Category: Thanksgiving

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In My Heart

With Thanksgiving only a few days away I’m sure some of you are like me and are beginning to plan the timing of the food preparation, everything needs to come out of the oven at the same time. As a child I had already checked the TV Guide to see what time the parades would start; I didn’t want to miss a single float, band or balloon. I never was into football but know some who are and they have been strategically planning to watch the games, oh the games.

But this morning I find myself in prayer for friends and family I won’t be seeing on Thanksgiving Day. Some of you have experienced real heart ache this past year- the loss of a loved one or the severing of relationships. Others have hearts full of joy; a new birth, a new home, a marriage, renewed health. The Lord has brought many of you to mind and I’ve been praying for you individually.

I can’t help but think of what the Apostle Paul said to all of us. He wanted us to recognize that we have an important part in this life. God has gifted each of us with a unique and personal role; it’s a calling that no one else can fill.

“If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back, says the Lord. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them, If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 812:8-21 NLT

These verses are God’s command to us. Even when we are treated badly we are not to retaliate; we are to be loving. This kind of loving attitude will cause the one who is hatedful to be ashamed of their actions. We will conquer evil by doing good.

Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about – doing good. The Native Americans helped the Pilgrims through that first year and this was the festival of celebration. Look at your past – when did someone come along side of you and help you through a rough situation? Thank God for them and enjoy this wonderful time of reflection and gratitude!

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Loaded Up

Here we are just a few days before Thanksgiving and other than the grocery store commercials not a lot is being said about this day that was set aside for giving thanks. The focus is already on the Christmas shopping season and it has been for several weeks now.

It seems that less and less time is allotted for thankfulness. Our hearts should be overflowing with thankfulness. God has been gracious and kind. There may have been disappointments and even heart aches in the last year but God remains faithful and trustworthy.

He continues to bring blessings and benefits into our lives.

“Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. 18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes]. 19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; ” James 1:16-19 AMP

He is the giver of every good and perfect gift and He does not change. We need to listen more and murmur less. This will definitely bring us closer to thankful hearts.

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

Daily, He loads us up with benefits…Selah means stop and think.

Yesterday I stopped in at our local grocery store to pick up a few things that I wanted to have on hand for our Thanksgiving meal next week. I saw a number of people who had their shopping carts loaded to the top. It made of think of this verse. I consider a full shopping cart to be a benefit from the Lord. Loaded up. I remember the days when we had very little in our weekly grocery budget and so my cart was never loaded. A full shopping cart always makes me grateful; I’m thankful for the blessing of enough to eat.

“After you eat and are full, give praise to the Lord your God for the good land he gave you. 11 Make sure that you never forget the Lord or disobey his laws and teachings that I am giving you today. If you always obey them, 12 you will have plenty to eat, and you will build good houses to live in.” Deuteronomy 8:10-12 CEV

As you go about your day, Stop and Think about the ways the Lord has been good to you. I guarantee it will make you thankful!

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Grateful for Grandeur

I have lived in Arizona most of my life; I was born and raised here. I grew up in the desert and we took family vacations in the mountains. I lived in the small town, at that time, of Yuma. We didn’t even have a McDonald’s or a Burger King, shocking. I worked and went to college in metro Phoenix before I was married.

Dave and I moved back to Phoenix within the first year of our marriage. We started a business here. We closed a business during the gasoline shortage of 1974. We found jobs and started our family here. All three of our children were born here. We moved away for twenty-five years and returned when we retired in 2014. We’re home!

In the last year, I have realized how little of the State I have actually discovered. I learned that Arizona is the sixth largest state in land mass. I was surprised by that and I am in awe of the diversity of terrain. We have arid desert, farm land, larger metropolitan cities, ski resorts, pasturelands and wastelands. One of the things that I enjoy the most is the tremendous rock formations; there are huge, jagged rocky crags and also the smooth, round boulders that look like misplaced loaves of bread. We plan to spend a great deal of time traveling the backroads of Arizona and learning more about my home.

Do I sound like a travel log? I don’t mean too but I truly love the grandeur that God has placed before me, here in my home state. Yesterday Dave and I took a localized road trip and drove to a couple of lakes on the far east side of the Valley of the Sun. We went to Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake; we stopped at the little settlement of Tortilla Flats and we went to the campground at the base of the Superstition Mountains.

I had never been there! It is absolutely beautiful! We are making plans to return – I can hear the Father speak to my heart there.

“The heavens are telling of the greatness of God and the great open spaces above show the work of His hands. 2 Day to day they speak. And night to night they show much learning. 3 There is no speaking and no words where their voice is not heard. 4 Their sound has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun. 5 It is as a man soon to be married coming out of his room and as a strong man who is happy to run his race. 6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens, and it makes its way to the other end. Nothing is hidden from its heat.” Psalm 19:1-6 NLV

When I see the beauty of creation my heart is filled with gratitude for the physical glory that the Lord has placed all around us. No matter where we go, creation speaks of God’s love. The snow capped peaks of the mountains, the rolling waves of the ocean, the rich green of the farmlands and the glow of a desert sunset are a reflection of God’s creativity and imagination. He was thinking of us when He designed all of this.

“Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. 4 For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. 5 He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. 6 The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. 7 He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. 8 Let the whole world fear the Lord,  and let everyone stand in awe of him. 9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command…We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice,  for we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,  for our hope is in you alone.” Psalm 33:3-9, 20-22 NLT

I hope you will take time to read all of Psalm 33 today. The timelessness of nature is an example of the eternal power of God’s word, it was created by His word. Creation is a testimony to us of God’s faithfulness. He has left his fingerprint in creation and He uses it to draw us in to relationship with Him.

Oh yes, I am grateful for the grandeur of God’s panoramic display!

“It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises,  Lord Most High! 2 It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce  how faithful you are.” Psalm 92:1-2 CEV

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Gratitude Month

Welcome to November!

I don’t know about you but I am ready to start a month of gratitude. Thirty days before us in this month of Thanksgiving. I challenge you to find something/some things to be grateful for each day and to write them down.

Maybe your coming to the end of a long week and not sure you have all that much to be thankful for? Then make King David’s words yours.

“Then David praised the Lord in front of all the people who were gathered together. David said, “Lord, the God of Israel, our Father, may you be praised forever and ever!
11 Greatness, power, glory, victory, and honor belong to you, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you! The kingdom belongs to you, Lord! You are the head, the Ruler over everything. 12 Riches and honor come from you. You rule everything. You have the power and strength in your hand! And in your hand is the power to make anyone great and powerful! 13 Now, our God, we thank you, and we praise your glorious name! 14 All these things didn’t come from me and my people. All these things come from you. We are only giving back to you things that came from you.” I Chronicles 29:10-15 ERV

Look for things to be grateful for today. Let’s be honest, you may be grateful that you held your tongue and didn’t say the first thing that came to your mind. Possibly, you were up in time to see a beautiful sunrise or it could be the practical stuff (payday, lighter traffic on the freeway, a good doctor’s report), safe travel and clear roads. But, write it down because there will be days that you don’t think there’s much to be thankful for and on those days you can be thankful that you have a list of blessings to go back and re-read.

Make a gratitude list!

Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father and we give Him thanks for all that He has done in loving us!

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Thankful for the Sparrows

I woke up this morning thanking God for His goodness and telling Him of my love.

Yesterday started out to be nothing special. Since we had been gone almost two weeks there were no groceries in the house and Dave had a couple of projects he needed to get to now that we were home. He made a list of things he needed and I made a list of groceries and out the door we went.

As we drove down the interstate we found ourselves counting our blessings. Did you do that too? Simple things – a good, dependable truck; no real traffic; our kids and grandkids; money to buy the groceries that we needed and our home.

Yes, it was a good day. At one of our stops we were able to help a couple buy their groceries. They were so embarrassed when they learned that they didn’t have enough money for the few groceries they were buying. The Lord put it on my heart to help so I told the clerk to add it to our bill and we would pay for it. They were so grateful and God got the glory. They walked out saying “thank God”!

What has all this got to do with being thankful for sparrows? Glad you asked.

“Five sparrows are sold for just two pennies, but God doesn’t forget a one of them. 7 Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don’t be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 CEV

The sparrows that sing each morning from our trees remind me that God is ever-present watching over me so there is no need to be afraid. Just like that couple in the grocery store; the Lord knew their need and provided for them. I love being used.

Those of you who remember watching the Billy Graham Crusades on television may remember George Beverly Shea. He was a soloist who sang many of the special music numbers at the services. There was one song I can still hear him singing, His Eye is on the Sparrow.  If you’re a bit younger than me, you may recall  that Lauryn Hill sang the same song in Sister Act.

  1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
    Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
    When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

    • Refrain:
      I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
      For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
  2. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
    And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
    Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

His eye is on the sparrow. I know He watches me! Oh…so much to be thankful for! He watches me. He cares for me, He provides for me, He loves me!!

“I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?” Matthew 6:25-26 CEV

Has something got you worried – really worried? Take a look at the sparrows; they wake up each morning singing. No worries there, they know God has more than enough bugs to keep them fed.

Aren’t you worth more than birds? Yes,  yes you are and My Father cares for you! Now sing, sing because you know He watches over you.

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Counting Our Blessings

We’ve been gone from home for about two weeks. Got home yesterday afternoon and this morning I am enjoying the quiet of my own living room.

It’s good to be home and I am thankful for all of the Lord’s blessings. We had a wonderful time taking care of Sam and Kristine (a blessing) for nine days and then we had time with Mom (a blessing) before arriving back home.

Blessings:  1 God’s love    2  Family    3 Friends    4 Home    5 Food    6 Clothing…

And the list goes on. But there are some around us who have lost everything. I’m thinking specifically about those who have lost all their earthly possessions in the California fires. We need to pray for them and then find a good outreach ministry that is there giving aid and financially support them as well.

Jesus said when we have done a kindness for those in need we have done that kindness for Him.

“When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

40 “Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.’” Matthew 25:38-40 ERV

We need to be mindful of the many blessings the Lord has given us each and every day. Making a list is just one way of keeping our hearts centered on gratitude.

We’re only a week from Thanksgiving. We should make gratitude a part of our daily routine. While we’re  brushing our teeth or combing our hair, say thank you for three things.  Taking a sip of that first cup of coffee should be time to be thankful for two or three more. Arriving at work unscathed by traffic deserves a big “Praise God”.  Sitting at a desk or standing at a work station we need to be thankful, some people have no job to go too.

Yes, making a list of blessings is a great way to keep our lives filled with thanksgiving.

“Stand and shout praises to your Lord, the eternal God! Praise his wonderful name, though he is greater than words can express. 6 You alone are the Lord, Creator of the heavens and all the stars, Creator of the earth and those who live on it, Creator of the ocean and all its creatures. You are the source of life, praised by the stars that fill the heavens.” Nehemiah 9:5-6 CEV

There’s an old song in the movie White Christmas. The lyrics  say “when I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep then I fall to sleep counting my blessings”. The perfect way to begin and end any day is counting blessings and thanking the Lord for all He has done.

Lord, I love you and I thank you for the many blessings you have given me. Let me see the needs that others have and be used to help.

 

 

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Thankful for Help

In the 70’s there was a commercial on television with this slogan; “It’s Shake n Bake, and I helped”.

Do any of you remember that one?

There are so many things we are thankful for and in that list should be those people who are especially near and dear to us. The ones who have helped.

I was talking with Mom yesterday about Thanksgiving and what we were going to be doing and what plans she has. For the last four or five years Mom, my niece and a couple, who are close friends, have gotten together for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Everyone works on different aspects of the meal; they share the cooking, enjoy their dinner and then the clean up.

It’s one of those things Mom looks forward too; she loves to cook for people. She really doesn’t do it anymore because of her age. So it makes those times when she can even more special.

When I was a girl we always had families over to share the holidays. We lived in AZ and most of our relatives lived in Iowa so, we didn’t have big family gatherings. Our friends were our family and they were around our table as often as possible.

Mom had a way of making everyone feel at home. She has a true gift of hospitality. This year, at 95, she is still wanting to help and said she really hoped there would be something she could do in the kitchen to be part of the preparation. She’s spent her life giving and doing for others and she’s not ready to quit yet.

” I thank God every time I remember you. 4 And I always pray for all of you with joy. 5 I thank God for the help you gave me while I told people the Good News. You helped from the first day you believed until now.” Philippians 1:3-5 ERV

People with a helpful heart are a gift! They come in and without being asked, lighten the load. That unselfish attitude is a gift from God!

Yesterday had another example of helpfulness. Shortly after I hung up from talking with Mom, I was getting things ready for our evening meal. I asked our three-year old grandson, Sam, if he would like to help me set the table. His eyes lit up, a big grin spread across his face and he came running.

The very young and the elderly both with hearts to help! It’s their calling.

“In the same way, we are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body, and each part belongs to all the others.

6 We all have different gifts. Each gift came because of the grace God gave us. Whoever has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in a way that fits the kind of faith they have. 7 Whoever has the gift of serving should serve. Whoever has the gift of teaching should teach. 8 Whoever has the gift of comforting others should do that. Whoever has the gift of giving to help others should give generously. Whoever has the gift of leading should work hard at it. Whoever has the gift of showing kindness to others should do it gladly.” Romans 12:5-8 ERV

There in verse seven, serving is called a gift. None of us are capable of doing everything on our own. We need those “helping” people by our side. It’s not only for our benefit but its the fulfillment of who they are. I am so thankful for the assistance I receive from others and I desire to be more helpful.

It might not be a “Shake n Bake” kind of moment but whatever it is, I’m certainly thankful for those who help!

 

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Thankful for the Trees

We  lived in an area for several years where we were greeted each fall day by the beautiful turning foliage.

After being raised in the desert, this was quite a sight to behold. Most of those days I would walk our youngest daughter either to or from school and I would just soak in the beauty.

It wasn’t just the color of the leaves that intrigued me but also the size of the trees. How many winters they endured when the climate was chilling. The years they stood tall and stately in the pouring spring rains. How many times did they provide shade for summer picnics, games of tag and laying on the grass beneath their boughs.

Then Autumn comes and their leaves would turn from green to yellow and gold. In a matter of weeks they would be standing bear to face another winter. Their seasonal transformation is a sign of God’s faithfulness. And it gives me reason to be thankful.

“Great blessings belong to those
    who don’t listen to evil advice,
who don’t live like sinners,
    and who don’t join those who make fun of God.
2 Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings
    and think about them day and night.
3 So they grow strong,
    like a tree planted by a stream—
a tree that produces fruit when it should
    and has leaves that never fall.
Everything they do is successful.” Psalm 1:1-3 ERV

The trees in this verse are different from the ones I enjoyed. It says that their leaves will never fall or whither or fade, depending on which version you read. Now that is a miracle!

We are promised if we love the Lord’s teachings and follow them we will be like those trees. Growing tall, our hearts will be rooted deep in God’s word. We will be fruitful, abundant with the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, endurance, gentleness, goodness and kindness.  And our leaves, which depict the flow of life through the tree, will always be green, supple, full of life and they will never fall.

This is God’s law of success. We have the promise that we will be successful in all  we do if we live our lives like this.

This verse has caused me to be retrospect on more than one occasion. There have been many times that I have had to examine areas of failure in my life. If I evaluate those times by these verses I have to admit that I wasn’t drawing my advice from God’s word and staying ground in it day and night. Those failures came because I was trying to do things my own way or trying to follow worldly advice.

Yes, these tall and stately trees are examples of God’s goodness and His faithfulness. Even when we have times that our leaves seem to be falling to the ground, God’s faithfulness will sustain us as we draw strength from His word. His promises will bring us through the winter seasons of our lives and soon new growth with appear.

These last verses are from Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet who gave many prophecies about Christ; his birth, life and death. This one is about the purpose of Jesus ministry.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has chosen me to bring good news to poor people. He has sent me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent me to tell those who are being held and those in prison that they can go free. 2 He has sent me to tell about the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day our God will bring punishment. He has sent me to comfort all who are filled with sorrow. 3 To those who have sorrow in Zion I will give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. I will give them the oil of joy instead of sorrow, and a spirit of praise instead of a spirit of no hope. Then they will be called oaks that are right with God, planted by the Lord, that He may be honored.” Isaiah 61:1-3 NLV

Jesus came to take away our sorrow and our shame. He gives us beauty in place of our mourning and joy in place of our sorrow. He has come to plant us as trees, trees that are right with God and bring Him honor.

Lord, today I’m thankful for the object lessons you have placed all around us. Thank you that the principles in your Word give us guidance, hope and bring us to a place of success in You.

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Cornucopia Gratitude

Do you remember being younger and learning “adult” words?

That’s the way I was with the word cornucopia. I remember being in first and second grade when the teachers would put out the Thanksgiving  decorations with the Pilgrims, turkeys, corn stalks and the horn-of-plenty.

They would have pictures of a horn-of-plenty filled to overflowing like the one above. They would tell us how the Pilgrims nearly starved that first year in the New Land and from their friendship with the Indians they learned to grow good crops. They all celebrated together and enjoyed the plenty of their harvest.

Then there was third grade. Mrs. Griffin put out a horn-of-plenty and asked if we knew what it was. Lots of hands went up and we all responded with the same answer. It was then she told us that this was a cornucopia. Now, that was an adult word.

Nearly every year I put out my cornucopia and it reminds me of the wonderful plenty that God has given to me. My life is full and running over just like the arrangement.

This morning, let’s be grateful for “plenty”.

“Then all the people in that land will see that you are called to be the Lord’s people, and they will be afraid of you.

11 “And the Lord will give you many good things. He will give you many children. He will give your cows many calves. He will give you a good harvest in the land that the Lord promised your ancestors to give you. 12 The Lord will open his storehouse where he keeps his rich blessings. He will send rain at the right time for your land. He will bless everything you do. You will have money to lend to many nations. And you will not need to borrow anything from them.” Deuteronomy 28:10-12 ERV

The verses above are part of the summary of blessings that Moses told the Israelites God would pour out on them if they were obedient and followed the Lord.  In one translation the word “many” in verse 11 is also listed as plenty.

God has promised that He would supply all our needs according to the riches that we have in Christ.

“ My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 ERV

When Jesus taught about giving. He said when we give we receive. That’s the way it is in farming. We give the ground the seed; we give the seed the water and the seed gives us a harvest.

“Remember this: The one who plants few seeds will have a small harvest. But the one who plants a lot will have a big harvest. 7 Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You should not give if it makes you unhappy or if you feel forced to give. God loves those who are happy to give. 8 And God can give you more blessings than you need, and you will always have plenty of everything. You will have enough to give to every good work. 9 As the Scriptures say,

“He gives generously to the poor;
    his goodness will continue forever.”

10 God is the one who gives seed to those who plant, and he gives bread for food. And God will give you spiritual seed and make that seed grow. He will produce a great harvest from your goodness. 11 God will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will make people give thanks to God.” II Corinthians 9:6-11 ERV

That’s the way it is with God. We take what He has given us and with a joyful heart we give back. Then God multiplies what we give so that we always have plenty.

Today is a cornucopia day – a day of plenty. Plenty of gratitude, plenty of joy, plenty of peace, plenty of friends and plenty of what we have need of!

Thank you Lord that you are the God of plenty.

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Do You Smell Thankful?

I guess the better question would be, what does thankful smell like? According to Scripture it should smell like us.

“ I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. ” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

When we center our focus on Christ and follow His lead He will always – ALWAYS – lead us to victory. With those victories comes our testimony of God’s goodness, His power and His provision. Those testimonies bring the knowledge of Christ to the world and that knowledge brings the smell of a sweet perfume.

So, we have the opportunity to be God’s perfume. Thankfulness should smell like us.

In the Old Testament, when a sacrifice or an offering of thanksgiving was made the priest also burned incense to make the sacrifice smell sweet.

The Apostle Paul tells us that we are to give our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord.

“Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. 2 Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans 12:1-2 CEV

We give our lives to Him to be molded and used for His honor. As we thank Him for all He has done and the purpose He gives our life, we are a living sacrifice that is pure and pleasing.

The Lord has so many good things in store for us. He created us for good things. He’s not looking to withhold blessings from us, He desires to overflow us with blessings.

“ I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus. 3 We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.” II Peter 1:2-4 CEV

Take time to let those verses sink in. We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. Not by our own power but by His. He gave us great and marvelous promises. Now that’s a reason to be thankful. It’s knowledge like this, that God wants us sharing with others.

God doesn’t expect us to live a life that pleases Him on our own. No, He gave us His promise that He would empowered us for the life He called us too.

“God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:10 CEV

When obstacles, trials and difficult times come, and they will, let’s refrain from complaining and worrying. Instead, let’s use the knowledge that God has provided victory for us through His power and His promises.

That way, we will be the ones who are the sweet smelling perfume of thankfulness.

 

 

 
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