How full of thanks are you...really?
There were ten of them, all sick, discouraged, discriminated against, lonely. To top it off they were on the fringe, outcast, overlooked...forgotten...
Then Jesus came. They called out to Him. He responded. They were all healed. Off they went, back to where they once had been...
...all....except for one.
One returned. One thanked Jesus. One was changed from the inside out.
The other nine? Don't know about them.
What about us? We're terminally ill without Him, you know. Goners for sure.
Jesus has reached out. Touched. Made whole.
Have you thanked Him?
Thanking causes one to focus on something other than oneself. Refreshing.....
Thanking condenses a kindness to thoughts then to words. Resourceful....
Thanking cleanses the spirit, refuels the body and frees the soul. Regenerating.....
Be full of thanks. Say kind words to other humans....to Jesus....
On Thanksgiving and every day.
Full of thanks, Ele
posted by Transforming Together @ 4:02 PM
6 Comments:
Whenever I keep a list of gifts (things that I am thankful for) I am most happy and my family is happy also. Choosing gratitude each and every day does make a difference in how we feel. It takes my eyes off my circumstances and on to Jesus who so richly blesses us. Acknowledging His gifts just seems to bring more blessings till the list needs to be continued on another page...and another. Have you ever kept a list?
I hear where you're coming from, Tracy. Personally, I shy away from list-making for this reason: It can cause one to focus on the 'gifts' that comprise the list rather than the Giver of that list. When I was in my late 20s we were in the Philippines as missionaries. I was carrying our 3rd child, another tough pregnancy, as well as caring for two other wee ones and being in an active music/drama ministry. My list would have been very short at that time, for I was sick, sick of being sick and a bit alone. The Spirit took me to Ecc. 7:14. It hit me right in the heart. I committed it to memory: "In the days of prosperity, be glad. But, in the days of adversity, consider: GOD IS LORD OF ONE AS WELL AS THE OTHER." I grew another 'step' during that time...to be full of thanks IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE rather than allowing something other than Jesus to add to or take away from my thankful heart(I Thess. 5:18.) Hence, I do not make lists....I run to the Giver each morning w/my heart overflowing w/thanks for Who GOD is in my life....even on the day they found the body of my dearly loved dad.....the day a grandchild went to the arms of Jesus.....their home goings broke my heart but Jesus gently mended it....because I was able to say "thank you."
Feedback?
I see. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Yes, I agree. Looking to the gifts over focusing on the Giver can become a problem.
Thankyou for the scripture references. I have looked them up and will be pondering on them today.
I appreciate the difference perspective you brought to this subject.
Can we muster up our own thanks in difficult times or is it God who gives us the ability to thank Him even when He takes from us our loved ones?
Interesting question, Tracy. I would have to rephrase the question a bit in order to answer it: You posed, "Can we 'muster up' our own thanks in difficult times or is it God who gives us the ability to thank Him...." I would substitute 'muster up' with CHOOSE. Choice is a constant and continual theme in Scripture. Choice is introduced in Genesis, seen throughout the Living Word and part of 'the action' of Revelation. So, IF your question is "Can we choose to give thanks in difficult times...." the answer is a resounding, "yes!" That is the sweetest and most precious of all...when a human chooses to interact w/Jesus. As we realize His great and immense love for us we TRUST HIM more and more in our lives, realizing that ALL things work together for the good of those who love Him....(Rom. 8 ) The specific incident might be full of pain, loneliness, affliction, but it is to HELP us, not HURT us. A great example of this is the life of Joseph, where Joseph tells his brothers, "You meant it for ill, but GOD meant it for good." (Gen. 50:20) If Joseph had become bitter by being unthankful, he would have MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WHICH HE WAS BORN. Huge, my friend, huge.
I guess it all boils down to whether or not you believe in free will.
Keep reading....
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