Sunday Words of Encouragement November 23, 2014

This morning we talked about giving thanks in Sunday School and it was also the subject of Pastor's sermon.
Our SS teacher shared some verses, poems and quotes he had found including: "The art of Thanksgiving is  Thanks-living", "When life is not good, God still is" and 'we should have an attitude of gratitude and realize that gratitude changes attitude.'
He then asked each member of the class to share something specific we were thankful for during the last 12 months, acknowledging first that we would be thankful for spouses, children and parents. These are summarized descriptions of  our answers:

Bible reading that brings us closer to God.
God nuggets - when perhaps even a child speaks something of God that is delightfully awesome.
Relationships with others and that God designed us to need each other.
Church family. Family members finding/listening to God for themselves.
Youth ministry.
Being able to rely on God in times of darkness.
God's continual provision.
Assurance of God's control in our lives.
God's unfailing love.
Staying home with kids.
Being here (alive) even when we might also be homesick for heaven.
Growth even through divorce.
Church family having "our six".
God revealing Himself to us.
Health.
God being always faithful.
Fellowship and family.
Incredible relationship with God who is just waiting to share with us whenever we turn to Him.
Epiphany moments.

Pastor told us briefly about the life of Martin Rinkhart a Lutheran minister in Germany who led his congregation and community during the Thirty Year War that started in 1617, and included years of plague. He wrote many hymns and this is a favorite at Thanksgiving time:

Now Thank We All Our God

Verses for Today:
Colossians 3:15-16 (NIV)
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.

I give thanks today and everyday for all that God has given me and all that the Lord has done for me. I came into this world with nothing and I will go out with nothing. However, I pray that I will be faithful to share and use for God's glory any blessings that I have been given during my life.

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. 

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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

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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.

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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

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

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"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)

Sunday Words of Encouragment Novmeber 22, 2009

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week I hope everyone remembers to pause and say Thank You to the Creator who made us who we are and gave us all the bessings that surround us.

A Thanksgiving Verse:
1 Chronicles 16:34 NRSV
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

I pray that you may each look around you and see blessings this week!