Prayer Cards - Devoted Prayer

 

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

    Be constantly diligent; be aware and alert to the need for constant communication with our heavenly Father, especially on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are out on the mission field. As Paul states in the next verse, "as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for The Word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."

    Devote also means, 'to persevere', which in turn means we are to move forward despite setbacks and obstacles. Keep on praying regardless of who tells you not to. We can pray silently when we are surrounded by people who are offended by our prayers. When we live in a state of prayer, it is just as important to us as the air we breathe.

    Here Paul is writing to a group of Christians, so he addresses all to continue in prayer together, not just one-on-one prayer with God, but praying in the unity of The Spirit, under His lead and in His power.

    Be alert to the needs of the church as a whole. Be alert to the individual needs of each of us who makeup the church. Be alert to the approach of the enemy at the gate. Be alert to the wolves in sheep's clothing who have infiltrated the church's doors, whose words and actions do not align themselves with the whole Word of God.

    Thank God for the integrity and honest principles of the faithful leaderships which God has placed within your local church and all over the world. Thank God for your salvation and for keeping you. Thank God for Who He Is: for loving us, saving us, protecting us, leading us: "For His mercy endures forever." 

I'm Counting My Blessings

 

PSALM 39:4

“LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah."

BLEsSINg Number 1:

    I am thankful for my life, this life which God has given me. He gives me breath and keeps my heart beating. He fills me with His Peace that I may go through the storms of life -- the tragedies, the haters, the betrayers - - with dignity and integrity. He teaches me to fill my days with that which honors and glorifies Him, that when I look back on my life I may see how God delivered me and saved me even when I didn't even know Him yet. How He wooed me and drew me ever closer to Him. He's still drawing me closer and closer.

BLESSing NumBer 2:

    I am thankful for the life eternal which He has promised me. When this body of mine finally reaches its full potential, I will push through to the other side and receive a new body. Just like when a seed pushes through the ground and becomes a seedling reaching for sunlight and rain, I will see The Son and feel the breeze of heaven on my face. 

BleSsinG NuMber 3:

    I am thankful for a godly husband, a man who walks in integrity and wisdom. A man who came into this marriage with a ready made family and raised each of mine as his own, as raised his son as my own. Though our families were broken, God renewed us in His love and compassion and made us one family. 

BlesSiNg numBer 4:

    I am thankful for the ministry for which God is preparing us. I don't know where He is leading us, but I'm going with The Lord anyway. He knows what He's doing and I trust Him. He's not finished with us yet. Retirement is not the "golden years". The "golden years" are yet to come: when we're in heaven and walk on golden streets. 

BlessinG NumbEr 5:

    I am thankful I have blessings. I have so many wonderful gifts from God that I can only begin to count them, but I definitely cannot finish counting. For there are blessing from God which I am not even aware of at this time. It is only when He shows me who I am in Him that I will know why I went through the fire and the rain and the winds. 

COUNTING EVERY BLESSING - Rend Collective

    I love that there are four seasons in a year. Each season brings something new to the table that I might taste and see the goodness of The Lord. Weatherwise, Autumn is my favorite. I love the comfortable weather, the changing colors of the leaves, the smell of woodsmoke wafting through the air and the smell of apple pie coming from the oven. 

    Every season has its moments. Spring brings me all the beautiful flowers and songbirds. Summer fills my freezer and pantry with tasty garden harvests. Winter I am not a fan of so much, even though I like a little snow at Christmas ( but then it can go away). I love the gatherings with family and friends on special days, but the days someone just drops in are few and far between now. I must be in the season of winter in my life: the resting period, a kind of hibernation from the world that I was so active in to a quiet, almost lonely place (but not alone, for He is with me always). 

    I am blessed that God chose me to be His own. I am blessed that God allowed His only begotten Son to pay the penalty for my sins. I am blessed to have His precious Holy Spirit living in me, filling me with His Word and guiding me in His Will. These are my greatest blessings. And I adore Him for loving me so. 

    

Thanks Be To God - - For His Faithfulness

 

Psalm 100:4, 5

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.

Four expressions of praise are used in this verse: 

THANKSGIVING (Todah)

PRAISE (TeHillah)
THANKS (Yadah)
BLESS (Barak)

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 8426

Thanksgiving: choir of worshippers giving praise to God

From the Hebrew word todah (pronounced to-daw'), used 32 times in the Old Testament, originating from the word yadah, which we know by now means 'to throw up or raise one's hands in praise

 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 8416

Praise: song of praise

From the Hebrew word tehillah (pronounced teh-hil-law'), affiliated with the Hebrew word Halal (pronounced  haw-lal'  ) which means 'to boast in', to shine, to break through or break (cry) out (Strong's No. 1984)

Tehillah is used 57 times in the Old Testament. Besides this verse in Psalm 100, read Jeremiah 17:14 "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3034

Thanks: to throw, to cast; to throw one's hands or arms up in worship; to cast one's hands/arms out in front of them

From the Hebrew word 'yadah' (pronounced yaw-daw'), used 113 times in the Old Testament

1 Chronicles 23:30

They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1288

Bless: to kneel, to fall prostrate before (in worshiping God); to bless (when God blesses us); to salute, to congratulate, to 

From the Hebrew word barak (pronounced baw-rak'), used 33o times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, by Greek definition of the word 'bow', which means to worship God in recognition of the name of Jesus (Strong's No. 2578) the word 'bow' is used four times only. 

Psalm 72:11

Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him.

Romans 14:11

For it is written: “ As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

And the reason we are to worship the LORD in such ways? 

Psalm 100:5

For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.

He doesn't go back on His Word. What the Lord has promised from days gone by He will fulfill in days to come. 

THE LORD IS GOOD

His Goodness never ends. His goodness is shown in His faithfulness to His people.

Nahum 1:7

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him.

Lamentations 3:22-24

(22) It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

(23) They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

(24) “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

THE LORD's MERCY IS EVERLASTING

No end is there to the Lord's mercies. 

Jeremiah 31:3

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion."

THE LORD's TRUTH ENDURES TO ALL GENERATIONS

What He promised to the first generation of mankind is promised to the last generation of mankind, whether that promise is a blessing to receive a reward, or a curse to receive damnation. 

Deuteronomy 5:10

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.

Hebrews 1:8

But unto the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom.

Dear God,

You are our God. You are holy and Your Name is Holy. We worship and adore You, but not from afar. For we know that You are a near-to-us-who-love-You-God, for Your Word tells us that You will never leave us, never forsake us. We are not alone because You are with us.

Make us ready to be received into Your eternal presence, Lord. You have been faithful to us since we have been received Your Truth and been restored to Your house.

Forgive us of all our sins: uncover them within us, sweep them into the Light of Your righteousness and uproot the deep sin that is within us, that we may stand before You when we see You face to face at last. 

Oh how I love Your Name! May we be shining reflections of You to all the world over. 

In Jesus' glorious Name, I pray,

Amen

  

Thanks Be To God - -For Giving Us His Grace

 

1 Corinthians 1:4

I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5485

GRACE: is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them"). Favor, kindness, a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ.

I have heard that the word 'grace' can be seen as an anagram, making it easy to remember: 

God's

Riches

At

Christ's 

Expense

THE GIFT OF GRACE 

Grace comes from God by way of God's only begotten Son Jesus Christ. 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 4:11, 12

(11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

Ephesians 2:4-11

(4) But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, (5)made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 

(6) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (7) in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

(8) For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

(10) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. 

THE WRAPPED GIFT

Acts 2:23, 24

(23) He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. (24) But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

Isaiah 53 describes the suffering that God's Gift had to go through. God's Gift was not a pretty sight. It was wrapped in blood, covered with bruises and nailed to the cross: for us.

Hebrews 2:17

For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Isaiah 53

Who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no stately form or majesty to attract us,

no beauty that we should desire Him.

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

Like one from whom men hide their faces,

He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Surely He took on our infirmities

and carried our sorrows;

yet we considered Him stricken by God,

struck down and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His stripes we are healed.

We all like sheep have gone astray,

each one has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid upon Him

the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet He did not open His mouth.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so He did not open His mouth.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away,

and who can recount His descendants?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

and with a rich man in His death,

although He had done no violence,

nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him

and to cause Him to suffer;

and when His soul is made a guilt offering,

He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,

and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

After the anguish of His soul,

He will see the light of life and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many,

and He will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great,

and He will divide the spoils with the strong,

because He has poured out His life unto death,

and He was numbered with the transgressors.

Yet He bore the sin of many

and made intercession for the transgressors.

That's God's Gift of Grace to us who believe and receive this Word, this Bread, sent down from heaven. 

RECEIVING THE GIFT OF GRACE

Romans 10:9, 10

(9) That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (10) For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 4:23, 24

(23) Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, (24) but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Grace is God's gift to us in Jesus Christ. We just have to accept it (believe) and open it (receive). When we get a wrapped birthday or Christmas present, we must receive the gift from the giver. If the package just sits there and we never open it, then we have never received it: we have rejected it. 

REJECTING THE GIFT OF GRACE
But what if we open the gift from the giver and we don't like it, or it's not exactly what we had in mind when we accepted the gift? Is it still ours? No. For when we have rejected what has been given us, we are still rejecting the gift, even after receiving it. 

This gift of grace from God is for everyone who receives it. Though given to the whole world, the whole world will not receive it: this gift will be rejected by many. The Gift will be rejected because of their unwillingness to believe that not only is the Gift theirs, but that the Gift-giver is loving and generous. 

Romans 2:4

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

John 3:18

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

King of Glory (His Name Is Jesus) by Third Day

This Is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- More Than Gratitude

 1 Thessalonians 5:18

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2168

acknowledging that "God's grace works well," i.e. for our eternal gain and His glory; to give thanks – literally, "thankful for God's good grace."

I love that definition. So much more than gratitude. More than a simple whispered, "Thank You." It is to say, "THANK YOU, GOD, FOR SAVING ME BY YOUR GRACE. For LOVING ME BEYOND WHAT I CAN EXPRESS. THANK YOU GOD, FOR YOUR MERCIES ON ME. THANK YOU GOD, FOR MEETING MY NEEDS WHEN I COULDN'T."

It is the expression of thankfulness which the Samaritan leper gave Jesus when Jesus healed him. Luke 17:16 "When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan." 

Of the ten leprotic men, nine were happy to be healed, but only one was overjoyed and ran back to the One Who had healed them, falling down at Jesus' feet and worshiping Him. In Luke 17:19 Jesus tells him, "Then Jesus said to him, “ Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole.” It was the man's faith in God, in the Word spoken by The WORD, that made him whole, complete. It was this faith that brought him running back to Jesus to give Him thanks. Being more than healed, he was filled with more than just a simple, Thank you, but THANK YOU, LORD!

It is more than gratitude, it is abundant gratitude, overwhelming gratitude. It is a thankfulness that cannot be measured by mere words but must be accompanied by thankful actions. 

Saying grace at mealtimes is more than thanking God for the food; it is THANKING GOD FOR HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. Even when we have but a little on our plate. Even when we have nothing. We are THANKING GOD IN FAITH FOR HIS PROVISION. 

Even when we know what is about to happen to us, we BLESS GOD, we THANK GOD, for more than the meal that is at hand. In Mark 14:22-25 Jesus institutes the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine in remembrance of Him. It symbolizes the breaking of His body, when He was tortured and nailed to the cross and the pouring out of His blood, which would be shed for the sins of the whole world (from Adam and Eve to the last man or woman who would believe in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST for their salvation).

Mark 14:22-25

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is My body. And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And He said unto them, This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. " (cf. Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

And why are to we to GIVE THANKS in such a way? Because it is GOD'S WILL FOR US IN CHRIST JESUS. Many a seeker has asked, What is God's will for me, for my life? Well, here is one part of God's Will for our lives: A HEART FILLED WITH OVERFLOWING FAITH IN GOD'S GRACE. 

Only a born again believer can offer this thanks, for that person is IN CHRIST JESUS and CHRIST JESUS IS IN US. Though God's will is for everyone, not everyone will want to live it; therefore, they cannot give thanks to God for His grace. 

Overflowing THANKS TO GOD comes from a heart that believes in the GRACE which GOD has offered through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. He Who died on the cross, rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father died for you and for me. All we have to do is believe this. Speak what we believe out loud for all to hear and we are now IN CHRIST and CHRIST IS IN US. (John 17:20, 21)

As Paul writes to the church in Galatia, Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

Hallelujah! Praise The Lord! Rejoice! How can we not have a Thankful spirit? Our hearts should be doing cartwheels, jumping for joy; it's that smile on our faces that reaches to our eyes. JESUS CHRIST LIVES and HE LIVES IN ME! 

HE LIVES 

by Alfred H. Ackley

(1)

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today

I know that He is living, whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him He's always near.

--chorus--

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

(2)

In all the world around me I see His loving care

And though my heart grows weary I never will despair

I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast

The day of His appearing will come at last!

--chorus--

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

(3)

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find

None other is so loving, so good and kind!

--chorus--

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

Today's WORD -- Thankfulness

Colossians 3:16

Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

THANKFULNESS (Strong's): grace, gratitude; 'that which affords joy, delight'

To have a THANKFUL heart is to have a heart filled with gratitude towards God, from Whom all Blessings flow. 

Psalm 56:10 "In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word."

Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Ephesians 5:20-21 "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Psalm 34:1 "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips."

Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

It is impossible to have a Gratitude Attitude towards God if we do not have a personal relationship with His only begotten Son Jesus Christ living in our hearts, Whose Holy Spirit leads us through God's written Word that we might become the people He has called us to be.

Do we have THANKFUL hearts? We must respond to this question. Where there is no thankfulness, no gratitude, no praise to God, there is no blessing of any kind. No peace, no hope, no grace, no mercy. 

Psalm 136 describes perfectly why we should have thankfulness in our hearts. 

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.

His loving devotion endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.

His loving devotion endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.

His loving devotion endures forever.

4 He alone does great wonders.

His loving devotion endures forever.

5 By His insight He made the heavens.

His loving devotion endures forever.

6 He spread out the earth upon the waters.

His loving devotion endures forever.

7 He made the great lights—

His loving devotion endures forever.

8 the sun to rule the day,

His loving devotion endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night.

His loving devotion endures forever.

10 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt

His loving devotion endures forever.

11 and brought Israel out from among them

His loving devotion endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

His loving devotion endures forever.

13 He divided the Red Seaa in two

His loving devotion endures forever.

14 and led Israel through the midst,

His loving devotion endures forever.

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.

His loving devotion endures forever.

16 He led His people through the wilderness.

His loving devotion endures forever.

17 He struck down great kings

His loving devotion endures forever.

18 and slaughtered mighty kings—

His loving devotion endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites

His loving devotion endures forever.

20 and Og king of Bashan—

His loving devotion endures forever.

21 and He gave their land as an inheritance,

His loving devotion endures forever.

22 a heritage to His servant Israel.

His loving devotion endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our low estate

His loving devotion endures forever.

24 and freed us from our enemies.

His loving devotion endures forever.

25 He gives food to every creature.

His loving devotion endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven!

His loving devotion endures forever.

And above all this: JESUS DIED FOR US. For this alone, if for no other reason, THIS is why we should have THANKFULNESS in our hearts! 

1 Chronicles 16:34 "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

Psalm 100:5 "

For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations."

Psalm 105:1 "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations."

Psalm 106:47 "Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise."

Psalm 118:25 "O LORD, save us, we pray. We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper!"

See that? Prosperity is not in finances. Prosperity is salvation from God. Prosperity is knowing Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We must be saved on an individual basis: each of us must fall on our knees before God in this life we have been given and acknowledge that He is God and there is no other. We must repent of our wicked ways (disobedience to God's Word) and seek His forgiveness. We must ask Christ into our hearts, to come and live there permanently; to change us from the inside out and wash away the sins from our hearts, making us clean and whole. 

What He did in the books of the New Testament He is still doing today! That's something to be thankful for! He still saves! He still heals! He still pours out His Holy Spirit on those who seek to walk in the power of God and speak boldly the Truth of the Word of God. 

The words "thank, thanked, thankful, thankfulness, thanking, thanksgiving, thanksgivings" when referring to thanking God are mentioned  129 times. This gives me the understanding that thanking God for everything is very important. But a thankful heart requires a thankful attitude. The Bible calls it being a 'cheerful giver', though this verse in 2 Corinthians 9:7 refers to the offerings, or donations, we give above and beyond the tithe we are required to give. Cheerfully, and with joy at being able to give at all. 

However, if we are not thanking God with a cheerful heart, then our thanks is not sincere and it won't be received. When the life we live in Christ and He lives in us is sincere and true, we can't help but be joyful in the thanks we render to God for every blessing He has given us. 

Let's be thankful people of God and nourish a Gratitude Attitude with the love of God through Jesus Christ that any and all who are around us can't help but notice there's something different in us. Let's be salt and light in a flavorless dark world. 

Christ Reveals Himself to Us

 

John 14:21

Whoever has My commandments and keeps (guards) them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. And I will love him and reveal Myself to him.

Exodus 33:18

Then Moses said, "Please show me Your glory."

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

Seeking God early in our life is the best way to live God's Word. But when we fail to do that, then each new day becomes an opportunity to begin again, to start over, early in the morning. 

Wake up. Thank God for waking us up and keeping us through the night. Morning stretches. Thank God for the ability to move and breathe. 

Get out of bed. Stand up. Praise God continuously. Read your Bible or daily devotional or both. Thank God for the ability to read. And thank God for the Spirit who reveals God in God's Word, who reveals Jesus Christ to us; who reveals the mystery of God through the gospel of salvation which God planned from the beginning. 

Genesis 3:15 God tells the serpent his fate for his part in the deception of Adam and Eve: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

Romans 16:20 further enhances Genesis 3:15 - The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd. 'He will lead them to springs of Living Water,' and 'God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'"

Rejoice! early. Praise God early! Seek God's face early! Rise up from your deathbed and glorify God early! Now is the time of your salvation! Now is the day of your redemption! 

Thankful For Brokenness

 

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,

 and they all drank from it.

Mark 14:23

Jesus, knowing what lay ahead of Him, knowingly gave thanks to God for what was about to happen in the next few hours and coming days. Can any of us say that? 

He knew that His body would suffer and be broken, that His blood would spill out onto not only the ground, but the sins of all the people in the whole wide world. 

He knew and He answered the call His Father had laid on Him to be His Father's Holy Lamb of God which would take away the sins of the world, not just cover them up. 

He knew He would remain silent before His accusers unless prompted by His Father to speak to them. 

He knew the what, the why and the how.

BUT

He also knew the outcome.

And He knew the Victory. 

Thankful Heart

 Had begun a Thankful Heart Series. 

Thankful For Answering God's Call

     Not every pulpit is in a church building. Not every preacher requires a built pulpit to preach from. Jesus is The Word of God. Wherever He is, that is where He preaches. His Word is anointed; for the power of God is with Him. And the transforming conviction of The Holy Spirit is.

     Even in today's churches we say “when Jesus was” and “where Jesus walked” and “what Jesus said”. Our God IS. The Word of God IS. The Holy Spirit IS. Present. Present terminology is for current: living-moving-breathing: TODAY.

     The born-again Christian has The Living Word of God in him or her. When we share Jesus with someone, we are preaching the gospel of salvation. When we explain The Word of God in terms each person can understand, we are teaching the gospel of salvation. The Word of God is current: alive, powerful, transformational.

     Scriptures say “TODAY is the day of salvation.” If you did not accept Christ as your Lord and Savior yesterday, then God has blessed you with a new day, a new opportunity to learn from your past (yesterday) and live in your current (today) with the hope of eternal life (future) to come.

God is not lazy, or slack, concerning His promises in His Word: He is longsuffering, meaning: extreme patience. His will for each of our lives is that we believe on His promise of salvation, which is through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God's Son died on the cross and paid the death penalty for our sin, so that we would not be eternally separated from God. If you die in your sin, without ever believing on The Lord Jesus Christ, then there is no opportunity after death for you to be saved. By then it will be too late. Your soul will be eternally condemned to suffer. It will be too late to learn from yesterday; there will be no tomorrow, no hope. Your then current state for your soul will be eternal suffering and pain. That is not my soul's destination. I have hope because I have Jesus.

     I am thankful to be here in this moment. Presently I am outdoors enjoying the morning: the presence of God Who IS here with me; the sights and sounds of day: sun's warmth, birdsong, airplane overhead, insects buzzing or landing on my arm, traffic a few roads over and my cuppa coffee.

      I am thankful for how far God has brought me: the past is to be remembered and learned from: that is wisdom. The future is to be hoped for. But the current—today--is to praise Him for. So, I am thankful that not only did God create me but that He spoke my name; that He called me to 'come out from among the darkness' and live in the light of His Son, Jesus Christ. I am thankful that I answered and said, “Yes. Yes, Lord, You are my God and I am Your servant.”

     It came to mind that not everything or everyone answers God's call when He speaks their name. For God has created all things. Things that are made are not created. Only God can created.

In science we hear of dead stars and dead planets. God creates for His pleasure, His purpose, His glory. Perhaps, when God called these stars, these planets, by their names, they did not answer Him, and so they died. I don't know. I was just wondering. Why? Because not everyone whom God calls their name, answers God's call on their life.

     Which brings me to this morning. I am thankful that when God spoke my name, I said yes. God Is. Present.  

Thank You

     Thank you. How many times do we say this to one another? More than can be numbered? Or less than a handful? Do we mean it when we say it? Or is it automatic (thanks)? Sarcastic (Gee, thanks.)? Questioning (thank you?) 
     Why do we say "thank you"? We say 'thank you' to show our appreciation for the service which has been rendered us. Whether the words are said to the waitress, the clerk, the minister or the teacher, we say them. 
     If we are merely being polite, the words do not really resonate from our hearts. It is etiquette and nothing more. If we are being sarcastic, we are not really exhibiting thankfulness, we are showing them that they have no value to us and do not appreciate their service. If we question the sincerity of their work, we reveal our inability to say 'thank you'.
     Since we appear to have difficulty saying 'thank you' to each other, it must be really hard to say 'thank you' to God. How sad is that? There are so many, many things to be thankful to God for every single day that it would more than fill our waking hours to be thankful for them. We usually generalize our thankfulness, when we tell God how much we are thankful to Him for. 
     When we pray over our meals, saying grace, we thank God for the food placed before us; thank God for the hands that prepared it and ask Him to bless those hands. We ask God to bless the food to the nourishment and healing of our bodies, that we might continue to serve Him when He calls us. We thank God for the blessings of the day. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 
     The blessings of the day is a generalization. And that is, for most of us, the one time of day we are saying 'thank you' to God. But for my husband and I, thankfulness to our God is spread out throughout our day. God applies His love to us through His Word and we apply His Word to our lives. Beginning with our mornings: O give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy endures forever. This line of thankfulness is repeated 8 times in the Book of Psalm. (Psalm 105:1; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1,9; 136:1,2,3,26) 
     In fact, the words 'thank(s) thanked thankful thankfulness thanksgiving(s)' appears in the Bible (KJV) 137 times. Of these 137 verses referring to 'thankfulness' in all its forms, 131 tell us to give 'thanks' to God. And they tell us how and why to give 'thanks', also.


John 11:41      the why      "because You heard me"
Romans 1:8     the how       "through Jesus Christ"
1 Corinthians 1:4     the why     "always on your behalf"
1 Corinthians 14:18     the why     "that I speak in tongues"
Philippians 1:3      the why     "upon every remembrance of you"
1 Thessalonians 1:13     the how     "without ceasing"
1 Thessalonians 1:13     the why     "because the Word of God was received and applied"
2 Thessalonians 1:3     the how     "always"
2 Thessalonians 1:3     the why     "your faith grows exceedingly and your love for one another is                         in abundance"
1 Timothy 1:12     the why     "Jesus Christ enabled me, because He counted me faithful, and put me into the ministry"
2 Timothy 1:3     the how     "I serve with pure conscience"
2 Timothy 1:3     the why     "without ceasing I have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day"
2 Chronicles 5:13     the how     "the singers and the musicians sang and made noise as one voice"
2 Chronicles 5:13     the why     "He is good: His mercy endures forever"
2 Chronicles 5:13, 14     the result    "the glory of the Lord filled the house so full, there was no room in it for anyone else"
2 Samuel 22:50     the why    "therefore (because He has delivered me from my enemies v49)
2 Samuel 22:50     the how     "I will sing praises unto Thy name"
1 Chronicles 16:8     the why     "make known His deeds among the people"
I Chronicles 16:34     the why     "for He is good; for His mercy endures forever"
1 Chronicles 16:35     the why      "He is the God of our Salvation, our deliverer, He gathers us together"
1 Chronicles 16:41     the why     "because His mercy endures forever"
1 Chronicles 25:3     the how     "musicians handpicked by the king to give thanks to the Lord and to praise Him"
2 Chronicles 31:2     the how    "appointed by the king to minister the offerings, give thanks and praise the Lord"
Ezra 3:11     the how     "sing together"
Ezra 3:11     the why     "because He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel"
Ezra 3:11     the how     "with a great shout"
Ezra 3:11     the why     "because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid"
Nehemiah 12:24, 31, 38, 40     the how     "upon the walls, the gates and to the towers"
Nehemiah 12:43     the why     "so that the Joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off"
Psalm 6:5     the how     "alive"
Psalm 6:5     the why    "because I have life and everything that life entails"
Psalm 18:49   the why      "v48 He delivers me from my enemies, lifts me up above they that rise against me: delivers me from the violent man"
Psalm 18:49     the how     "among the heathen, sing praises unto Thy name"
Psalm 30:4     the why     "at the remembrance of His holiness"
Psalm 30:12    the why    "v11 You turned my mourning into dancing: You removed my grief, and girded me with gladness"
Psalm 30:12     the how    "to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. I will give thanks forever"
Psalm 75:1     the why     "for Your name is near Your wondrous works declare"
Psalm 79:13     the why    "we will show forth Your praise to all generations"
Psalm 92:1-4    the why     "v2 to show Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night" "v4 You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work: I will triumph in the works of Your hands"
Psalm 92:1-4     the how     "v1 sing praises to Your name" "v3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the psaltery, upon the harp with a solemn sound"
Psalm 97:12     the why     "at the remembrance of His holiness"
Psalm 105:1     the why     "make known His deeds among the people"
Psalm 106:1     the why     "for He is good: for His mercy endures forever"
Psalm 106:47     the why     "to triumph in Your praise"
Psalm 107:1     the why     "for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever"
Psalm 118:1, 29     the why     "for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever"
Psalm 119:62     the why     "because of Your righteous judgments"
Psalm 122:4     the why     "unto the testimony of Israel" (the commandments of God)
Psalm 136:1-3,26   the why     "for He is good: for His mercy endures forever"
                              ~ Have you ever read this chapter? There are 26 verses and each verse ends 
                                             with "for His mercy endures forever" ~
Daniel 6:10     the how     "facing Jerusalem, praying on his knees 3x day, in supplication (making his needs known before God)"
Daniel 6:7     the why     "disobeying the king's order to worship a different god than our God would cause the king to send that person to their death in the lions' den"
Matthew 15:36     the how     "simply"     the why     "to feed the need"
Luke 17:15, 16     the how     "with a loud voice glorified God" and "fell on his face at Jesus' feet"
Luke 17:14, 15     the why    "healed completely of leprosy"
Luke 22:17, 19     the why   "Christ declaring that both cup and bread were representative of His body and His blood and that when we take them it is a remembrance of Who He is and What He did for us"
1 Corinthians 15:57     the why     "God gives us the victory {over death and the grave} through our Lord Jesus Christ"
2 Corinthians 2:14    the why     "Who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes known the sweet taste of His knowledge by us to every place."
2 Corinthians 9:15     the why     "for His unspeakable gift {every good and perfect gift [James 1:17] is from God)"
Ephesians 5:3, 4    the why     "because an unclean life and unclean words do not adorn the saints of God" v2 "walk in love, as Christ loves us, and gave His life for us an offering and a sweet smell to God"
Ephesians 5:20   the how     "always"    the why     "for all things unto God and the Father"
Colossians 1:3, 4     the why     "praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of His love which you have for all the saints"
Colossians 1:12     the why     "God has qualified us to partake in the inheritance of the saints in light"
Colossians 3:17    the how    "whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus"
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4   the why    "making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of our God and our Father; knowing beloved brethren, your election of God."
1 Thessalonians 5:18     the why     "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you"
2 Thessalonians 2:13     the why     "because God has chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth"
1 Timothy 2:1     the why     "intercede on everyone's behalf"
Hebrews 13:15   the how"     offer a sacrifice of praise to God continually"
Revelation 11:16, 17   the who "the 4 and 20 elders" the how   "falling on their face and worshiping before God"   the why   "because God has taken to Himself His great power and has reigned"


    The remaining verses are in regards to the word 'thanksgiving(s)'. All of which are offered up to God individually. It is by our choice, our will, our decision. Each time the word 'thanksgiving' is mentioned it is with sacrifice, with praise, with singing, with offerings. 
     However, each of the preceding verses are also instructive verses. They tell us how the person gave thanks AND why the person gave thanks. We, too, are instructed even now; for the Word of God is constant, never changing, ever flowing. As we apply these truths to our lives, we learn to embrace God not from a distance, but ever nearer and nearer. 
     Thank You, Lord, for saving a wretch like me. For loving me so much You died for me, then fought death hell and the grave and overcame them for me. For loving me enough to create in me a clean heart every time I fall short of overcoming temptation. For filling me with Your Holy Spirit, who comforts me and guides me in all Your ways. For giving me a desire to draw close to You, so close that our hearts beat as one. For using me in Your kingdom, to lead other people to Your well of Living Water, which flows from the throne of God. Thank You, Lord, thank You so much.