Quiet Time: Thanksgiving Abounds

Thanksgiving Abounds

For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 

– 2 Corinthians 4:15

I was watching a program the other night where the network's stars from all of the sitcoms and shows sat around a table filled with traditional Thanksgiving chattel. As the camera panned out from a close up of the person seated at the head of the table, she began praying the perfunctory universally acceptable thanksgiving prayer. I wondered out loud, “So, who’s she praying to?”   

The Corinthians had an intimate understanding of the cause for thankfulness. They'd seen their spiritual father, Paul suffer much at the hands of those who opposed the gospel (2 Cor. 1:6). Paul understood that his persecution was for the betterment of the new believers (2 Cor. 4:15; Rom. 8:28). 

The Corinthians had accepted with joy the good news Paul had preached to them, that their sins were wiped away by the blood of Jesus the Messiah, but now they were seeing the price Paul paid for delivering that message to them; his affliction, persecution, and physical torture (2 Cor. 4:7-12). 

Paul’s example of confidence and joy, regardless of the circumstances, inspired the Corinthians to get involved through prayer , giving, and in sharing the Gospel with more fervency (2 Cor. 1:11; 2 Cor. 9:11-12). As a result, many people came to accept salvation through Christ and both old and new believers rejoiced together with hearts full of thanksgiving and praise to God.

Without Christ what’s the point in praying, or being thankful for that matter. 

With Jesus, thanksgiving abounds from here to eternity.

I am thankful for:

·         Church leaders who inspire confidence in following Christ

·         My sins being washed away by the blood of Jesus

·         New believers who experience the joy of their salvation

·         Things not seen eternal and beyond anything I can imagine

Song Series: Happy Am I

Happy Am I

Read: Hebrews 13:1-6

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”        – Hebrews 13:6

I have such fond memories of what some ministries used to call “Children’s Church”. For those of you who’ve not heard of this concept; basically, it was a church service for grade school age kids. We had our own children’s pastor, bible games, flannel graph story times (as close as we got to high tech) and of course, music. Now that I think of it, we even had our own child led worship team.

Basically, it consisted of a trio of us boys who figured out how to sing in harmony. We got pretty good at it and were invited to sing a little ditty called “Do Lord” for the adults in the “Big Church” service. Stevie, Billy, and I stood around a single microphone accompanied by Bob and Avis Swartz on organ and grand-piano respectively. What a hoot! But, singing aside, I think we kids really did learn a lot about Jesus through these kid-centric times together.

We understood that our happiness wasn’t found in hitting a ball better than Bobby or getting better grades than Greg. Our joy wasn’t dependant on being better than anybody or anything at all; joy was found in walking with Jesus. After all, we grew up intimately knowing missionaries, like the Bells, who had very little money but a whole lot of happiness, even after spending three decades in a foreign land. We saw that walking with Christ costs something, yet also observed how the dividends far outweighed the sacrifice. I guess, as kids, we just accepted what the bible had to say as fact; and that was that. Not a bad way to live, actually.

Songs, flannel graphs, and walking talking examples encouraged us to believe that Jesus was enough, so as kids, we believed. Like one of our favorite children’s church songs simply stated, “Happy am I, Jesus is mine forever”.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that Jesus will never leave me nor forsake me. He was enough then and He’s enough now, even when I begin to worry about “Big Church” people stuff.

Happy Am I

Happy am I: Jesus is Mine Forever,

Never to leave: always in each endeavor,

Leading me on - in a life ending never.

Giving a smile, every mile, - happy am I.

Happy am I: all of my sins forgiven,

What a great day: Life is now worth the living!

One of these days, I'll be enjoying heaven,

Now that I know, upward I'll go - happy am I.

Happy am I! How can I help but shout it?

Every day - telling the world about it;

Jesus is real - only believe, don't doubt it.

Then you will be happy like me; happy am I.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3bzNZng1Uc&feature=related