True Thanksgiving Is Thanksliving

In my early days in the gospel ministry, I had some wonderful examples in regard to the matter of practicing thanksgiving. My pastor, Rev. Ray Carpenter, always responded to the kindness and help of others by expressing his thankfulness. Many times I remember seeing him jot a note to someone or make a telephone call to express his gratitude for something that was done.

The Scriptures are replete with admonitions about giving thanks: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:20). "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6). I often try to begin my day by giving the Lord God thanks and praise. Sometimes I will just sit down and write down all the things and all the people that I am thankful to God for. It is amazing how long the list can become when you think of all the spiritual blessings we have in Christ Jesus plus the physical and material blessings that we have from the Lord! Without His provision and protection, we would be destitute and destroyed.

Giving the Lord thanks will bring a joyful outlook into your life. We may have experienced sorrow or we may have heavy burdens upon our hearts, but when we give thanks to the Lord it lifts our spirits and encourages us!

Let me encourage you to practice thanksgiving "to the Lord and to others." Not only do I try to have a time regularly to express thanksgiving to the Lord, but I also try to be alert and prompt in expressing thanks to others who have helped me along life's road. It certainly can edify someone else when they know that they are loved and appreciated!

Let me share just a thought of a Thanksgiving sermon that I have been working on. It is from the text in Acts 28, when Paul is on his journey toward Rome and is met by some of the Christian brethren at a place called "Three Taverns." It says in Acts 28:15, "...when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage." What does this passage mean?

    1. Paul had a VISION that helped him in thanksgiving. When Paul saw these brethren, he gave the Lord thanks. We
        need to open our eyes to the blessings of the Lord through our brothers and sisters in Christ so that we might give
        give the Lord thanks.

    2. Paul VERBALIZED his thanksgiving to the Lord. Every blessing that we receive is from the Lord's hand (James 1:
        17). Whether it be some brethren who encourage us or God's provision and protection for us, we need to give the
        Lord thanks.

     3. Paul received VALOR from his thanksgiving. By being thankful, it helped the Apostle to be courageous as he
         faced his trial, imprisonment, and impending death in Rome. There is something about thanksgiving that helps us
         to be brave in facing the trials of life.

True Thanksgiving Is Thanksliving,
Pastor David Blevins