Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Most people are fairly comfortable being thankful for God’s provisions and for the people in their lives. While we may not feel that our circumstances are quite as perfect as those depicted in Norm Rockwell’s “Freedom from Want”, we can generally muster a fairly strong attitude of thankfulness. Certainly when we feel that things are going relatively well, we are filled with thankfulness, but what about when the times are tough. Thanksgiving of 1992 I woke up in the hospital after having an ERCP the previous day. I was in pain and groggy; I barely remember celebrating the holiday, let alone being thankful.
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The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.
Henry Ward Beecher
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring-quotes/30-favorite-thanksgiving-quotes-experience-gratitude.html
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
The call to live and to die well especially in the face of adversity, i.e. according to God’s will, has at least three purposes: it strengthens our relationship with our Lord, it provides us a better quality of life and it strengthens the body of Christ. With respect to the latter, sometimes we learn from studying scripture and sometimes we learn from and are encouraged by watching others as they live by faith. For this post, rather than presenting a discussion of the precepts that encourage healthy relationships for which we can be thankful, I’d like to present evidence of God working through the body of Christ.
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Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.
A. W. Tozer
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring-quotes/30-favorite-thanksgiving-quotes-experience-gratitude.html
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Psalm 34:9-11
Our pastor kindly reminded our congregation this past Sunday that there were 57 days until Christmas. I find that challenging for a few reasons. First, there seems to be so much that “needs” to be done to prepare. Second, my health issues regularly make it a challenge to face a “normal” day, let alone the additional activity that surrounds a holiday…or two very close together. Finally, there is the mental hurdle…many of us facing challenges and trials will find it difficult to enjoy the holiday season let alone be thankful and joyful. Yet as Christians we are called to be both at all times. As those of us in the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving this month, I will be focusing November posts on various reasons why we should be thankful. This week, I would like to reflect on God’s provision for us.
“I recall hearing something: a boy who lived in a box by the trash heap said ‘You westerners are the ones we can’t understand. God has given you so much, you have been so blessed …why are so many in your country so unhappy?’” This quote is from the book “When God Weeps” by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes. Joni is recalling the statement spoken by boy who lived in a dump in Ghana as they left a joyful time of praise celebrated by those lived there following the distribution of some wheelchairs. Sadly it’s true.
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There should be a parallel between our supplications and our thanksgivings. We ought not to leap in prayer, and limp in praise.
Charles Spurgeon
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring-quotes/30-favorite-thanksgiving-quotes-experience-gratitude.html
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19
As I sit down to write, I am anticipating cataract surgery for my right eye in the morning. Lord willing, by the time this is posted I will have had successful surgery and will be healing. I went through this process a few months ago with my left eye. It healed well and my vision in that eye is much better. I hope to have the same result this time. While I look forward to the outcome, I do not look forward to the process. As surgeries go, this isn’t too bad. However, the annoyance of the intended injury that will need to heal, the irritation during the healing process and the restrictions to my lifestyle are slightly frustrating. While experience is somewhat painful and tiring, the benefit of visual clarity will certainly worth the inconvenience. As I look back over my life, I find that the same is true with my soul.
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We must depend upon God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We must, to the same degree, depend on Him to enable us to do what we must do for ourselves.
Jerry Bridges
Trusting God Even When Life Hurts
(Colorado Springs,Colorado: NavPress, 1988), 112
By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:2-4
It is clear in scripture that we are to live our lives to the fullest in service to our Lord and fellow man. It is how we fulfill our responsibilities as good ambassadors, stewards and children of God. We are called to run with endurance as one striving to win the prize. Yet God also understands how He designed us and that part of living well is rest, respite and repose. In one sense these are all synonyms as reflected by the definitions of rest that I have found. However, they each carry a slightly different connotation.
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Questions, doubts, and struggles are not the antithesis of faith. The opposite of faith is a decision to not trust God. The man who cried out to Jesus, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief’ did not demonstrate faith with zero doubts but a willful decision to trust in God even in the midst of questions and doubts.
John Burke
No Perfect People Allowed
(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 57
