A Grateful Glance Back = Recap

When the six of us sat around on couches months ago, praying over and planning the coming Scripture Dig themes, we did not know what would transpire in this month of November.  Long before we knew our own hearts and homes would be visited with heaviness, the Lord steered us to a focus on thanks. We really do hope it has blessed and encouraged you, but we know it has blessed and encouraged US!

Before we hurry on to December, let’s take a grateful glance back at where we have been in our digging into the topic of Biblical gratitude. We began by considering a study of what the word “thanks” really means.  Entering into November from our focus on the Church, we took time to reflect on why we, as members of the Body of believers, have so much to be thankful for historically.

Sprinkled throughout this month of thanks have been examples from the pages of scripture showing us the beauty and the beast of gratitude and ingratitude. The one grateful Samaritan leper who was healed stands in stark contrast to the nine who failed to stop and demonstrate Gratitude from the Dust. We looked at expressions of thanks from Job, Hannah, Noah, Mary, and Jesus Himself.  We were cautioned not to lose the joy of our grateful hearts as we saw Sarah fall into the trap of idolizing perfection. It was a timely reminder on “Black Friday” following celebrations of Thanksgiving.

As we shared stories of men and women who tutored us in thanks, we took time to share about how God has used events to work out this quality in our hearts and lives. While our own team members were living out “Even when life is not, He is good,” Kristi shared her words from 2008 as her mother-in-law began a battle with cancer. The message was perfectly timed in the life of our team. Teri Lynne shared a very personal testimony of how God etched the lessons of the Difficult Thanks on her own heart.  Kathy gave us a glimpse into a humbling opportunity to be overwhelmingly “Thankful to be used.”

This month we took a look at practical ways to apply Biblical thanks & make it more a part of our home life:

• Being thankful in hard times
• Ways to express thankfulness to God
• Ideas and examples of expressing thanks together at home
• How to express thanks to others in your life

God knew that in this month of November, the lives of our team would be full, so He filled us with His truth and comfort. He knew it was the perfect time for a fresh overflow of Thanksgiving from our hearts. We pray that in the sharing, your hearts have been encouraged along the way.  We are thankful for God’s Word to give us comfort and direction, and we are so thankful you’ve come on the journey with us.