Do Not Depart

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A Grateful Glance Back = Recap

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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:

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.

 

Song of a Grateful Heart

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Praise is the song of a grateful heart. As we step from a weekend of Thanksgiving into the season of remembering Christ’s birth, let’s listen to a song of grateful praise from a woman’s heart.

When she’s introduced we know that she’s living in the excitement of her engagement, anticipating her wedding. We find out she is “highly favored” and the Lord is with her. The next adjective is where I really start to relate:  she was “greatly troubled,” from the same root word that gives us “perturbed.” After all, AN ANGEL WAS TALKING TO HER!!! Truly divine.

Following the girl’s confusion came a question (v.34) and then action (vv. 39-40). She wanted to know, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” After her question she acted on her belief and trust.

Through the angel, God first made a declaration (vv.30-33) of what He planned to do and how Mary was involved. When she asked for understanding, He provided an explanation (vv.35-37) of how the miracle would happen. Then He gave confirmation (vv.41-45) of her blessing and conception, when her relative Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and her own baby jumped with joy in her womb.

It was after she poured out her confusion and her question and followed with obedient action that her song pours out of her mouth. She had just been answered with God’s declaration of His plan for her, His explanation of the miracle, and His confirmation of what would’ve scared the socks off of any young unwed, engaged, pregnant virgin teenager.  But Mary was clearly already a lover of God, and her heart overflowed with thanksgiving.  Because she KNEW Him, she TRUSTED Him, and she could respond to the extraordinary turn of events with confident gratitude. After all, the angel assured her that “no word from God will ever fail,” (v. 37) and she believed it!

Mary’s Song (Luke 1:46-55)

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful  of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.  He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Mary gave thanks for Who God is, for what He has done, and even for what He called her to do. Her soul magnified Him, acknowledging Him as the source of blessing, worshiping Him, and affirming her reverence for Him. Her humility resounds, as she recognized her own need for a Savior and her service to the holy, mighty, strong, merciful God. While others may’ve been in the fetal position in the corner, we see a Mary whose heart is bursting with awe and joyful praise in a her song of gratitude. We may want to shout, “You go, girl!”  But Mary is shouting, “You go, God!”

Praise is the song of a grateful heart. Obedience is the action of a grateful heart. Read the whole story  from confusion to confirmation to grateful song here.  I would encourage you to open your own Bible to Luke 1:26-56, stand up, and read it aloud “Mary style.”  We can relate to the young woman of this chapter in many ways, starting with the song of her grateful heart. Does a song of praise fill your heart today?

What would you say about God in your own song of thanksgiving?

The Idol of Perfection

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Let’s be honest, yesterday when you looked around the table, was it exactly everything you hoped it would be? Was everyone getting along perfectly? Did you have everyone you love around the table? I think everyone of us would have to say no. Sarah in Genesis chapter 21 had many things to be thankful for. The blessing of her long-awaited son Issac, a loving and devoted husband, a promise from God that her family would out number the stars in the sky. But she also  may have looked around her table and thought, “My life would be perfect if…”

How did Sarah get to that point? Let’s quickly review her story. Sarah was first named Sarai which means “to contend.” Her husband Abram (later Abraham) was called of God to father a great nation. Sarai was also part of this plan. God told Abram, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; you shall be a blessing” (Gen. 12:2). Because God promised Abram he would father a great nation, Sarai knew she would bear children. But years and years went by without an heir. Abram asked God if one born in his household would become his heir and not one actually born to him (Gen. 15:2). But God again said Abram would personally father a child and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them… So shall your descendants be.” Because Sarai was still barren, she thought of a plan. If her handmaiden, Hagar, had a baby by Abram, the baby would also be Sarai’s. According to pastor and author John MacArthur, “Sarah apparently reasoned that since she owned Hagar, if Abraham fathered a child by Hagar, it would in effect be Sarah’s child.” But God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. So this polygamy was sinful and would not have the outcome Sarai wanted. In fact, after Hagar conceived Ishmael, Sarai began to hate her (Gen. 16:4).

When we catch up to Sarah in chapter 21, God has blessed her with a son. Isaac, which means “he laughs,” was born to Sarah when Abraham was 100 years old. Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me” (Gen. 21:6). Elizabeth George writes, “This definitely was an occasion for joy. Isaac was Sarah’s reward. He was the child of her own body, the child of her old age, the child of God’s promise, the fruit of tested faith, the gift of God’s grace, and the heaven-appointed heir.” But even in her joy, Sarah was bitter because of Hagar and Ishmael. And her bitterness ruined her joy. She may have thought, “My life would be perfect if only Hagar and Ishmael would just disappear. Sure it was my idea to make them part of our family, but now that I have Issac, I change my mind.”

How do we avoid the bitterness Sarah experienced? Don’t let your plan for perfection become an idol in your life.

When you look back at pictures from your Thanksgiving celebration, don’t dwell on what should have been or could have been. Focus on the blessings that were present. Don’t focus on the burned rolls; remember the joke your brother-in-law told that had everyone rolling. Don’t comment again to your husband that you can’t believe your sister would wear such an awful shirt; but be thankful your kids were able to hang out with their cousins (who they only see twice a year).

You must let go of your idea of perfection. Learn to appreciate, enjoy, love, and savor your reality. Remember, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Bestowing honor, recognizing worth

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My children are two and four years old, so we are in the stage of life where I am constantly reminding them to use “good words.” I am continually stopping them mid-sentence and prompting them to phrase their requests respectfully with an appropriately placed “please,” and it is an everyday occurrence for me to hold out what they asked for and not let it go until they remember to say “thank you.”

Human nature seems bent against gratitude and toward entitlement. It takes deliberate training to make “thank you” a habitual, yet sincere, response.

This isn’t just true of preschoolers or teenagers with attitude. Ingratitude and entitlement can sadly sneak into our own lives – today, let’s take a few minutes to search our hearts and ask God to point out what, and who, we have been taking for granted lately.

1 Corinthians 1:4 “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”

As we have discussed many times during this month of focus on thanks-giving, true gratitude is tied closely with humility. Thankless people are arrogant and self-centered people. People who either refuse to allow those around them to serve them, or who demand that they be served. People who live their lives with an attitude of self-sufficiency or superiority will not humble themselves to recognize or thank those around them.

Ephesians 1:16 “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

In order to genuinely thank those who have impacted my life, I must first recognize that I am not the center of the universe. I must, with humility, see the value of those around me and how God has gifted and worked through their lives uniquely. I must recognize my own need, my own inadequacies, my own shortcomings – I must allow myself to depend on others, and receive what they offer, knowing that I cannot fully repay them and “even the score.” Grateful hearts are humble hearts.

Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Having an attitude of gratitude to and for those around us requires that we humble ourselves and value the other person. Expressing that gratitude is expressing the value that the other person has – showing them how treasured they truly are, both for who they are and what they do. Bestowing honor and expressing worth.

Colossians 1:3-4 “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people.”

Now, at this point I feel I have a confession to make: I am a terrible thank-you note writer. I’m pretty sure we missed some people on our thank-you list after our wedding, a major breach of etiquette! But even as we talk about expressing thanks to those around us, I want to challenge you to think beyond the socially obligatory thank-you note for a gift or service. How do we express thanks in a way that shows those around us that we deeply value them, that we see worth in who they are and what they do?

1 Thessalonians 1:2 “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”

Clearly, there is no cookie-cutter formula for genuinely thanking those who have touched our lives. In order for our thanks to be sincere and uncontrived, the way you thank those around you will vary depending on your gifts, resources, and who you are thanking for what – the options are nearly limitless.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.”

Here are some principles that we can all keep in mind:

  1. Because thanking people really means recognizing their individual value and worth, our “thanks” should be tailored to them! Whether expressed verbally, in a written note, or in a gift, thanking others is a time to give true encouragement and honor the individuals God has used to touch our lives.
  2. Isn’t it interesting how Paul, instead of just saying, “thank you,” says over and over, “I thank God for you?” Paul isn’t just recognizing a particular gift or act of service – he is giving honor to these people’s lives and thanking God for their very existence! As we express gratitude to those around us, we should give real thought to how to express to them that we are thankful not just for what they have done for us, but for their very lives – they have worth, regardless of what they do.
  3. While thanking others is certainly a habit we can form, it shouldn’t be trite. We know the difference between our children thanking us with gratitude and thanking us because it is an expected verbal response – a true humble heart of gratitude will shine through when we communicate! I love reading all of Paul’s expressions of thanks for people in his letters – He clearly is genuinely full of gratitude to and for them, and it shows up in his prayer life, his word choices, his life patterns.

Philemon 1:4 “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers…”

As we prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow, who are you thankful for? How can you express that to them today? How can we live lives that don’t just meet social expectations but actually bestow honor and recognize the worth of those God has placed around us?

Thankful to be used

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When was the last time you felt used? I’m not referring to the last time some inconsiderate person took advantage of you. I’m talking about the last time God worked through you. When was the last time you felt used by God as an instrument of His will?

The Bible says God saved us to do good works. (Not saved by good works. We are saved completely and totally by grace through faith.) Before God ever saved us He had already made out a “to-do” list for us – specific things He wants us to do in the scope of His overall plan. (See Ephesians 2:10.) This truth should overwhelm us with gratitude! God does not need us for anything (Acts 17:25), yet He chooses to involve us – His sinful, imperfect people – in His work.

This glorious truth caused Mary, the mother of Jesus, to break out in a song of thanksgiving and praise. Humbled in God’s choosing, she felt favored that God would use her to bring His son into the world.

And Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is His name.” Luke 1:46-49, NIV

I am thankful for the times I have been used by God. I regularly recognize and thank God for the privilege of teaching His Word, for using me to encourage someone else, or to serve His church. However, I have been completely overcome with gratitude during those times when God has allowed me to participate when He brings a soul into His Kingdom.

In my experience, there is nothing more humbling, overwhelming, and joyful than praying with someone to accept Christ as their Savior. Not long ago, I wrote about one such experience with an 87 year-old-woman in Moldova. I still thank God that in His grace He let me witness this spiritual birth!

Share examples with us of times you’ve been thankful for being used by God. In what specific ways has God worked through you that fostered feelings of gratitude to God?

Jesus’ Pattern of Giving Thanks

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He spoke the world into being, created everything that exists, placed the planets in space, set the seasons in motion and continues to sustain the totality of all that is, yet, Jesus left us with a beautiful example of giving thanks.

It’s amazing how the Bread of Life was thankful for His daily bread.

Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. Matthew 15:36

The one who is our Wisdom was thankful for the wisdom given to the simple.

“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.” Matthew 11:25

The one whose words move mountains and thunders through the heavens, speaks words of thanksgiving to the Heavenly Father for hearing and answering His prayer.

“Jesus responded, ‘Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.'” John 11:40-42

The one who established the Passover, became the Passover Lamb. Yet before He took His place on the cross as the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, He gave thanks to the Heavenly Father

“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take this and eat it, for this is my body.'” Matthew 26:25

Jesus leaves us the perfect example of what it means to be thankful. Whether eating, seeking wisdom, living to glorify Christ or facing difficult days we must maintain a heart of thanksgiving.

As we approach the day we celebrate with thanksgiving for all He is and all He has done, we are painfully aware that this may be a difficult time for you. Life isn’t always easy.

Yet, Jesus has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly. He has called us to be thankful regardless of our circumstances. A friend of mine recently said, “Why do we thank God when things are good, but not when they are bad?” Should we only expect that which is good and easy?

Our thanks is to God because He is God and He is good – regardless of what our life may whisper in our ears. No wonder the Word of God tells us to give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God.

Have you thought about how Jesus left us a pattern of thanks giving? Do you struggle with being thankful in all things?

Planning to Demonstrate Thanks

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Since the writers on the Scripture Dig currently call the United States home, we’re all preparing for the American holiday of Thanksgiving next week. We’ve looked at how Biblical characters such as Noah, Hannah, Job, and the Grateful Samaritan expressed thanksgiving. Since we’ve been considering gratitude, we want to give you some practical ideas of what “Thanks” may look like in our own homes. We’re giving these to you now, so you might weave gratitude into your celebrations. If we want to have a true attitude of gratitude present in our holiday homes, we do well to plan ahead. Here are some ideas for how thankfulness looks in some of our homes:

Stephanie ~ One of the things I tried to implement was to have a “Blessings Jar” all year. Every time God answered a prayer or we saw Him do something so “obviously God,” we would write it down and put it in the jar throughout the year. At Thanksgiving, we would take turns taking one out of the jar and reflecting on God’s hand in our lives. That caused us to be thankful for all He had done for us!

Kathy ~ Throughout the Old Testament, at turning points and key celebrations, Israel often recounted where God had brought them over the years. They would remember how He choose Abraham, made them a people, and brought them out of slavery in Egypt. They would reflect on God bringing them into the Promised Land, how He conquered their enemies, and the way His loving hand settled them into their new home. Like Israel, our family has seen many travels and changes over the years. Since Wayne and I married, we’ve moved five times. Almost three decades later, our oldest daughter is married, our second daughter is engaged, and our son will graduate from high school this year. Our little nuclear family is now grown up and spread out. When the family gathers at Thanksgiving we usually talk about those years, the “growing up” of our family. It’s obvious God has used Wayne’s job to put us where He wants us to be. He has granted us many experiences with Him and given us many things to be thankful for. This year, our Thanksgiving meal will feature a “Turdukin.” This Cajun creation of turkey, duck, and chicken – which is all generously stuffed with crawfish dressing – is a tasty reminder of our Louisiana roots, the place where our journey with God all began.

Teri Lynne ~ I think the one idea that we have best incorporated into our Thanksgiving celebrations is including widows and others who might be alone for the holidays.  It’s no work to set an extra place or two at the table, but the joy of sharing our day with someone who would otherwise be alone magnifies the best parts of the thanks.  We’ve shared our meal with many over the past few years and always found that the blessing received was ours.

For us, living out “whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for Me” (Matthew 25:40) is an intentional part of all our holiday celebrations.

Julie ~ I love to put excerpts of God’s Word on the table. I guess you could call it “decorating with a purpose.”  I’ve use picture put excerpts of God’s Word on the table. I guess you could call it “decorating with a purpose.”  I’ve use picture frames with scripture inside, paper napkin holders with verses, ribbons of scripture woven through the centerpiece, and verses on namecards, to name a few.  I like to make a card with a verse for the season and incorporate it in doorway decorations (wreath, basket, chair, vines, etc); it declares the reason for our joy before people even step inside our doorway. We have often placed short passages of scripture at each place, so that we can go around the table and read God’s words aloud, before we share specific reasons for gratitude or hold hands to pray. When people look around our home during the holidays, I want them to see God’s words in our house and see God’s work in our lives.

Kristi ~ Kristi also loves “decorating with purpose” and shared an excellent example of how to be resourceful & create meaningful symbols of gratitude for your home. Check out this post for tips on how to make your own.

 

Sandra ~ Flexibility is a key to letting gratitude wash over our celebrations. Sandra says that sometimes they end up celebrating “Thanksmas” ;) as they combine holidays in extended family visits. It’s a great reminder not to become attached to the “things” or the “traditions.” They are just a means of helping us incorporate what means the most. Use a variety of ideas and expressions to draw out your family’s attitude of gratitude all throughout the season of celebration.

Did these ideas get your mental wheels turning? Sometimes it feels awkward for families to share thanks together, but when we do a little planning, we help those around our tables to consider & respond to the goodness of our God. God’s Word is living and active in our lives and homes, and we want it to influence the way we give thanks.

Tomorrow we’ll share a few “new” ideas for expressing thanks at home. We hope you’ll share something you do to make gratitude personal for your family.

The Difficult Thanks, part 2

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Machines beeping, blinking, and buzzing all around me … it all blurred together … the days, the minutes, the hours became a haze of sitting, standing, sleeping, sobbing.

Hour after hour I sat there, holding my husband’s hand and praying that God would spare his life.  I was spent. I could no longer put words together, could no longer form thoughts.  The lump in my throat felt permanent, the heaviness in my heart seemed crushing.  We’d been in and out of the hospital for three weeks and had ended up here … in this cold, gray room with more tubes and monitors than I could count, machines pushing oxygen through his lifeless body.

Daily I came to that room and I wept.  Never had I felt more alone, more afraid.  Never had the possibility of loss been greater … never.

In those dark, gray days in that dark, gray room I came face-to-face with a decision … Did I believe God is in control, even in times like this?  Was I going to be the one who praised Him for the abundance and rejected Him in the loss?

To be honest, I struggled …. I was terrified.   Here was this man, the man,  who had loved me in all my brokenness and given me the life-stability I had always craved, lying in a coma, fighting for his life.

Day after day I walked into that room, carrying with me my fears, my grief, and my Bible.  For though I felt alone, I was not … and though I was fearful, I was never beyond His care.  I read the words of the Psalmist and cried them out for myself,

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. ~ Psalm 62:5-8 NIV

And so, I prayed …

Lord, You alone know all the emotions and thoughts I have.  God, I believe in You – in Your plan – I trust You – but, O Lord, help me.  You have carried me every step so far – I know you will continue to do so.

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Lord, use me – let me be light in the darkness for You.  Help me lift You up – to point to You.   Thank You for protecting us and providing for us.

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Lord, thank You for the blessings You have given us – for the healing You are doing in Scott’s body; for the wonderful nurses and staff we deal with; for the great doctors; for our families who are here to help.  Keep me mindful of all of this – and use me to bless them in return.

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Lord, thank You for sustaining me – for giving me the strength to face each day and for healing my husband.  Help me be filled with praise and thanksgiving for all You have done for me.   And thank You for using Scott to touch the lives of others, even in these circumstances – for giving him a heart the desires to minister.

Friends, I don’t know what the difficult situation is in your life right now … but I know this, some of you reading are feeling very alone and very afraid.  May I encourage you with this – I have been there! I know what it is to feel forsaken and forgotten … but know this – God has not lost sight of you!  Giving the difficult thanks doesn’t come naturally … and it requires a relinquishing of self.   But, may I also encourage you with this – He is faithful! Always, in all things, in all ways, at all times.

May you learn, as I have, to “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone.”

What Scriptures has God used to teach you the difficult thanks?

{Edited to add after a sweet comment below:  Yes, my husband is home with us now and doing very well.  He still has a serious blood disorder (ITP) which requires continued monitoring … but at his last appointment, his platelet count was much-improved.  Glory to God!!}

{Image via Bing.com}

A Guide to Gratitude

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So far through our series on true thanksgiving, we have pondered the fact that gratitude springs from a heart of humility, it requires that we stop in our tracks and recognize God’s goodness to us, it calls us to ponder and respond to the goodness of God in the darkest of situations, it is grounded in true faith, it is based on God’s character and not on our circumstances, it necessitates that we rest in Him and pray.

So, if we are to offer God a sacrifice of true thanksgiving in good times and bad… how do we do this? What does it look like? If you’re in a dark season of life what can you truly thank God for this Thanksgiving season?

Psalm 100 is probably one of the most commonly read passages this time of year – it gives us a guide for both how and why we should gather before Him in thanks.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

WHY should we give Him thanks?

  • He alone is God! – Even in the darkest times of life we can take such comfort in the fact that God alone is God! He has never lost  control, and we can rest in His goodness and sovereignty.
  • He made us! – When was the last time you considered the intricacy of your hand, the amazing miracles of sight, hearing, touch? Have you pondered God’s workmanship in your children lately? We truly are fearfully and wonderfully made. [Psalm 139]
  • We are His people! – He made us, He loves us, He saved us, He delights in us – how can we not thank Him when we think of these astonishing truths?
  • We are the sheep of His pasture! – As a caring shepherd examines, knows, watches over his sheep, He knows us intimately and watches over us constantly. Oh, the delight we can take in His presence and care! [Psalm 23]
  • He is good! – Remember that even when life is not, God is good. I am so thankful that we can rest in this as fact!
  • His love endures forever! – He never will forget us, overlook us, put us aside, turn His back on us.
  • He is faithful! – His Word is trustworthy, His promises are faithful, His plans will never be shaken.

HOW should we give Him thanks?

  • Shout for joy! – Revel in Him! We have so much to praise Him for – belt it out in your car, in the shower, praise Him wherever you are!
  • Worship with gladness! – If we understand who God is and what worship really is, emotionless and meaningless repetition of words isn’t going to cut it. Ponder these truths and respond to Him from your heart!
  • Come before Him; enter His gates! – Don’t reserve “thanksgiving” for the 10 minutes before your Thanksgiving dinner. Make a conscious effort to come before Him in the quietness of your soul, spend time with Him, praise Him and thank Him in the sanctuary of the heart.
  • Know! – Some of us might not be “obvious” in our praise – our personalities might cause us to worship and praise Him in a more subdued manner. But all of us can bring Him the thanksgiving offering of faith – of knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He is God. Rest in the truth!
  • Praise His name! – Study and reflect on the names of God as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas. He is Elohim, the all-powerful creator. He is El-Shaddai, the all sufficient one. He is El Roi, the God who sees us in the darkest and most solitary hours of our lives. Remember that true thanksgiving is rooted in who He is, not in our circumstances – the more we understand the ways and nature of our God, the more we have to praise and thank Him for!

We have so much to thank Him for this thanksgiving! How and why will you offer Him the sacrifice of true gratitude?

http://scripturedig.com/2010/11/10/he-is-good-even-when-life-is-not-he-is-good/

The First Thanksgiving – Noah

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With Thanksgiving day looming largely over the horizon, we can’t help but reflect on the pilgrims who paved the way for the traditions we hold near and dear to our hearts. But the pilgrims weren’t the first ones to step foot on land with thankful hearts and joyous feasts. After over a year on the Ark, Noah and his family finally exited the massive boat and stepped on dry ground.

In Genesis 8:1 the Bible says, “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.”

There’s a special sense of significance in knowing we have never escaped the mind of God, but when you’ve been sealed in a boat for over a year, you can grow weary in the wait and lose sight of what God has called you to – what He has promised you. When the Word of God tells us that God remembered Noah, it is a sweet reminder that we may sometimes feel like God doesn’t see us us, or perhaps that He doesn’t care what we are going through, but you can rest in the promise of His abiding presence and His incessant love.

Noah was thankful that God had not forgotten that He had sent him and his family adrift. His heart of thankfulness gave way to worship and he began to sacrifice every sort of animal as a demonstration of his thankful and surrendered heart.

In chapter 9 we find God’s covenant with Noah and the generations that would come after him. Never again would the world be wiped out by a world-wide flood. The rainbow was the sign of His promise to never flood the world again. But I want you to note something very interesting about this wonderful passage of Scripture.

Genesis 9:16 says, “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

For the first time, God’s promise came with a sign. He would form a rainbow as a perpetual sign to future generations that He would be merciful to a people whose heart have a tendency to be wicked. And not only would we see the sign, but He would see it as well – and it would remind Him of His own promise to the world. God’s mercy is certainly a beautiful reason to be thankful!

The next time you look at a rainbow, remember that your Heavenly Father is looking at it too – and He is remembering His promise to a wayward people. You may even want to cook your own Thanksgiving Dinner every time you see a rainbow peaking out somewhere between the sunshine and the clouds.

What promises has God made that you are thankful for today?

Thankful in all things?

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We’ve all heard the old saying, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” But for Christians, both desperate and delightful times call for thanksgiving. Monday and Tuesday we saw examples from Hannah’s and Job’s lives and yesterday Kristi shared from a difficult season of her own. Today I want to sum it all up and give us a bit of a “how to.”

If you are anything like me, you may find it relatively easy to thank God when your life is filled with good things and easy circumstances. But according to God’s Word, Christians should be thankful in all circumstances. Not just when we are healthy, all the bills are paid, and there are no rebellious children under our roofs, but all the time, in every circumstance – good and bad.

Humanly speaking, this does not make sense. When things are tough, we humans naturally moan and complain, not offer words of gratitude. But God’s ways are often contrary to our faulty human logic. So, I turned to Scripture to find His answers to the following questions:

  • What does God want me to do in difficult circumstances?
  • Why should I give thanks in difficult circumstances?
  • How can I be thankful in difficult circumstances?

What does God want me to do in difficult circumstances?

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16-18.

Joy in the midst of difficult circumstances is unique to the Christian life. So is thanksgiving in all circumstances. Yet, God calls His children to this very thing. In fact, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, it is His will for us. Joy and thanksgiving in trial are possible because Christ is also unique to the Christian life. Jesus is present even in the hard times.

Why should I give thanks in difficult circumstances?

When we suffer trials and difficulties our faith is tested. This testing strengthens our endurance and refines and purifies our faith, moving us toward spiritual maturity (James 1:2-4). Faith that has been refined and proven genuine then brings praise, glory, and honor to Jesus (1 Peter 1:6-7).

We can also trust that God is using every circumstance He allows into our lives for our good. When we love Him and are living for Him, He uses every aggravation, frustration, grief, and pain to work out His greater plan for our lives. He weaves each tear we cry into the intricate pattern of His perfect will.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

How can I be thankful in difficult circumstances?

The quick answer is “rest” and “pray.” Rest in God’s sure presence and continually lift up your concerns to God in prayer. Read Psalm 46:1-3 and rejoice in God’s promise! Although the mountains break apart and fall into the sea, God promises to be our strength and our “ever-present help.” Hallelujah! No matter what tragedy may come your way, you can take refuge in the safe arms of God.

While you’re running into God’s arms start praying and don’t stop. Give Him every worry, every doubt, every fear. Thank Him for how He will use your circumstances to ultimately bring Him glory and ask Him for the strength to endure. Then His peace – which transcends all human logic and understanding – will flood your heart and mind (Phil 4:6-7). Amen and amen.

Do you have a testimony to share with us? A time that God held you through a difficult circumstance and you were able to offer Him thanksgiving in the midst of it?

He is good. Even when life is not, He is good.

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This has been a tough week for our Scripture Dig writers – loss and heartache abound, even as we look together at the topic of true gratitude. At times like these we must remember that thanksgiving is not an emotion. Giving thanks with grateful hearts is not something that is segregated to the “good” and easy times in our lives, when everyone is healthy, all our wants and needs are met, and everyone is at peace with one another. Truly, those blessings should inspire a heart of gratitude… but what about when we’re sitting in the ashes of life?

A couple of years ago I wrote this post, part of which still echoes in my head from time to time:

Watching and listening to people this time of year intrigues me. In the celebration of Thanksgiving, we set aside time to thank our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, our Abba Father for all that He has blessed us with…

Even in our attempts to make this holiday more meaningful, it often seems to ring hollow. Go around the table and say what you are thankful for – “my family,” “my job,” “this house,” whatever. Not that it’s bad to be thankful for these things, but are we truly thankful people? What about the little things? What about the painful things? Are we thankful for those?

I wrote that post the day before Thanksgiving 2008. The next morning we found out that my mother-in-law was dying of cancer – you can read my next post here. Needless to say, that Thanksgiving was not a lighthearted romp through the hay with our handmade turkeys.

These last couple of years have been hard. In many ways that I cannot fully explain, life has been hard. I am tired of death. I am tired of evil. I am tired. Can you relate?

What will be shared at your Thanksgiving table this year? I do hope that you can thank God for health and your family and your job and your house. But what about when we can’t thank God for health because we or those we love are sick and dying? What about when we can’t thank God for our job because we don’t have one? What about when we can’t thank God for our house because it was foreclosed on? What about the painful things? Are we thankful even in the midst of these times?

True gratitude cannot be based on our circumstances. True gratitude must come from a deep rooted understanding of the grace and mercy of God. From seeing that He is all I really want, seeing that He is all I really need after all. From seeing that knowing God is the true treasure.

I am deeply grateful for my family, my house, my church, etc. But if all of those things are burned away and I am left sitting in the ashes, will I be grateful that neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord?

He is good. Even when life is not, He is good.

Image from http://www.freefoto.com

Hannah’s Gratitude

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We meet Hannah in the first chapter of 1 Samuel. She was married to Elkanah, who was also married to Peninnah. Verse two tells us, “Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.” Scripture says that Elkanah loved Hannah and gave her an extra portion of food. But Peninnah teased her about not having any children.

Hannah longed for a child! She prayed, wept, and would not eat because her desire for a child was so great. Eli was the priest at this time and he noticed Hannah praying at the temple one day. Eli thought she was drunk (1:13)! She explained to Eli that she had been praying. When Hannah had a burden, she prayed. EM Bounds wrote, “…trouble, no matter from what source it comes, becomes in God’s hand his own agent to accomplish his gracious work concerning those who submit patiently to him, who recognize him in prayer, and who work together with God.”

Eli told Hannah that her prayers would be answered. Hannah got up, ate, and was happy. Her gratitude began immediately. She didn’t wait for her prayer to be answered; she was grateful that God heard her request. She trusted in the promise of a son. Verse twenty says, “And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the Lord.’” 

Hannah continued to praise the Lord and made a vow to Him, that she would give her son to His service. She kept her son until he was weaned (probably about three years old), then turned him over to Eli the priest. She said to Eli, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord” (1:26-28).

Her gratitude flows from her lips as an offering of praise to God for the gift of Samuel. She is faithful to give him to God’s service.

Like Hannah, we can also show gratitude to God for His promises and His provision. Take time today to thank Him. Even if you are in the midst of suffering, praise Him!

The Difficult Thanks

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Perhaps the most moving moment of the Relevant conference I recently attended was on Friday night as Angie Smith asked all the women in the room who had lost a child to miscarriage, still birth, or early infant death to stand.   Silence except for the sliding of chairs against the carpet and women throughout the room stood, heads bowed, hearts heavy.  Not one table I saw was left untouched … few eyes were dry, no heart unmoved.

Looking around my church recently I was aware of how many of those present have faced profound loss due to the economy … many who have lost jobs, lost their homes.  Friends who have had to move in with family because they have no other choices.  Men who have taken jobs they hate simply to be able to provide, even meagerly, for their families.  Women who have gone back to work to make it possible for their families to barely survive.

We’ll be traveling this week with our senior adults … many are widows, finishing out their days on earth without the one to whom they pledged their lives.  Some who have been traveling with us for eight years will not be with us this year … their health rendering them unable to go.

Loss … we will all experience loss – in many forms and various intensities – throughout our lives. As we consider biblical thanksgiving, true gratitude, this month on Scripture Dig, it is imperative that we realize the necessity of thanksgiving in times of sorrow and loss.

And so, we look at Job.   He had it all … family, wealth, position, influence.  And in one afternoon, all was lost.  All that he had loved, all he had held dear … gone.  Left with a wife who was bitter and cynical and friends who were skeptical and harsh.

In those moments immediately following the devastating news of his profound loss, we see this:

Then Job rose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.

And he said, “Naked I cam from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return.  The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

~ Job 1:20-22, ESV

In these verses I find three keys to giving  the difficult thanks:

  1. Don’t diminish the loss. (v. 20)  Job grieved!  He was visibly devastated … he acknowledged his hurt.  He didn’t try to pretend away the pain.  There is nothing spiritual about denying loss … in fact, doing so can result in a greater bitterness in our own hearts and create harm to our testimony of God’s faithfulness.
  2. Do desire to worship. (v. 21)   Job recognized his need to connect with God!  Immediately after acknowledging his grief, he turned to the One who could comfort him.  And in his worship, he was clear in his awareness that God is in control of all things … and that He can be trusted.  “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
  3. Don’t disregard faith. (v. 22)   Job chose to respond to his loss in faith … “Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”  Living out our faith can be difficult in the best of circumstances, but even more so when we are pressed on all sides and faced with grief, loss, sorrow, and pain.  But Job’s example is one of continuing to walk in obedience and trusting that the God who had provided all good gifts before would continue to provide for him even in the dark times.

Job’s story continues with his wife’s admonition to, “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9) and his friend’s disparaging words about his need for confession … but at the the end of his story, even when he has questioned God and listened to his friends’ condemnation, though he had heard God’s thundering voice answering his own plea for understanding,  Job’s confession is one of humility:

Then Job answered the Lord and said, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted … I have uttered what I did not understand … I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”  {from Job 42:1-6, ESV, emphasis added}

How do we give the difficult thanks?  Recognize the goodness of God. When life doesn’t make sense, God is good.  When life is hard, God is good.  When life hurts, God is good.  When thanksgiving seems impossible, God is good.  In all things, at all times, in all ways … God is good.

When have you been challenged to give the difficult thanks?

Recommended Listening:

Blessed Be Your Name, Matt Redmon … My favorite part of this song is, “Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise.  And when the darkness closes in still I will say, Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Praise You in This Storm, Casting Crowns … Beautiful, poignant reminder that we are never removed from His loving care.  “As your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.”

Recommended Reading:

Our own Kristi Stephens has written a beautiful series on Job.  I highly encourage you to take some time to read her posts and she examines, “How Could a Good God …”

Leaving Gratitude in the Dust

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We saw the picture of Gratitude in the dust yesterday from Luke 17.  Today we’re looking in the same passage at a picture of leaving gratitude IN the dust.

  • All ten sick men were desperate, begging for mercy from a safe distance.
  • All ten sick men called Jesus “Master,” recognizing His power to heal.
  • All ten sick men responded in obedience, turning to go to the priests, as Jesus instructed.
  • All ten sick men were cleansed.

So what made the difference for the “other nine” who didn’t come back to give their thanks to their Healer?  Maybe the answer lies in the action verbs.  The one healed Samaritan saw he was healed and “turned back, praising God with a loud voice.” His healing prompted him to change course and pour his newly born energy into praise.  But the other nine?  The last we know of them is that “they went.”  It appears that as they were cleansed, they just kept going. We read that and shake our heads, with a “tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Ingratitude doesn’t stop.    Ingratitude gets what it came for and moves on.     Ingratitude has places to go and things to do that are too important to take time for being thankful.     It focuses on the “thing” received, instead of the Giver.

On Tuesday Kathy helped us understand that gratitude is “a response to a grace given; the acceptance of a kindness done with the acknowledgement that it was undeserved.”  The ungrateful nine didn’t respond. The ungrateful nine didn’t acknowledge that their healing was undeserved.

No one wants to be the “other nine.” When we receive God’s kindness daily, we choose whether or not to run off with our loot along with the nine or turn around with the one.  What makes the difference for us? Back to verbs, the key may be in what the one did that the nine did not:  “when he saw…”

Before the one responded with gratitude, we’re told “when he saw that he was healed…” he did what the crowd did not. The words here mean to observe and pay attention to something with the eyes, but the verb “saw” also means to “know” with understanding.  When he visibly saw his healed body, he knew the power of Jesus was the source of the change, the same Jesus he called out to for help. The verb tense indicates that it was as he was in the process of observing and knowing he had been healed that he turned around to give thanks.  We are so much better at calling out for help than turning around to give thanks.


While his priority was the Master healer, the priority of the majority was that they got what they wanted and ran off with it.

  • I don’t deserve the good things I am given.
  • God is the source of all good things.
  • To omit gratitude is to misunderstand who I am and Who God is.

The other nine grieved the heart of God, but the one glorified Him.   To those diseased by sin and crying out for healing, God promises, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of God!”  (Psalm 50:23)

If we want to be like the crowd, we can “take, run, and go.”    If we want to be like the one, we must “stop, turn, and drop.”

What is your greatest distraction to stopping, turning, and taking time to give thanks?

Gratitude from the dust

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Yesterday, Kathy gave us a fascinating look at what “thanksgiving” really means. As a refresher from that post:

…the primary meaning of the root word translated in its various forms as “thanks” or “thanksgiving” in the Old Testament, is “to acknowledge or confess sin, God’s character and works, or man’s character.”…Based on the Old Testament understanding, the attitude of thanks we are familiar with is intertwined with confession and praise.

…The NT understanding of thanksgiving is a response to a grace given; the acceptance of a kindness done with the acknowledgement that it was undeserved.

Real thanksgiving is inextricably tied to humility as we confess our sin, acknowledge that we deserve nothing, and praise Him for His grace from a posture of lowliness. In Luke chapter 17, we encounter an unnamed man, a despised Samaritan, who understood what real gratitude meant.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:11-19

Leprosy was a horrible disease. It gradually consumed and disfigured the victim’s entire physical being, interfering with pain receptors and causing the individual to be unaware of touching burning hot surfaces or even the bites of rodents. It didn’t stop with consuming the physical body – this disease also completely consumed all normalcy of life. The diagnosed leper was banned from the town, from their own spouse and children, and sent to live in a colony with others who shared their disease, watching those around them be consumed and eventually succumb to the fate that would eventually take their own lives.

It was with voices raspy with disease and heavily laden with emotion that these men cried out in desperation, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

Jesus does have pity on them. Tomorrow we will look at the ingratitude of the other nine lepers, but today let us ponder the one who came back. Not only was this man a leper, he was also a Samaritan. An outcast among outcasts. The lowliest of the low.

Real thanksgiving is inextricably tied to humility. I think this man was the one who came back because he understood just how undeserving he was, just how unlikely it was that this famous Jewish Rabbi would look him in the eye, take pity on him, and restore his life. His lowliness caused him to more fully recognize Jesus’ greatness and prompted him to fall on his face in humble thanksgiving.

We will not give Him the thanksgiving He is due until we recognize how truly lowly we are. True thanksgiving rises from the dust at Jesus’ feet.  As we consider how to offer Him thanksgiving from our own hearts, we must go lower. Lower into the dust to see how great and worthy He truly is, how desperate and needy we are, how unlikely it is that He would see us and love us as we are. What wondrous love is this!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:28-29

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