The heavy curtain of dark grey overhung the pale blue that faded to blushing orange and pink, reflecting the brighter colors on the silhouetted landscape. It was his favorite time of the day. Quiet, still, cool and constantly changing moods as the palette of colors was dipped with the Creator’s brush to be splashed across the horizon. He looked heavenward and spoke a silent prayer, the words coming deep within his grateful heart.”
–B.N. Rundell (Saguache)
“Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.”
–Mark 14:23 (NKJV)
——————————-
“Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One…”
–Henry Smith
Thanksgiving, a time when we remember and are reminded to be thankful. Shame that we have to have a special day to remind us, but then again, it is a wonderful idea that we do set aside a day to be thankful. Far too often we take things for granted; we don’t even think about being thankful. I understand that we don’t have to be constantly saying, “I’m thankful for the squirrels running up the tree, I’m thankful that I can walk, I’m thankful for…”. I understand that, but at the same time we need to have a heart of gratitude, an attitude of thankfulness.
I received at the beginning of the month a little reminder to be thankful. It is called 30 Days of Thankfulness, and I have used it every morning in my little inspirational thought or jab at the grandkids. I have enjoyed it, and it is a little different as it identifies some things that I really never thought to be thankful for. For example, be thankful for a gadget. It made me think of the tools we use in the kitchen, i.e., just the gadget of a can opener. Another day, be thankful for a scent. Mmmm, the smell of baking bread, of coffee, of bacon frying. (How come they all related to food?) The fresh smell after a rain.
The idea was to get our minds geared to the idea that we are to “give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ for you.” –1 Thessalonians 5:18. Let’s take a look now at some things in the Bible that we are to be thankful for.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” –1 Chronicles 16:8
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” –1 Chronicles 16:34
“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.” –2 Samuel 22:50
“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.” –Psalm 30:4
“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.” –Psalm 75:1
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” –Psalm 105:1
“Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” –Psalm 106:1
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” –1 Corinthians 15:57
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” –Colossians 1:3
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.” –Revelation 11:17
There! That gives you an idea of the reasons why we should give thanks. There are plenty more, but just notice how being thankful draws our attention to God. An attitude of gratitude–remember that. And most of all, let me finish the lyrics of Henry Smith:
“Give thanks because He’s given
Jesus Christ, His Son.”
Just think, contemplate, recognize, meditate upon the goodness of the Lord and what He has done for us. Yes, Give Thanks!
“Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.”
–Mark 14:23 (NKJV)
——————————-
“Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One…”
–Henry Smith
Thanksgiving, a time when we remember and are reminded to be thankful. Shame that we have to have a special day to remind us, but then again, it is a wonderful idea that we do set aside a day to be thankful. Far too often we take things for granted; we don’t even think about being thankful. I understand that we don’t have to be constantly saying, “I’m thankful for the squirrels running up the tree, I’m thankful that I can walk, I’m thankful for…”. I understand that, but at the same time we need to have a heart of gratitude, an attitude of thankfulness.
I received at the beginning of the month a little reminder to be thankful. It is called 30 Days of Thankfulness, and I have used it every morning in my little inspirational thought or jab at the grandkids. I have enjoyed it, and it is a little different as it identifies some things that I really never thought to be thankful for. For example, be thankful for a gadget. It made me think of the tools we use in the kitchen, i.e., just the gadget of a can opener. Another day, be thankful for a scent. Mmmm, the smell of baking bread, of coffee, of bacon frying. (How come they all related to food?) The fresh smell after a rain.
The idea was to get our minds geared to the idea that we are to “give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ for you.” –1 Thessalonians 5:18. Let’s take a look now at some things in the Bible that we are to be thankful for.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” –1 Chronicles 16:8
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” –1 Chronicles 16:34
“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.” –2 Samuel 22:50
“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.” –Psalm 30:4
“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.” –Psalm 75:1
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” –Psalm 105:1
“Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” –Psalm 106:1
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” –1 Corinthians 15:57
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” –Colossians 1:3
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.” –Revelation 11:17
There! That gives you an idea of the reasons why we should give thanks. There are plenty more, but just notice how being thankful draws our attention to God. An attitude of gratitude–remember that. And most of all, let me finish the lyrics of Henry Smith:
“Give thanks because He’s given
Jesus Christ, His Son.”
Just think, contemplate, recognize, meditate upon the goodness of the Lord and what He has done for us. Yes, Give Thanks!