Gratitude is thanking God for His abundant blessings in our everyday lives. It’s acknowledging the big and the little, the complex and the simple. It’s realizing that what I have, I don’t deserve; and what I think is difficult, could always be worse.

Yes it is all those things! But Gratitude is so much more…

Gratitude goes beyond the sweet, the lovely, the pleasant, the gift-wrapped, bow-tied packages… Gratitude is realizing that whatever I’m going through today, and whatever my family is facing, is part of a bigger picture that God is painting. While I see only a line on the paper, a streak of color, He sees the completed work – perfection. Gratitude trusts a holy God with a divinely appointed plan. It is knowing and believing that the joys and blessings and smiles, as well as trials and challenges and tears, are all part of life’s classroom – and the test we face is the choice to receive or resist the grace of God – today, tomorrow, next week.

We all face difficult moments in life. Some are harder than others. Today may seem darker than yesterday for one person; but perhaps the sun is beginning to break through the clouds for another. Day begins to dawn, with the rising sun; but with the end of the day comes a season of darkness…waiting, watching, praying, hoping. These are the moments that we are offered God’s incredible grace, and the chance to trust His bigger purposes when we cannot see beyond the pencil lines of today. But it is a choice each person must make – each family must make.

Recently we began to have a time of sharing around the table at each meal, as a family. When we gather together for a meal, we go around and share areas of gratitude, things that we are grateful for. What a joy it is, to exhort one another daily – to hear father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter – sharing what they are grateful for, and why! It brings peace and harmony to the table. It fills the home with joy and gratitude. Hearts overflowing with praise and thanksgiving – it is bringing glory to God’s name. When we would have been tempted to complain, or be anxious about the upcoming events of a busy day, or to fall beneath the burden of a trial hard to bear… we are reminded of so many wonderful blessings that God has bestowed upon us, that we are not worthy to receive.

This week we were reminded of Paul, who endured unimaginable trials, and was deprived of all his worldly possessions but the very clothes on his back – yet even then, he exhorted his fellow believers to be thankful for everything, always, and to be anxious for nothing, fully content.

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness…” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

We are learning as a family, to put aside the worry, fear, grumbling, complaining, murmuring, despair that could accompany the trials we encounter in life. Rather, let us watch and wait for the dawning of the morning. Let us rejoice and be thankful, that we serve a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. His compassion fails not. Praise the Lord!

What are you facing today as a family, or as an individual. If you are not facing a trial right now, you are sure to face one at some time in the future. Purpose to take the path of gratitude, even when you do not feel like it.

The choice to be grateful, is the choice to receive God’s blessed gift of overwhelming joy! Gratitude and joy go hand in hand; yes, they are inseparably linked!

Only He sees the bigger picture. Remember, He is the Master Artist. We see only the glimpse of today, the moment of time we are living in. Trust the One Who sees the perfect ending. He knows best!

So let us die to self, that we may live for Christ. Let us endure the pruning, that we may bear more fruit! Let us press on through the times of refining and purging, that we may come forth as gold (Job 23:10). May the likeness of Christ be seen in our lives, as we choose to respond with gratefulness!!! It is a choice.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice…Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true…honest…just…pure…lovely…of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

Recently we were blessed with the opportunity to attend several sessions by Dr. Jim Logan and Rev. Paul Jordan, at the JAARS Center here in Waxhaw, NC. Dr. Logan spoke at the Regional ATI Conferences back when the Nashville Conferences were located in Knoxville (before I was old enough to remember him ). We had heard his series on spiritual warfare, over several weeks of hosting Sunday night small groups, and were very encouraged and challenged by them as a family.

So it was with great excitement and anticipation that we traveled the short distance to JAARS each morning and evening, Sunday through Wednesday. What an incredible blessing it was! I was deeply challenged by many things that Dr. Logan and Mr. Jordan shared, and wanted to share some thoughts from the week. I took pages of notes in my devotional journal, and have been looking back over them throughout this week. So many valuable truths from Scripture have stuck to me and become fresh reminders again and again and again, to keep on the right path and walk in victory.

 ”Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free; and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – Galatians 5:1

3 Steps to Intimacy with God:

1. Be Still – without stillness, there is no knowing.

2. Be quiet before the Lord.

3. Be slow – learn to meditate and glean insights from the truths of God’s Word.

Other meaningful insights shared by Dr. Logan and Mr. Jordan:

• You’re not godly because of what you don’t do; You’re godly because of what you DO do.

• Believers have a distorted view of God, because they are bitter about negative life experiences, and they walk through life with a distorted view of God – especially if they have a bad relationship with their earthly father (as God is a heavenly father).

• If I don’t take a wrong thought captive, it will captivate me, like a snowball that becomes an avalanche because it wasn’t stopped…

• I can’t choose what I will go through in life, because God is sovereign, but I can choose how I respond to what I go through. Circumstances won’t change; but my attitude and answer can. The worst things can be the best things when I learn to see God’s bigger picture and choose to respond rightly…

• Satan can only control me to the extent that I let him. He cannot have any ground that I do not release to him. I am just as free to say no, as to say yes!

• The good can keep me from the best; often good is the enemy of the best.

• Satan is not satisfied with an inch. He always wants just a little more. And once I give him ground, what is to stop me from giving him more and more and more…?

• People always say, “…you just don’t understand what I’m going through! You just can’t imagine the pain I’m feeling...” as if they are experiencing the exception to the rule. The real truth is, “You just don’t understand HOW powerful God is!“

• We think, “Why this trial?” But we should be thinking, “Why have I experienced so many blessings and joys and comforts that life is not ALWAYS one huge painful trial?”

• The most beautiful rugs are the ones with the flaws hidden inside… (Read the story HERE).

• I can become better or bitter. It is my choice. – P.J

• What I am going through doesn’t even compare to what Jesus went through…

• People don’t look at a butterfly as a converted worm. It is an entirely new creation. The butterfly’s nature is to crawl on its belly, but it has been given the ability to fly – it can fly! Likewise, believers are made a new creation at salvation. Our tendency is to walk after the flesh, but we can walk in the spirit. (Read the story HERE).
  

• Forgiveness doesn’t undo the past. It doesn’t bring back a dead person, or heal a broken bone… but it gives us freedom to live a power-filled walk for Christ.

• Forgiveness is always first a choice. Feelings may come later.

• We are not to resist temptation. That places our focus on the very thing we are trying to resist. We are to resist the devil.

• We’re never tempted to do what we wouldn’t do. Satan knows our weak spots. He goes right to the areas where we have failed in the past, and could easily fail now.

• Information doesn’t change a life. Scripture needs to be internalized!

• Never underestimate the power of the enemy. It is okay to overestimate the power of God.

I was especially challenged by the sessions on prayer, because I had the opportunity to wake up extra early each morning before we left the house, and spend over an hour in prayer with the Lord. Since that time I have been continuing to apply this principle, and it has been so freeing and powerful in my spiritual walk. Truly, I cannot afford to not pray! It has made all the difference in every area of my life – as well as in my family as I pray for them!

Insights on Prayer:

• Prayer must be real and from the heart. The significance is not in the words or tone of voice, but in the heart motive.

• If you miss prayer and it doesn’t bother you, pray about it…

• God is more concerned about where I’m going, not where I am.

• If I want a godly man, I must be the kind of godly woman that a godly man would look for…

I was so encouraged by Mr. Logan’s story about the two trapeze artists, and his enlightening illustration and application to Psalm 37.

Insights taken from Psalm 37

• “Trust in the Lord and do good…” – To trust = a lame man with a crutch, completely dependent.

• “Delight thyself also in the Lord…” – To delight in something = to spend time studying it, reading about it, thinking about it, participating in it, giving time and energy to it…

• “Commit thy way unto the Lord. Rest also…” – The flyer and the catcher… The flyer must do nothing. He must wait on the catcher to catch him, with full faith and trust. If he tries to help the catcher, or go to the catcher, he could suffer severe consequences. He must do absolutely nothing. The catcher has to do the work. I must not only commit to wait and trust, but be still and do nothing…abide.

For more information on Dr. Jim Logan and Reverend Paul Jordan’s ministry, or to find out more about their free resources, visit the Biblical Restoration Ministries Site.

Life has its challenges. We are called to be soldiers in the army of the Lord. He does not promise that the road will be smooth, or the path easy, but that where we tread, He will be there with us; and if we cast our burdens upon Him, He will sustain us. He will not suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22) It’s His promise.

I’m sure we’ve all figured out by now that life is not always a glorious mountaintop experience. Rather, much of what we see from day to day is a slow weary trudge through the valley. We are called to love unlovely people; to view our enemies as God’s agents for our own good; to stand and fight when our flesh cries out in weakness – to just give up! Freedom doesn’t always feel like a butterfly. Forgiveness doesn’t undo what already happened. Love is not just a beautiful feeling toward another person. No, rather, in fact, these three are often at first the result of a fierce inner battle; a struggle to say no to the bondage of sin, and choosing to follow Christ. It can mean clenched teeth and tears. It is only by the complete grace of God! And this begins when I realize how great the love of God is for me, despite all that I  did (and still do) to Him. Then I will experience the joy of the Lord in life!

Today I saw a man, a servant of God, a child of the King of Kings. He said yes to God. He devoted time to study the Word. He opened his mouth in obedience, and shared the Word of the Lord with hungry people in our little congregation. And because he was just an ordinary man that loved his Lord, the words that came from his mouth were oh so extraordinary.

One of the first things he said was this: Don’t let Satan have a foothold in your life!

God knew I needed this. Because it’s been one of those in-the-valley weeks. It’s been long and exhausting and at times just plain hard. You know what I mean. You have those days too. Thank God for a loving family, and His precious Word, and His amazing grace!

The ordinary man that serves an extraordinary God said more. He went through Psalm 86, meditating on each verse, expounding to us with wonderful insights that the Lord showed him this week. I wanted to share a few of those verses with you, because they were a blessing to me.

(verse one) I must be poor and needy to be helped. I must be desperate, and dependent on God alone, not my own strength.

(verse four) I need to give my mind, will, and emotions over to the complete control of God. This is when Satan will not have a foothold in my life. This is when I will experience the complete JOY of the Lord!

(verse seven) I don’t usually recognize God’s goodness until I am “at the bottom”. I walk through the “good” times never realizing where I would be, or what it would be like without God’s goodness. God allows troubles often simply because He wants me to call out. When I do, He will always answer. And no can be an answer too.

(verse eight) Nothing compares to the Lord. Anything I love more than Him is a god. And yet nothing will satisfy, fulfill, complete, or perfect – except for Jesus Christ.

(verse eleven) Am I teachable? Am I yielded to Him? Is my heart sitting on a fence seeking after many different things, or am I undivided? If I ask, He will change my heart that I might fear His name.

(verse twelve) I need to praise the Lord with ALL of my heart, not just in my words.

(verse thirteen) He has raised me up from a shapeless hunk of clay out of the mire; He has molded me. By His great love and compassion, He has delivered me from the grave. He has made me what I am, and who I am.

(verse fifteen) The Lord is kind, stable, faithful, trustworthy. He is the one unchanging constant in the midst of all life’s inconsistencies.

(verse sixteen) He gives mercy. He gives strength. He saves. I must realize that it is His strength and not my own. He wants the glory due unto His name.

Don’t let Satan get a foothold in your life. The King of Kings has created us for so much more. He has made us to be more than conquerors, in Christ Jesus! And it begins with meditating on, and applying His Word to our lives.

Today is the final day of our ThanksLiving Treasure box! The topic is provision, and a very fitting one as we so often and easily overlook the blessings of the Lord upon our everyday lives. The pilgrims rejoiced when spring arrived, and they were able to finish raising the necessary buildings for their settlement. They were surprised by an unexpected visit from a friendly Indian, which in turn led to them meeting another Indian, Squanto. Through Squanto’s help and advice, the Pilgrims learned to grow healthy gardens, hunt, fish, and a number of other useful things they would need to know to survive in this new place. Again, they were blessed by the Lord’s abundant provision to their needs, and thus they set aside a special time of giving thanks to God! Thanksgiving was a time for them to gather with family and friends, and to worship the Lord – with grateful hearts.

Family Insights ~

God as provided us with a beautiful home that truly lends itself to ministry and hospitality; He has faithfully provided us with food and other blessings each day; God has provided for our spiritual needs, even giving us men and women in history that we can look back at who inspire us toward faith, courage, and a closer walk with God; God has given us a large family – and we love each other! God has provided wonderful godly friends for us to fellowship with ; God gives us wise and godly authorities through which He works to counsel us and lead us in the proper path – our parents, church leaders, etc. God has provided us with a godly church, where we can sing and worship in a way that is pleasing to Him – with people that love Him! God provides hope, joy, comfort, peace, in Himself – because He is the ever faithful and true friend, the One that will never leave us or forsake us; He provides for ALL our needs, and far above and beyond!

“And my God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory.” – Philippians 4:19

Today’s topic is Salvation! As the pilgrims endured a season of sickness, suffering, and death, one of the young men who served as a ship’s officer observed them – a man who had been unkind to them, often sneering at them and cursing them. When a wave of sickness swept through the colony, many of the ship’s crew became ill as well, including this man. Through the Christ-like love and forgiveness he received from these men and women of God, his heart was softened, and his life changed. In the midst of their sorrows, this gave the Pilgrims hope. They gave thanks to God, the giver of salvation.

Today we considered this question: “Why and how am I thankful for God’s gift of salvation?”

Family Insights~

I a grateful that my wife and children know Christ; we have opportunities to share the gospel with those around us; We have had the privilege of watching the Lord work in many hearts, drawing them to Himself; God is merciful and does not give us what we deserve; I am free from sin and have freedom to tell others about God’s love and grace; I can ask God for forgiveness and also have an intimate personal relationship with Him; God has blessed me so I can grow up in a godly home and environment; I am grateful for the eternal rewards that are stored up in heaven for us; I am a new creation in Christ! I have the ability to say no to sin and choose to walk in freedom – in Christ! I can be joyful in all things, even the more difficult trials throughout life – by the grace of God.

Praise God for His unfailing love, His faithfulness, His mercy, His grace! That we could be redeemed, rescued, forgiven, and loved by the King of Kings is a glorious thought! He has not only purchased our freedom, but empowered us with His Spirit, given us a purpose worth living and dying for, and made us His adopted children. Let’s thank Him today for the gift of Salvation!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” – Romans 1:16

GeorgeWashington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be: that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grand unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. 

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3rd day of October, A.D. 1789.

[George Washington]

“Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil of which thanks naturally grows. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”

[Henry Ward Beecher]

“We tend to take all the gifts and pleasures and happiness and the joy without saying much to God. We take our health and strength, our food and clothing and our loved ones, all for granted; but the moment anything goes wrong we start grumbling and complaining and we say ‘Why should God do this to me, why should this happen to me?’ How slow we are to thank and swift to grumble.”
[Martyn Lloyd-Jones]

Give thanks! What does it cost us to choose to be grateful? And yet what joy is robbed from us when we instead murmur and complain! We are blessed far above and beyond what we deserve, and someone somewhere does not have as much in some area where we think we lack.  Today is a day to remember all that the Lord has bestowed upon us so graciously, out of His mercy and compassionate love. We possess freedom to worship God in our land; we are granted another day of living and health; we have purpose, and something worth living and dying for; we are the adopted children of God, and are empowered to walk in the freedom of His truth; we are protected from evil and from danger; we have food on our table and a place to live – not  everyone does! The list is endless – try coming up with just 5 new things each day, and you will find throughout the year that so many blessings – the huge and the seemingly insignificant – are too often and easily overlooked. How hard it would be to do without the smallest things we possess, that God has so graciously chosen to grant us! Give thanks – not only because it is Thanksgiving, but because it is another day, filled with the blessings of the Lord. We ought to make EVERY DAY a day of thanksgiving.

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” – Ephesians 5:20

Today’s topic is health! The pilgrims faced a deadly winter as they hurried to build their new colony. Without proper tools, much human strength was required to raise the necessary buildings. With each passing day, they became more and more weak, exhausted, and sick. Throughout the winter, 47 would die from sickness – almost half the colony! Yet, they continued to trust the Lord, finding comfort in the knowledge that their loved ones had gone to be with the Lord.

Today we asked the question, “During the past years, how has the Lord blessed my health?”

Family Insights ~

God provides natural vitamins and medicines to cure our sickness; God has given me health so I can travel to visit my family (Grandma’s insight); He has given us a wealth of health knowledge and physical healing as a family, through various doctors, research, and special diets; He kept me from getting sick last winter; God has protected me from getting sick often, so I can focus on my responsibilities more diligently; God has healed me from many headaches, and given me some understanding as to what has caused them; He protected us from our house mold problem, by providing an ozone machine to use for a time, free of charge!

Be grateful today – not only for the gift of another day to live life – but for the ability to walk, talk, travel, and do special things together as a family. The gift of health is a blessing from the Lord!

“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord…” – Jeremiah 30:17a

Today’s topic is Freedom! The pilgrims finally reached America. A last, they were free to worship the Lord without compromise!  God has given us freedom in so many areas, and He delights when we praise His name and bless Him – from a grateful heart!

I’m grateful for freedom to… sing aloud to the Lord; Praise God and worship Him in public; Share the gospel with others who are lost without going to jail; Pray in public places; Freedom in Christ over sin and bondage; Home school; To own multiple copies of the Bible in our language; To raise up our children in the way of the Lord; to attend gatherings that are centered around Christian principles; To attend a church of our own choice and live according to our standards and convictions; To be outside during school hours (as they were trying to pass a law against this in one state); To own our own business and be entrepreneurs! Freedom from the law of sin and death – victory in Christ Jesus!

Give thanks to the Lord today, for the freedom He has given us! Our freedom was bought with a price. Men and women risked their lives and gave their lives so that we might speak the name of Christ and worship Him publicly. Jesus Christ shed His blood and gave His life, so that we might have victory over the darkness of sin and bondage. Praise the Lord!

“As free (men), and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” – 1 Peter 2:16

He protects me from bad influences; He preserves me from evil and from Satan by equipping me with truth and the weapons of Christian warfare (Ephesians 6); He watches over us when we are travelling; He has protected our health; He has watched over us in many instances where incidents occurred that could have led to serious bodily damage; He protects us from losing our freedom to do what is right – from the public school system; He has prevented us from getting bitten by snakes we have seen around the house; He has kept the tree in the front yard from falling on our house He has all power, might, and dominion and assures us of His trust-worthiness – so that we do not need to fear man but yield ourselves to God alone!

“God is our refuge and our strength; a very present help in trouble.” - Psalm 46:1

In what ways are you grateful for the Lord’s gracious protection?

As a family, we look forward to the time each year, when we can pull out our ThanksLiving treasure box and gather around the family area for a time of gratefulness and remembering. It has been thoughtfully said, “A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it.” And another true statement, by Calvin Coolidge, “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.” We take advantage of the time around Thanksgiving to read again the historical account of the Pilgrims, and their journey of faith to this land, where they could freely worship the Lord. We came across the ThanksLiving box at a Christian book store many years ago, and have faithfully brought it out again and again, year after year since that time.

The ThanksLiving box includes the story of faith and freedom that we know very well today. But we also enjoy the little trinkets and picture/paintings that go along with the chapter for the day. A tablet of paper is also included, with sheets that are divided into 6 categories – one category to be studied and thought about each day as a family. As we go throughout the week, we will read a chapter, discuss thought-provoking questions, and then take time to write something in the day’s category on our sheet – something that we are grateful for in that area.

As this is day one, the topic for gratefulness is The Word of God. The pilgrims chose to leave their homeland and journey to a place where they could freely worship the Lord without compromise; as a result of their courage and determination to do right in the sight of God, we are able to freely own and study the Word of God. We took a few minutes as a family to jot down our ideas – for each one to ask, “Why am I personally blessed by the Word of God? And what are the specific ways that it is most special to me!?” We then shared our ideas… It is sufficient to guide and direct me; it encourages me throughout difficult times in life; It holds precious promises and truth to set me free; It tells me who I am in Christ; It gives me wisdom to make wise decisions and teaches me to live in a way that is pleasing to God; It is living and powerful, a light and a sword; It is filled with practical examples of other people and encourages me that God is always with me… These are some of the ones that our family came up. It is really a very special and encouraging time of sharing, remembering, and being grateful to God for the incredible blessings He has given us! And what a joy it is to be reminded yet again of God’s MERCY, the faith and courage of our forefathers, and those who went before us to defend the faith, risking their lives for the sake of the gospel and the freedom of the generations to come.

As thanksgiving week approaches, let’s remember the history of our nation, those who went before us, and the great God we serve Who is ruler over all! And let’s choose to be grateful!

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” – Psalm 119:105