Thanking God

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Thanksgiving 2021

As God has blessed me with seeing another Thanksgiving in my life, I want to give some thanks and share some of His wonderful deeds in my life.

I thank God for:

1) Jesus paying the price for my sins

2) The salvation given to me

3) His great love for me

4) His Holy Spirit guiding me

5) My wonderful wife and marriage of 29 years

6) My 2 wonderful daughters

7) My 6 wonderful boys

8) My great son-in-law

9) My great daughter-in-law

10) My wonderful grandson

11) My great pastor

12) The jobs I have and had

13) His provision of food

14) The house I live in

15) His provision of vehicles

16) My wonderful dog

17) The 20+ wonderful cats

18) Friends

19) Extended family members

20) Living in Texas

21) Living in the country

22) My health

23) His protection in an accident my wife and I were in

24) His healing touch many times

25) His word-the Bible

26) The freedom to be able to worship Him openly

27) The struggles that have pushed me closer to Him

28) The many readers of my blog

29) The lives God has touched through me

30) The air that I breath

31) The stars and moon at night

32) The sun during the day

33) The needed rain

34) Cooler days

35) All my clothing

36) My hearing

37) My vision

38) The places I have been able to travel and see

39) Missionaries around the world

40) God fearing leaders in my life

41) The computer I use to write this blog

42) The internet to reach people around the world

43) Memories of all the good things God has done

44) The many experiences I have had

45) The large library of books I have

46) Godly speakers who have spoken into my life

47) The land that I own

48) The men’s group at our church

49) Our small bible study group

50) God’s presence in my life

51) The education I have had over the years

52) My time in the Army and National Guards

53) Living in the United States of America

54) The years I have lived on this earth

This is just a small list of one or more things that I am thankful to God for. It is one for each year that God has allowed me to live on this earth.

As I give thanks to God today, and every day, what are you thankful for? How has God blessed you?

Take time to give thanks to God and tell someone of what He has done in your life.

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2 Corinthians 9:12 Double Purpose To Give

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 2 Corinthians 9:12

There are many organizations that urge people to give generously in order to help other people out. In America, they have made a dual purpose to give. One is to help others out, while the other is to get a tax write-off at the end of the year on the income taxes.

The world recognizes the need to help others out and attempt to make good on selfish reasons to do so.

Paul just commended the church for their selfless giving to help others out. He recognizes that this not only supplies the needs of other believers, but is also an expression of thanks to God.

While many recognize the need to give in order to help others, they do not always see it as a means of expressing thanks to God also. God has given people money and things for two purposes. One is to provide for their own needs, and the other is to provide for the needs of others.

At the time God sent Jesus to die on the cross, He had dual purpose in giving His Son. One is to provide forgiveness for those who believe in Him, the other is to provide a way to have fellowship with fallen man.

As a believer generously gives from his heart to the needs of others, he is telling God thanks for what He has blessed him with. He is not being selfish and hoarding what God has blessed him with to himself, but is sharing it from a loving and generous heart.

When this generous giving is done, people will praise God for His provision and the obedience of the other believers.

Regardless of how much or how little you have, you have been blessed with God with what you have. God is your provider of all that you have and need. Instead of hoarding and keeping it to yourself, give to others who are in need.

Your giving will be a blessing from God to others and an expression of thanks and trust to God for what He has given you. In all of your giving, you will never be able to out give what God can and has given you.

How are you thanking God today for what He has given you?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will see what God has blessed you with; that God will show you ways to share what He has given you; that you will show thanks to God by giving to others in need; and that many will see and praise God because of your generous giving.

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Psalm 136:1 Give Thanks To The Lord

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Parents strive to teach their children to be polite. One of the ways they are often taught is in saying thank you to someone when they receive something. Saying thank you shows appreciation to someone for what was given or done.

Many parents will even have the child write a thank you note. This takes the appreciation to another level, because it takes extra time and effort to write that note.

Although this is often taught, many tend to forget to say thank you to a person who did something for them. Adults tend to forget to appreciate those who give them a helping hand.

One area that many forget to give thanks is with God. The psalmist states that God’s love endures forever and that He is good. This psalm starts out with giving thanks to God several times and then ends with giving thanks to God. In the middle he reminds the people that God’s love endures forever twenty-six times.

At times in life, when everything is going hay-wire and nothing seems to be going right, a person may forget to give thanks to God. He may be looking at life and wonder what there is good to thank God for.  You may even be in that position right now, or have been there, and most likely will be there some day.

If you are there, look back on what God has done for you in the past. As the psalmist looks back and remembered what God had already did, he was able to give thanks and remember that His love does indeed last forever.

The greatest thing that God has given you is His love. That love is shown ultimately on the cross, bringing you salvation that you did not earn or deserve.

God’s love for you will never end. Each day God shows His great love in many different ways. You can breath, move, read His Word, and talk to Him are the bare minimum. God’s provision in this life and this world are examples of His love.

What can you give thanks to God for today?

How many blessings can you count each day?

Think about how God’s love does endure forever in your own life.

I pray today that you will know God’s love more and more; that you will not forget to thank God for what He has done and is doing in your life; and that you will know the blessings God has given you.