Give Thanks for Love!

Today I continue to give thanks - for Love. The love of family and friends and most importantly I give thanks for the author of Love who gave His only son to redeem us from the death of sin.

 

Happy moments: PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments: SEEK GOD. Quiet moments: WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments: TRUST GOD. Every moment: THANK GOD.

It may seem a strange sentiment but often when I am reading romance I feel it helps to increase my capacity to understand the depth of the emotion that God intends for us to feel towards Him.

Give Thanks for Basics Like Health and Work

Today I give thanks for sight, hearing, health, work, shelter ... all basic things that too often are taken for granted.

Being Thankful for Where you Live

If you live in the United States, Japan, China, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Canada, than you live in one of the top 10 richest countries based on estimated 2009 GDP. (1) Here's another statistic for you. Roughly 30 per cent of world wealth is found in each of North America, Europe, and the rich Asian-Pacific countries. (2)

So what does this have to do with being thankful.  If your reading this and your in one of these countries you probably have many things to be thankful for even if you income is low for your area.  If your reading this it means you had education enough so that you can read and you have a computer or access to a computer and the internet.  Chances are you sufficient protection from the elements, you've had at least one good meal today and you have enough clothing to keep you warm.   http://www.squidoo.com/Being_Thankful_for_What_you_Have

Compassion for Those Without
A prayer by Samuel F. Pugh
O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work, help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency; bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.

Give Thanks - Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving - Have a Wonderful and Blessed Day! 

I had a very hard time chosing a Thanksgiving video. There were some wonderful traditional hymns like Come Ye Thankful People, We Gather Together and Thank You Now Our God. There are also some lovely worship and praise songs of thanks like Give Thanks and Thank You, Lord. After looking at many I decided on this video that shows sentiments of  The True Meaning of Thanksgiving.

Give Thanks for Freedom

I thank God that I live in a country that cherishes freedom. This includes freedom from government oppression, freedom of speech and press and freedom of religion. These should not be taken for granted.

 http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/detail.aspx?iid=352&gid=20

This image shows a field located in southeastern Nebraska just northwest of Offutt Air Force Base, home of the 55th Wing or the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth. The field shows the words "Thank You! For Freedom!" and can be seen from Offutt’s air space at takeoff and landing. 

~~~~~

Of the 196 countries and territories assessed during calendar year 2009, 69 (35 percent) were rated Free, 64 (33 percent) were rated Partly Free, and 63 (32 percent) were rated Not Free. ...
The survey found that only 16 percent of the world’s inhabitants live in countries with a Free press, while 44 percent have a Partly Free press and 40 percent live in Not Free environments.
 http://www.quora.com/Freedom-of-Speech/How-many-countries-are-there-where-there-is-no-freedom-to-publish

 ~~~~~

I give thanks to our forefathers who established our nation as a free nation and I give thanks for all those men and women over the years who have fought to maintain freedom.

 ~~~~~

If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace.  ~Hamilton Fish

  ~~~~~

We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free -- Ronald Reagan

~~~~~

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.
But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love."  Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

I Give Thanks for Reading and Education

Best of all is it to preserve everything in a pure, still heart,
and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving,
and for every breath a song.
- Konrad von Gesner

Today I give thanks that I can read all the wonderful books I can manage to fit in.

I am thankful that I have a college education which is a blessing even 73% of Americans do not share and 93.3% of the world does not have. I shouldn't take it for granted.

• 85% of adult Americans have at least a high school degree and 27% have college level degree.          Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_people_get_a_college_degree#ixzz1ePKA1Zz8

• 6.7 of world have college degree   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/19/percent-of-world-with-col_n_581807.html

We can help to fight illiteracy and get books to others - click here each day.
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces;jsessionid=9B6B24C86F2D02B4D0DC83C04BBA4810.ctg-c?siteId=6&link=ctg_lit_home_from_ths_home_sitenav

I am thankful that I have a computer and internet service. If you reduced the world to a village of 100 people, 12 would not be able to read; only 12 would have computer and only 7 would have internet service.

Resources: http://www.miniature-earth.com/

http://www.reviveamericaproject.com/home/if-the-world-were-100-people.html

I Give Thanks for Creation 11/21/2011

I am posting a "thanks" each day this week.Today I thank God for his awesome creation which includes thanks that he created me and blesses me daily allowing me to see the beauty of the world even in its fallen state.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Mm0hEwDqGJU#!

Every creature, every plant
every rock and grain of sand
proclaims the glory of its Creator
worships through colour, shape
scent and form.
A multi-sensory song of praise.
Creator God, may we join
with the whole of your creation
in praising you, our Creator
through the fragrance
and melody of our lives

This world
Your creation
Rolled into a sphere
Packaged in sunshine
Gift-wrapped in love
Given to us
Thank you

Read more at: http://www.faithandworship.com/creation_prayers.htm#ixzz1eIuKET1x
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Sunday Words of Encouragement November 20, 2011

Today is the beginning of Thanksgiving week for those of us in America. Both our Sunday School and Pastor's messages addressed the topic of "giving thanks."  America has a special day for thanksgiving but too many have allowed that day to become a day of hunting, eating, football and preparing to race off for shopping. We need to stop and be truly thankful.  We need to have a continuous spirit of gratitude. I have decided that I will post a short saying, video, verse and prayer focusing on a different item of thanks each day this week. I hope you will stop by to enjoy and share in the blessing. I start today acknowledging that EVERY DAY is a day of THANKSGIVING!

This is the song our choir sang today. 

Our Pastor sang the verses as a solo. 

We are blessed by his wonderful voice.
Enjoy this is a spirited rendition of
Every Day is a Day of Thanksgiving.

Verses for today:

Col 3:15-17

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

May you have a heart filled with Gratitude every day!