thanks" to God then too. Every time you recognize a blessing, take the time to thank God. Even on dark days when you can't see the sun shining, thank God because you know, by faith, that it is shining.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15.58)

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3.13)

Daniel was a young Jewish man who had been taken into captivity by the Babylonians. He was in the palace of the King, evidently because the King recognized his great wisdom. Because he excelled, the King made him one of three overseers in his kingdom. He made Daniel the top overseer among the three and gave him authority even over princes. This made the other overseers and princes jealous so they began to plot against him.

They came up with a devious plan to convince the King to sign a decree that no one be allowed to pray to any god or man other than the King himself for thirty days.

Not knowing what they were up to, the King was flattered and signed the decree, but those men knew it was Daniel's habit to pray. He had always prayed, not only daily, but three times a day - openly.

You would have expected Daniel to shrink back but he didn't. He went to his room with his window opened and knelt before God in the direction of Jerusalem. The bible says he "prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." (Daniel 6.10)

Daniel had made it a daily habit to give thanks to God. When the test came his way, he was already established and continued thanking to God.

Most of us know the rest of that story. The King was reluctantly compelled to throw Daniel into the hungry lions' den but came out alive and unharmed. Daniel continued to advise and serve not only the Babylonian King but Kings of the Medo-Persian empire. He outlasted all those who tried to stop him.

I cannot guarantee you that you'll come out of your next trial unharmed, but I can say that I believe you'll be glad you never failed to give thanks to God each day of your life.

Thanksgiving; Let's keep it going!

WHO IS THANKFUL

Photo by Roman Bozhko on Unsplash


How do we know if we are righteous? What is the difference between one who is righteous and those who are otherwise? We will look at the root and the fruit of righteousness.

THE ROOT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Who is a righteous person?

A righteous man or woman is someone who has been justified. “Justify” means to make righteous. None of us are righteous in ourselves. The bible says “There is none righteous, no, not one.” This may be hard to believe for many of us, so let me illustrate.

Recently in the news, we have heard rumors and proven evidence that many men of power have abused their influence because of office or clout. This, however, is just the tip of the iceberg because we are all guilty. Jesus said that sin comes from the heart – all of our hearts. We are just as guilty as those men. God has concluded “all under sin.”

All are morally bankrupt and need someone with a deep account of righteousness to draw from. Jesus is that person in whom we can turn in faith and be counted as righteous.

He is the only one to ever live who, being God, was by nature righteous. He was also a man who went through temptations as do we, but he did so without sinning. We can be made righteous through faith in him. I call upon you to place your trust in him on this Thanksgiving Day and be "justified" or made righteous.

THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
How does the righteous live?

A righteous person:

• Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
• Delights himself in the law of the Lord and meditates on his word.
• Keeps his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.
• Departs from evil, does good, seeks peace and pursues it.
• Has a broken heart and a contrite spirit
• Shows mercy, gives to the needy, and considers the cause of the poor.
• Speaks wisdom, talks of justice and speaks that which is acceptable.
• Finds his happiness in the LORD.
• Desires what is good.
• Thinks right thoughts and thinks before he talks.
• Hates lying.
• Serves God.
• Prays fervently and effectively. [1]

There is one more thing we should add as to the characteristics of a righteous person’s life. That is this – “Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name.”The other thing which distinguishes a righteous individual from the unrighteous is his willingness and even desire to give thanks to God for what He’s done.

Many years ago, we visited with a man who had then recently come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. Immediately his life was changed. His story went something like this:

“Before I knew the Lord, I was just like an ol’ hog. I would just keep eating and never even look up to see who was feeding me.”

The righteous will give thanks to the name of the Lord.

Happy Thanksgiving!

THE COMING GREAT THANKSGIVING DAY

photo by Calwaen Liew on unsplash

God tells us a lot about heaven in the bible, but the things he tells us about absolutely overwhelm the imagination. Someday all believers of this age will be caught up into the presence of God. In the book of Revelation he tells us about amazing angelic beings who are there solely to give glory to God.

And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: "You are worthy, O Lord,to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4.8-11)
We are also told about future events on the earth. There will be great tribulation in which thousands and millions of followers of Christ will be greatly persecuted and lose their lives. They will also arrive in God’s presence giving thanks to him.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! "All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

There will be others entering heaven rank by rank at their appointed times, but all will give thanks to God upon their arrival.

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned…” (Revelation 11.15-17)

So, one by one, group by group, dispensation by dispensation, Old Testament and New Testament saints including those of us who now believe will all be brought into God’s presence, at which time we will all give God thanks. Then, we will all be together in his eternal heavenly state where we will all loudly and freely thank him together as one. We will thank him for the gift of his Son and his redemption. We’ll thank him for showing us grace and forgiveness. We’ll thank him for bringing us home to where his glory dwells. And:

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we first begun. [i]

FOUR GREAT THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATIONS

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light




Some of the finest proclamations of thanksgiving that we could find are compiled here. You may be familiar with some of these, but one may surprise you.

The first great Thanksgiving proclamation I want to mention here is that of William Bradford, the Pilgrim Governor of the Massachusetts Colony of New England.

Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the daytime, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings."

William Bradford

Ye Governor of Ye Colony [i]

The next great Thanksgiving proclamation before you was given by our first President, George Washington, who on October 3, 1789 designated Thursday, November 26 as a National Day of Thanks after a resolution was passed by Congress. This was made just after the creation of the United States Constitution. Here is part of that statement from Washington.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation… for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed…

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions … to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.[ii]

It would be difficult to leave out the great Thanksgiving proclamation of Abraham Lincoln in 1863 for two reasons. One – because this was the proclamation that began the American Thanksgiving tradition we still observe today. Two – because it was given right in the midst of our nation’s horrible Civil War.

In it, he mentions the blessings of “fruitful fields and healthful skies.” It reads in part:

To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come…

Concerning the war he added that although the states were warring with the others, thanks could be given for the absence of foreign aggression at such a time. Also he expressed gratitude that industry, mining, agriculture and commerce continued to grow as well as the population. From there we read:

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.[iii]

Finally, going back in time close to 1,000 years before Christ, we have King David. God had told David that he would not be allowed to build the temple of God which he so longed to do. Instead, God would give that privilege to David’s son, Solomon, but before he died, David gathered the materials for Solomon to construct it. Below is a part of David’s great thanksgiving proclamation just before he died. This he said and “blessed the LORD before all the congregation, and David said,”

Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.[iv]

A TIMELY REMINDER (THIRTY DAYS OF THANKSGIVING)

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

What goes well with a nice, juicy butterball turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, fruit salad, and pumpkin pie topped off with lots of whipped cream?

Answer: Pausing for a moment to thank God for his blessings.

It’s always a good time to give thanks to the Lord; however, it is not always easy to get into the habit of regular giving of thanks. How can you and I learn a lifestyle of thanksgiving?

I believe it is best to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ as our example in this discipline and in everything we do. We can see from the scripture that Jesus gave thanks on a regular basis and the one time he seems to have most focused on this act was when receiving food.

This wasn’t anything new in the land of Israel. It was a practice that preceded the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the days of Samuel, when Saul went to find him, it is shown that the people would not eat until the prophet would give the blessing of the sacrifice which would then be eaten.

…the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. (1 Samuel 9.13)
This was extended into the writings of the Rabbis during the Babylonian captivity and the period between the two Covenants.

According to the rabbinic tradition … “It is forbidden man to enjoy anything of this world without benediction,” b. Ber., 35a.
At good news one says: Blessed be he who is good and who does good. But at bad news one says: Blessed be the judge of truth … Man has a duty to pronounce a blessing on the bad as he pronounces a blessing on the good. 54a. (TDNT, Kittel, p 9.410)[i]
We can see from these writings that the blessing of the name of the LORD was to be involved in every instance of life whether it was perceived as being good or bad. This is backed by the passage in the book of Job where after great tragedy, Job states:

Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1.21)

We know Jesus always honored the law of God but he was not really a traditionalist for the sake of tradition. Many of the rituals taught by the Pharisees and religious leaders, Jesus paid no attention to. But the tradition of blessing of food, or giving of thanks, he held onto tenaciously.

Alfred Edersheim, the Jewish historian, actually confidently affirms that most likely Christ's prayer would have been the typical 'thanksgiving':
‘Blessed art Thou, Jehovah our God, King of the world, who causes to come forth (הַמּוֹצִיא) bread from the earth.’ (Alfred Edersheim , The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, 1.64)[ii]
Jesus prayed before eating and led his disciples in the same. At the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 it says, “looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” (Matthew 14.19)

When he likewise fed the 7,000, we read, “he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” (Matthew 15.36)

At the last Passover meal of Jesus, as he instituted the Lord’s Supper with his disciples, the bible says Jesus prayed before he passed the cup, “He took the cup, and gave thanks” and as he distributed the bread, “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them.” This meal was strongly symbolic and showed his death – a very sorrowful event. Surely, we can give thanks before the joyous occasion of Thanksgiving and on a regular basis as we enjoy God’s provision.

So, when you and your family sit down to feast on turkey or whatever you choose to eat on Thanksgiving day, bow your head and give thanks to God who gave it. But, don’t stop there. Keep it going. This will help you establish a lifestyle of thanksgiving for all God does.

WHERE ARE THE NINE?

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

Where are the Nine? – Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

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Once, when the Lord Jesus Christ was travelling from the northern part of Israel to Jerusalem, he entered a certain village. While there, he encountered ten men with leprosy. Because their disease was so contagious and deadly, they stood at a distance. They cried out to him, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

When he saw them, Jesus said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests," which was what God had commanded in the Jewish law.

Miraculously, while they were going, they were healed and cleansed of their leprosy!

The bible says;

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at (Jesus’) feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (See Luke 17.11-19)

Here’s a statistic for you. One out of nine desperate men who had cried out loudly to Jesus and gotten healed came back to give him thanks. That’s only 10%!

I wonder if today, only 10% are truly thankful to God for his great blessings. I'm not saying that I'm "the one," or trying to act holier than thou because I’m not. I’m sure there have been plenty of times when God blessed me and I failed to thank him. Every meal, every drink of water, every breath, every heartbeat is a blessing from God. Have I been thankful?

As far as I know, I have never been healed of a terrible disease, but I can say that God has daily prevented me from contacting such a disease. How thankful am I for this and so many other benefits?

Speaking of 10%, could it be that many of us give thanks to God only about 10% of the time that we should have. Most of the time, I think maybe we’re just oblivious. But, you know what? God just keeps blessing us anyway. “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust,” Jesus said.

God is seeking those who will worship him “in Spirit and truth.” (John 4.23-24). Will you be one? Will you pause for just a moment and fall on your face at Jesus’ feet and thank him for all that he has done for you? Was there something in the past that you forgot to thank him for? Thank him now.

Do you feel that you don’t deserve to be in his presence? Neither did this Samaritan. He had it all stacked against him, but out of love and faith, he boldly showed his gratitude to Jesus. He put Jesus before his ego. He put Jesus before the letter of the law and he put Jesus before his own personal interests.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the many times you have healed us and for innumerable times you've prevented us from something worse than any trial we've faced.

THANKSGIVING CAN BE CONTAGIOUS

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might
through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
(2 Corinthians 4.15 - King James Version)

You know what’s just as contagious as influenza, hepatitis or chicken pox?

Attitude, that’s what.

A sour attitude can be contagious. In Moses’ day, the people of Israel murmured and murmured until the whole lot of them had a poor outlook on things. Have you ever been effected by someone else’s dour and glum disposition?

God told Moses to send twelve scouts to go and check out the land of Canaan, God’s promised land. (Numbers chapter 13) They went as they were commanded to do. Ten of those men came back with a disagreeable mindset. “They were giants. We are not able to go up against these people, for they are stronger than we.” This, in spite of the fact that God said he would give it to them.

Two of those men, Joshua and Caleb, stood against the tide, saying, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”

This was not enough to overcome the negativity of the ten which also affected the thousands of Israel who lifted up their voices and cried, “Too bad we didn’t die in Egypt or in the wilderness. It would be better than this.” They were afraid that their children would become a prey to these massive men.

Ironically, all those men died in the wilderness but their children were able to go into the land of Canaan – forty years later, along with Joshua and Caleb. It doesn’t pay to allow others to incite you into a sorry attitude. Don’t let the contagion of contempt contaminate you.

However, an attitude of joy, peace and love can also be contagious.

A dear old preacher told about how he went into a restaurant full of somber people. No one talked or laughed. They just sat there. When he entered, the owner, who knew him, said something to him to which he replied cheerfully and clear with a sense of humor. The whole crowd laughed at what he said. Immediately the place was abuzz with conversation and cheer.

This illustrates how your good attitude can impact others positively. One of the greatest ways to accomplish this is through thankfulness.

Young’s Literal Translation of the bible renders 2 Corinthians 4.15 (quoted atop of the page), in this manner:

For the all things are because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to the glory of God;

“Grace having been multiplied because of the thanksgiving of the more,” shows that when some began to show a thankful attitude and thus speak thankfully, that this influenced more and more people. It was a revival of thanksgiving. That’s what I’m hoping to accomplish by writing this series. I think if we will grow in our thankful disposition that others will too. They will begin to notice just how good they have it in life, especially in understanding God’s multifaceted grace.

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised. (Psalm 48.1)

As we see God’s greatness and praise him greatly, giving thanks, people will catch on.

He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:3)

Join me in prayer that God will grant unto us a thankful heart and that the expression of our thanks would catch on to our families, neighbors, friends and community.

PLENTY TO THANK GOD FOR

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)



"Unspeakable," what is the meaning of that word which comes from Greek?

No words can properly express the greatness of the gift
Thus bestowed on man.
It is higher than the mind can conceive;
Higher than language can express. – Albert Barnes

Wonder beyond description, – A.T. Robertson

I am thankful for many things. I thank God for life. He is our creator who took special care, attention, and personal interest in our making.

I am thankful for how God furnished our planet for us. Can you imagine how hard it would be to try to survive on Mars? There are a lot of rocks there but I don’t think we’d survive long. Instead, he gave us green grass and trees.

He gave us glorious lights from above: the sun by day and then turned down the dimmer and supplied the moon and stars by night.

He supplied oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds and streams, but also placed water beneath the ground for us to draw from and springs gushing out. He gave us the hydrologic cycle resulting in rain even in dry places and dew from the heavens. There is water just about everywhere on this planet. Just what we needed.

He gave us amazing creatures that we might have dominion over: Anteaters, bears, chinchillas, donkeys, eagles, foxes, geese, hippopotami, ibexes, jaguars, kangaroos, llamas, monkeys … the whole alphabet plus thousands of others.

He gave us plant life: Beautiful greenery all over, multicolored flowering trees, shrubs and plants.

He gave us herbs and luscious fruit: Avocados, papaya, pears, apples, oranges, lemons, berries of all kinds and grapes. It has been estimated that there are over 2,000 kinds of fruits. Most of us only know about around 200 of them. Then, I’m sure there are hundreds of kinds of vegetables as well.

God gave us marvelous bodies with bones, sinews, tendons, joints, arteries, capillaries, veins, skin and various functioning organs which work to keep us alive and healthy. He gave us a heart to keep our remarkable blood pumping and a brain so we could think, reason, be creative and keep our other organs working even as we sleep.

That’s another thing God gave us – sleep.

He gave us the ability to reproduce just as he did for all living things. He gave us the companionship of man/woman and he gave us marriage, children and the family unit.

God gave us friends, society with government and the right to maintain a civilization. He gave us the ability to provide a living for ourselves with talents and skills. He gave us ground enriched with oil, precious metals, chemicals for fertilizer and many other resources.

God gave us the bible, written through people of faith. He gave us his commandments and then faith and grace.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1.17)

The greatest gift God gave is his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; who left heaven and came down to this lost dark world. Jesus is God’s gift of salvation to an otherwise hopeless humanity.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9.15)

THANK GOD FOR HIS ENDURING MERCIES

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light


Have you ever had anyone to show you mercy? You knew you were guilty of something but were not punished or punished very lightly.

Once, when I was a young boy, I did something that caused me to know I was in trouble. I knew I was in trouble because I had done the same thing before and got in trouble then. As I weighed it out in my mind, I knew what I must do.

I went to my Mom and confessed my misdeed. I knew she was merciful and I cannot recall my Dad ever showing mercy (I’m sure he did, I just can’t recall it.) So, I asked my Mom to punish me, knowing that with her I would get off lightly. She did punish me but it was bearable.

When Dad got home, he immediately saw the evidence of what I’d done. He asked Mom what had happened. She told him I had done it and that she had already punished me. His response was, “I don’t care if you did; I’m going to punish him anyway.” So, by confessing my wrongdoing, I ended up getting punished twice; once, lightly by Mom and then strongly by my Dad.

I love the memory of them both, but I will never forget the kindness and mercy that my Mother showed me.

God’s mercy is better than that. It’s not just that he feels sorry for us as if he were a softhearted mother. What he does have for us is compassion. Out of love, he did not want to see us punished, but because of who he is, God cannot just look away when we’ve sinned. Sin must be punished.

Therefore, what he did for us is beyond comprehension. He took the punishment that was ours and laid it upon his sinless Son that we might go unpunished. Forget a reduced sentence; no, he would take the whole load of our sin with its penalty – death.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5.21

His mercies are not just for a season for his chosen people, they are “forever.”

Psalm 136 Begins like this:

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:

The Psalm ends as it begins:

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.

Each of the twenty-six verses of that Psalm repeats the words: “For His mercy endures forever.”

I thank God today for his enduring mercies.

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, butaccording to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3.4-7)

THANK GOD FOR THE FAMILY OF FAITH

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

From our Series: Thirty Days of Thanksgiving
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Photo by Penny Beth Saum

Christian, what an encouragement you are to all the rest of us! You, yes you; even with all of your flaws and limitations are a blessing to others because of God's work in your heart.

Jesus had called the Apostle Paul to take his gospel to the nations. He actually went to most of the known world during his time, but he could not do it alone. In one of his letters, (Romans 16) we learn that Paul had a great supporting cast of individuals who stood by him, prayed for him and encouraged him.

He called them:

Helpers
Fellow workers
People who risked their necks
People who had church in their house
Countrymen
Of note among the apostles
Laborers
Fellow prisoners
Beloved
Approved in Christ
Chosen in the Lord
Mother
Brethren
Sister
Saints

You can imagine what it meant to him to know there were people in all the places where he had preached; who, having come to Christ, had gifts, abilities and qualities that were so unique yet they operated in concert with all the other believers.

Sometimes the joy of the Lord would well up inside Paul's soul and he would give thanks. He thanked God for Christians in Thessalonica who were renowned worldwide for their faith.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. (Romans 1.8)
He thanked God for believers in Ephesus who not only demonstrated faith, but also love.
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (Ephesians 1.15-16)
I thank God for you, fellow Christian, I’m thankful that you hold strong to your faith in Christ. I’m thankful that you’re willing to be different, set apart from the world, as you live your God given convictions. I thank God for the love of Christ in you. I’m thankful for the way you share that love with many who don’t know him. And – I’m thankful for how you support others in their service to the Lord.

The family of faith – something to be thankful for!

THANK GOD FOR THOSE WHO PAID A PRICE

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

Many of us live in a house someone else built, eat food someone else prepared, or work for a company someone else started and live in a country that others, previously and right now, gave their lives to protect.

Have you ever known someone who always seemed to go that extra mile? Did you have a mother that would sometimes do without so that you might have what you needed or a dad who worked extra in order to provide for his family?
Did someone in your family or someone you know give life or limb to defend our country? Have you ever thought about all the discomfort that men and women in uniform had to go through so you and I could live comfortably?

There have also been many, many Christian warriors who have given their lives in order to share the gospel of Christ so we could enjoy the blessings of God as we do today. These people were on the cutting edge of Christianity – on the front line of fire. Though it is under threat today, we still enjoy the blessings of liberty – freedom to worship God according to our convictions.

That was not always the case. The Apostle Paul said:
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4.8-12)
Paul was not afraid to speak about what he believed and never tired of it. He said he knew that “He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus.” And, “We faint not; but though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

The apostle did all of this for the Lord who purchased him with his blood and for those who he would be honored to lead to Christ:

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4.15)
Millions of Christians even now still give thanks to God for the apostles, all of whom died violently at the hands of persecutors or (as in the case of John) in exile on a Roman prison island.

May God be glorified as we thank him today for those in the last two millennia who paid dearly because they truly believed in the good news of Christ. Give him thanks for the one or ones who told you about Jesus and demonstrated what it is to live the Christian life. Let’s thank him for pastors, evangelists, missionaries and just common people who care not if it’s unpopular but don't mind vocalizing the love of Christ.

ESTABLISHED WITH THANKSGIVING

30 Days of Thanksgiving devotions by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

"Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2.7)


Photo by Bill Williams on Unsplash

Raising plants can be really tough. They require a lot of care and attention.

Perhaps the first need for a plant is to get it rooted. This can require good loose soil and a root stimulator to add nutrients.

The plant also needs to be established. The early care may include extra watering, sometimes pruning, weeding, cultivating and other considerations. It may take quite a bit of time before we can move on to the next phase.

Finally, we want our plant to flourish one day. For a green plant, we want to see depth of color and fullness. If it’s a fruit tree, we want to see fruit from it. If it’s a flower, we desire beautiful blooms. Then, we hope that it will experience sustained health for it's continued progress.

Likewise, for our lives, God wants to see us:

Rooted

Established

Abounding

We are rooted in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He allows us to grow downward (rooted). A person’s depth is that aspect about them which no one sees. Some people are not as deep in the faith as they appear, but others go deeper than it may seem.Few know what kind of prayer life we have or the time we allow God to speak to us through his word. This is what makes one’s relationship with him deeper.

He also wants us to grow upward (established). He says we are to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” This stage may be more visible and allows us to connect and be a testimony to others.

Then, God would have us flourish in our faith (abounding). He is looking for fruit in us (John chapter 15). He wants our lives to resemble his. He wants to see love, joy, peace and the other like traits in us (Galatians 5) and he wants us to be involved in taking the gospel of Christ to the world.

How is thankfulness toward God a part of his work in us? Our verse says, “abounding therein (in the faith) with thanksgiving.”

Do you sometimes feel “stuck” in your walk with God? Has your vibrancy grown stale? Do you want your faith to abound rather than remain at a standstill?

Once again, thanksgiving plays a major role in helping us become an established, growing, abundant, fruitful Christian. He says we will abound in the faith through thanksgiving.

Why don’t you and I make it a point to be actively thankful every day, verbally expressing our appreciation to our Lord for his uncountable blessings? Then, we will thrive in his fruitfulness.

CONTINUE EARNESTLY IN PRAYER, BEING VIGILANT IN IT WITH THANKSGIVING

From our series - Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

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'Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving"

Colossians 4.2

Continue and watch; Those two things are crucial elements in our prayer lives. Jesus taught us to lead off prayer with praise, “hallowed be thy name,” and to end our prayer with praise, “for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever, Amen.”

I believe meaningful prayer should include thanksgiving from the start. It’s much better to begin this way rather than to jump in with our Santa list and just start asking for this, that and the other. “God, I want… God, I need.”

That reminds me of a Dad and husband who had to spend hours at a time away from home travelling because of his career. He loved his family and would bring gifts home to his children each time he would return. They were always so happy to see their Dad when he’d come home.

Once, he came home, thinking how much he missed being home and how glad he would be to see their faces. This one time, however, he didn’t even think to stop by and pick up gifts for his kids. As he walked through the door, his children went running to him. “Daddy, Daddy, what did you bring us this time? Where are our presents.”

Their Dad answered them, “I have no gifts for you this time.” As their faces sank, he continued, “Kids, is it not enough just to see and be with me? Must I always bring things to you to make you happy?”

I think sometimes that we are much like those children. It is not enough for us just to be in the presence of our Lord? Are we only happy with him when he brings us gifts? Is it right that we fill our prayers with nothing but requests?

Don’t misunderstand; God our Father delights to hear us express our needs and hear our requests, but prayer is so much more than that. Prayer should be our response to God’s love by loving him back. “We love him because he first loved us.”(1 John 4.19)

Now, when we do make our petitions before God, asking him for the things we need or desire, this also should be accompanied with Thanksgiving.

This is the anticipation of what God is going to do in resolution to our requests. We may not yet have seen the answers to our prayers but we know what he does will be best – better than anything we could ever imagine. Paul asked to be healed, but God knew he would become exalted too highly without this affliction in his life. Instead God gave him special grace for his trials. (See 2 Corinthians 12.7-9; also, Ephesians 3.20)

Jesus told the Father “I thank you that you have heard me” before he raised Lazarus. He knew the Father would hear him and thanked him.

Though Jesus knew what the results of his prayer would be and we don’t always know how God will answer, we should always thank God in conjunction with the requests we make with him.

Ask God for what you need and thank him for what He’s going to do.

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SOMETHING BETTER THAN SOAP: HOW TO CLEAN UP YOUR MOUTH

In olden days, when a child said something inappropriate, rude, hateful, crass, vulgar, dirty or profane his mother might wash his mouth out with soap. I’m not sure it got rid of all the uncleanness in the kid’s heart or lasted long to keep the mouth clean, but if the youngster thought his mom might find out he said something wrong, he would at least think twice before saying it again.

All sin is still sin. Some sins, however, are so unbecoming for Christian believers that they make God’s blacklist. There are several places in the bible where these lists appear.

In the book of Ephesians, where we find one list concerning such sins, it states, “let it not be once named among you, as is fitting for saints;” It includes, sexual immorality, moral impurity, and greed.

Then it turns toward the sins of the tongue:

Filthiness (obscenity)
Foolish talking (empty speech)
Coarse jesting (twisting your speech)

James, the brother of Jesus says, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man,”

He compares the little tongue to a bridle on a horse, which amazingly controls that big powerful animal. We put the bit into the horse’s mouth and that little bit will pull the horse in whatever direction its rider wants the horse to go. The tongue like that bit, seems to have control of most of us.
He mentions the great ships which are turned by a little rudder. The size of the rudder is only a small fraction to the size of the ship but it controls the direction of the whole ship. The little tongue is like that rudder, turning us every which way


Photo by Neven Krcmarek on unsplash.com

He talks about how a forest fire is kindled by a small flame. Even the flame on a little match can ignite thousands of acres, burning up trees, grass, homes, animal life and even human life. He writes, “The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”

Men can tame lions but can’t seem to tame the tongue.

I have had plenty of my own sins I had to repent of and be cleansed from. Some of them were not easy to break free from, so I am not judging anyone for their own struggles. We’ll let God do that.

Having said that; I wish to humbly say that I am still saddened by how some Christians engaged in sexually suggestive, sometimes blatant, sex talk. I hear all the same four letter words being spouted out by professing believers that I hear from those who do not claim Christ – even sometimes worse.

I hear those who name the name of Christ curse others instead of blessing. I hear vicious gossip and backbiting. I hear them criticize. I hear them use God’s name in an empty, demeaning way. I hear them belittle, and use crudeness and rudeness with their lips. I hear them misuse the term “hell” as if it were not real, “God,” as if he did not exist, and “damn” just about everything and everybody in sight. They can be just as vulgar and just as profane as anyone.

Maybe you struggle with this. I have had Christian brothers tell me, “I can’t help it, I’ve talked this way all my life and it’s just something I can’t change.” One brother told me he wouldn’t say anything in bible study because he was afraid that if he spoke he would cuss.

Dear friends, we are not to be in bondage. How can we be free?

Well, in the same verses in Ephesians, we are told these five simple words, “but rather giving of thanks.”

Don’t miss the key that can help you unlock this prison cell you are in. For those who struggle with their manner of speech, knowing it is wrong but feel helpless to change, here is an answer – giving of thanks.

Once we begin to use the tongue to bless, it is hard to curse. Once you use your tongue to express thankfulness to God, the abusive language will begin to topple. It will become a new way of life for you when you replace the profanity with praise and when you replace your evil speech with beautiful words of blessing.

I knew a man, a dear friend, (I’ll call him Dan) who, when he was lost without Jesus, used to darken the room with unseemly talk. Another friend (who I’ll call Jeremy) once told me that before the Lord changed Dan’s life, Jeremy wouldn’t allow his wife to go near him, for he didn’t want her to hear the vulgarities with which he spoke. But when Dan was saved, his life was changed.

I told Jeremy that I was surprised sometimes when Dan would let four letter words slip out of his mouth. His response was, “That’s nothing. You should have heard him before. The difference is like night and day.” For this, I praise God.

I often think of Dan. I remember hearing him give his Christian testimony about what Jesus had done for him and remember hearing him pray and thank God for his blessings.

Giving of thanks from our tongues will expel the tasteless and empty cursings that once prevailed from our lips before.

Folks, that works better than soap and tastes a whole lot better.

THE FAITH CONNECTION (THIRTY DAYS OF THANKSGIVING)

A devotion by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

“… 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)


These are some of my favorite bible verses. Did you catch those two phrases?

“For he himself has said,”
“So that we may boldly say”

I love that!

God says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
We say, “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.

Everything in those verses was taken from the Old Testament scriptures. (Joshua 1.5 and Psalm 118.6)

When we speak according to the word of God, we are agreeing with him. The word “confess,” (Greek - ὁμολογέω homologeo) means to say the same thing.

One section of scripture on the subject of confession is Romans 10.8-10. This is the section God brought to my memory the night I was born again. It says this:

But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

As we agree with God about his Son, we are entering into a life of faith. God says that we’re sinners; we agree. He says we cannot fix this sin problem ourselves; we agree. He says our sins separate us from him; we agree. He says that he loved us and sent his Son for us; we agree. He says that the Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was in behalf of our sins; we agree. He says that Jesus was buried and rose back to life from death; and we agree.

Hallelujah! This is faith – agreeing with God. We simply say with our mouth what we believe in our heart. This is confession.

So the verses in Hebrews are talking about faith. It is agreeing with God that he will never abandon us. Our response is: “Lord you are with me, and on my side, so what can anyone else do to me?” “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 31)

“… giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13.15)

Faith that God is taking care of us gives us so much to be thankful for. Those who don’t trust God, don’t thank God either. Those who trust him thank him for the good he is doing for us, both seen and unseen.

GIVE IT UP FOR GOD

A devotion by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light

Americans were not the first people to celebrate Thanksgiving. The people of ancient Israel were given a peace offering called the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Unlike most sacrifices, there was no slaying of an animal – just the offering of bread (with oil) to God. This would be used as food for the priests of the tabernacle and later the temple.

In what way does this offering apply to us today? Look at this:

And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will. (Leviticus 22.29)

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD. (Psalms 116.17)

First, we can see that the sacrifice of Thanksgiving should be done freely, not coerced. God made us free people who can choose to do right or wrong. None of us has to be thankful. It’s a decision we must make.

We can also see that thanks and praise to God are sacrifices. There is something to give up when we verbally thank God. Not so much in church and not necessarily in our homes, but out in the world where we meet people of whom we do not know whether they’re believers in Christ or not. If God shows you something to be thankful for, don’t hesitate to pronounce his praise.

By the way, what’s the difference in thanks and praise? The definitions are very close, but here’s the difference: We can praise God in public settings as well as thank him, but you cannot thank God without praying. When we praise God, we may be telling others. When we thank God, it is necessary that we tell him. We should never say, “I thank God” unless we really do personally thank him. I wouldn't tell my kids how much I thank their mother for all she's done for me. Instead, I just tell her – "thank you." If you're thankful to God, tell him.

What do we have to give up when we offer this sacrifice of thanksgiving?

We give up what’s pent up inside. It is impossible to go through one day, even the worst of days without realizing that we have blessings coming to us from God continually. If we don’t release our thanks, it will build up inside us. BOOM! If we’re truly thankful, it will sometimes explode from within us.

We give up our pride – pride about what people may think or how they will respond. What if they’re hostile to your expression of gratitude? What if they’re nonplussed? Oh well, they’ll be the ones missing the blessing, not you. Give up your pride and give God thanks.

We give up the glory. Someday, all his redeemed will, when we say, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 7.12) Why not do it now? Our God truly deserves all the praise and thanks that we can give him.

So, give it up for God!

Obstructing or Constructing a Life of Thanksgiving?

A devotion by husband Steve Long - Visit his blog at Reflecting the Light


Someone close to me told me the other day that they were not plugging for any promotion in their company nor campaigning for a pay raise, saying: “I’m making more than I ever have and more than I ever thought I would. Sure I would take a raise if they gave me one, but that’s not what I’m after.”

That is the idea of contentment.

The bible tells us:

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” (1 Timothy 6.6-8)

Food and clothing? Even most of the homeless have that. Would you be content with just food and clothing? I dare say that most of us would not. Maybe if God added a bass boat and fuel for the men and enough money to get the nails redone every week or two for the ladies we’d be OK.

The bible also says:

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."… Therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13.5 and 15)

Don’t forget, one of the “Thou shalt nots” is "Thou shalt not covet." This proves that one can sin against God while doing nothing. It’s a matter of the heart. Obviously, God doesn’t want us to covet. Here’s one reason why:

I’ve noticed sometimes that children can miss things that people do for them because they’re so caught up with anticipation over their own grandiose expectations. Sometimes the more you do for them, the more discontent they become. Most kids have to be taught to be thankful and often baulk when they’re expected to say “thank you.”

Many of us as adults have never outgrown those temper tantrums, except we know how to make them sound more “adult.”

So, let’s see the connection between covetousness and ingratitude and between contentment and thanksgiving.

As long as we are coveting and not content, neither will we be thankful. Instead of thanking the Lord for his blessings we will feel discontented … covetous. Coveting will obstruct a life of thanksgiving.

Conversely, contentment will come about as we thank God for each blessing, whether it’s something that’s common to all or a unique and special outpouring of grace from God. When we’re content, there’s no room for complaining – only gratefulness unto the Lord. Our satisfied hearts will then construct an attitude of thankfulness.

The fact is: I don’t have to have everything right now because I have the promise from God of eternal life and the eventual removal of all heartache in heaven.

So let us be content – and thankful.