Showing posts with label Thanks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thanks. Show all posts

Monday, August 18, 2014

I Am Greatly Blessed

We all occasionally fall into the trap of feeling sorry for ourselves. I do this sometimes because my job usually requires me to work 60-65 hours per week. If I don't push back against it, these types of feelings can consume me.

I was reminded today just how blessed I am. This morning I spent a total of close to two hours being driven around Delhi. I saw numerous people living in wretched conditions. The poverty extends far beyond anything in the United States. Frankly, words can't accurately describe it. You literally have to be here to understand it.

Additionally, and more significantly, India is a country consumed with false religions. Today I saw multiple temples to various Hindu gods. I haven't seen many Muslims yet, but I know that over 200 million followers of Allah live in this country (compared to over 800 million Hindus). While there is a Christian presence here, it is extremely small in overall percentage.

Meanwhile, I have a job that pays the bills, no deep financial problems, a fantastic family, and - most importantly - know the Lord. I am blessed.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Only One Who Doesn't Need to Give Thanks

We have all been given great gifts in our lives. The number would be too big to count if we actually took the time to think about it in detail. I'm using the term "gift" here to refer to any good thing in life, not just what we unwrap at Christmas.

Some of the thanks we owe for these gifts goes to those close to us. For example, I owe much thanks to my parents and my wife.

There is one being who deserves ALL my thanks - God.

Interestingly, God is the one being who owes no thanks to anyone else. How could He? He has never been given anything. He is the Creator and the Redeemer. To Him be the glory!

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." Psalm 24:1-2

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything." Acts 17:24-25

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!

Psalm 107:1-43

1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons --
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two.
17 Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters,
24 They see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.
25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26 They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.
31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings.
36 There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease.
39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock.
42 The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

100 Things for Which I'm Thankful

This is a list of 100 things I am thankful to God for. The list is by no means exhaustive. It does have some order to it, but is also somewhat random. The links have little rhyme or reason to them.

1. The Trinity
2. God the Father
3. God the Son
4. God the Holy Spirit
6. The life of Christ
7. The cross of Christ
8. The death of Christ
10. The victory of Christ
11. The intercession of Christ
12. The second coming of Christ
13. The eternal reign of Christ
14. Grace
15. Mercy
16. Hope
17. Faith
18. Love
19. Creation
20. Nature
21. Being created in the image of God
22. Salvation
23. Predestination
25. Justification
26. Redemption
28. Adoption
29. Sanctification
30. Glorification
31. Eternal life
32. Seeing God
33. Serving God
34. Heaven
35. Hell
37. New Jerusalem
38. The bible
39. The truth of the bible
40. The inspiration of the bible
41. The authority of the bible
42. The sufficiency of the bible
43. My family
45. My children (Caroline, Mary, and Bobby)
46. My parents
47. Family bible study/worship
48. Spending time with family
50. Watching my kids learn
51. Learning from my kids
52. Reading
54. Growing together in Christ
55. Singing to God
56. Encouraging and being encouraged
57. Edifying and being edified
58. Preaching the scriptures
59. Learning from others
60. Celebrating the Lord's Supper
61. Singing old hymns
62. Singing modern hymns
63. Singing praise choruses
64. Spending time with other friends
65. Being included in God's mission to the lost
66. Sharing the gospel
67. India
69. Indian friends
70. Living in India for four months
71. Chai tea
72. My son is healthy
74. Seeing God heal my son
75. Remission
76. Legos
77. Living in the South
78. Living in Georgia
80. The historic district of Savannah
82. Our time in seminary
86. Running/jogging
87. Swimming
89. Fires in the backyard
90. S'mores
91. Coffee
93. Cub Scouts
94. Campouts
95. Modern transportation
96. College football
97. Baseball
99. e-mail

What are you thankful for?