gratefulness Archives – Page 4 of 9

June 6, 2022June 6, 2022

Count Your Blessings

Ps 37 David counsels “us” on how to handle life when the bad guy wins, and you are striving to do good, and it seems that you have lost out. You strive to save your money and shop frugally, yet the guy next door has it all. But does he really? Let’s take a look. David says those guys “seem” to succeed, but in reality, they are the guys who are living hand to mouth every day of the week. If you could look at their bank accounts, you would see that reality!

David speaks to those who don’t see the glitter and glamour. He says don’t fret three times! Instead, trust God. Commit your future to the Lord. Wait patiently for Him. Don’t envy! When Peter complained: we have left all to follow you; what’s in it for us, Jesus promised blessings which he enumerated in the Sermon on the Mount [Matt 5:3-11]

Trust in the Lord, Delight in the Lord. Today, don’t fret, don’t envy. And count your blessings, name them one by one, and you will see what God has done!

April 23, 2022April 23, 2022

What is on your wish list?

2Chron 1-3 How would you answer God?

What is on your wish list? Is it for fame, riches, glory? Is your wish list compatible with God’s? When God asked Solomon, he said, “May your promise to my father be realized…” [2Chron 1:9] Because he did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, God was pleased and added those besides the one thing he asked for.

What about us? How would we answer God’s question?

We have been blessed beyond all we could ask or think. God has promised us that if we seek him, he will be found. The gospel writer Matthew wrote the words of Jesus: “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.”[Matt 7:7] The Apostle John added that: “Now this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” [1Jn 5:14]

What is on your wish list? Will you claim the promises of God?

April 7, 2022April 7, 2022

Using Your Spiritual Gift

2Kings 4-6 God heard the prayer of Elisha. He asked that he receive a double spiritual gift if he saw Elijah depart to heaven. When God responded to his humble request, he didn’t just take that gift and put it on the shelf. He used that gift to meet the needs of those who were hurting. Do we do the same? What spiritual gift has God placed in your hands that can be used to minister to the hurting? The Ephesians had the gift of ministry, but they had left their first love. (Rev 2:4) Have we been busy with sundry tasks but have left our first love? What does that look like? It looks like selfishness because we are keeping God’s gift to ourselves. Instead, God has given it to us to minister to others.

Remember this principle: “If your enemy is hungry, give him foot to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” [Prov. 25:21-22] And when you are obedient to that you will hear: well done, thou good and faithful servant. [Luke 19:17]

What do I want to hear from the Savior’s lips today?

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021

The Holy Spirit and Christmas

1Cor 12 It is December, and that means Christmas is coming! God gave us the best Christmas gift ever when He sent His Son Jesus. But, God also plans ahead and He had your name on a special gift; the Spirit to reside with you FOREVER AND EVER!

Jesus said: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;” [Jn 14:16] He is our permanent teacher, not just on Christmas morning but FOREVER! and EVER! In addition, Jesus prayed that; ” But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.” [Jn 14:26] And then in 1Cor 12, we read that the Spirit gives; better than Santa! He also distributes; not to just good boys and girls but to every saved believer as He wills. He works all these things for His glory and that we might edify others and especially the church. There may be a diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit who does all of this and more, and we are to receive each one gratefully.

Since eternity the Spirit has been actively distributing gifts, and you are blessed to have received His gift, whether it be knowledge or wisdom or the gift of x, y, z as he gave to Daniel.

Do you know your gift? Do others recognize that you have been anointed with the Holy Spirit? Are you grateful for the gifts He has given to you?

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

“Gimme” or Grateful

John 6 Today we are bombarded with trinkets, gifts, and so on and in fact so much that we have become the “gimme” generation, and this is not new. In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and dialogs with her about living water. She says, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” [Jn 4:15] Now Jesus feeds the 5000, and soon after, they come to him and say, give me the manna that does not quit just like the manna our forefathers had in the wilderness. Jesus reminded them: “I tell you the solemn truth; you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.” [Jn 6:26] Translation: you want something free, and you are not grateful for what you have been given.

In both cases, each wanted something for nothing, and so Jesus tells them about work. “So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires—to believe in the one whom he sent.” [Jn 6:28-29] Paul reminded the Corinthians, which is a reminder to us as well: “These things happened as examples for us so that we will not crave evil things as they did.” [1Cor 10:6]

Challenge: Am I a “gimme” person, or am I a person who is grateful for what I have received?

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021

“God’s Mercy!”

2Chron 33 There is nothing like hooks in your nose, bronze chains, and extradition to a foreign land; a prison cell, cold gruel, day-old bread, and water to awaken your senses, and that is what happened to King Manasseh. He then “realized that the Lord is the true God” and repented. It was because of the mercy of God that he was released and returned to his kingdom. God’s mercy is overflowing!

God has placed this event to remind us that it begins with how you pay attention to the Lord and His Word. A word of caution here: his sin, just like ours, does impact family and children. His unrepentant son Amon is proof of that.

The Chronicler records these words: the annals record all his sins and unfaithful acts, and identify the sites where he built high places and erected Asherah poles and idols “before he humbled himself.” [2Chron 33:19] Mark that last phrase: he humbled himself, and that is what God is seeking.

You can listen and repent now, or you can do it later, but beware because God doesn’t guarantee there will be a tomorrow. Unfortunately, Amon learned that lesson the hard way; his life ended in an assassination.

March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

Keep Memories Alive

Judges 1-3:6 Memories Fade

What do we do to keep memories alive and fresh? We keep diaries, journals, and we rehearse orally. Yet, as so often happens, the succeeding generation, just like today, forgets, and the glory days quickly fade from memory. The Israelites were to enter a time of testing that God allowed. He did this “to test Israel…whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk in it as their fathers did, or not.” [Judges 2:22]

When the older generation passes on, we want to recall the benefits of their wisdom, so we rehearse that we may glean what insight they left us. That is what the Israelites needed. They needed a new commitment to God and His ways. But as so often the case, the hearts of the people failed and became short-sighted. They forgot how God had protected them. The author of Judges asks us to stop and recall the past, where it was when Joshua died, and what happened after and learn the lessons of a fading memory. Recall Joshua’s words: you are disobedient children, and what you say, you will not do. How quickly we forget.

Are we sharing the past with our children? Are we teaching them the lessons of the past? Are we asking: how is this relevant to me today?

March 17, 2021March 17, 2021

What Do You Want God to Do For You?

Deut 17 God knew the Israelite kings would lose sight of Him because most of their wants were selfish. That is why God gave the king some parameters to keep their focus heavenward, not here on earth. Like the king, the Israelites were not satisfied with just manna. They wanted meat a.k.a. horses, women, and money. That is why God reminded them to not multiply them.

When Jesus came on the scene, people were looking to be fed what the world would give rather than the Bread of Life come down from heaven. In fact, while Jesus served here on earth, he often asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Not one responded I want to be more like you. Not one responded, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I lack nothing.” Not one responded I am more blessed to give than receive.

It is not wrong to ask God for things because He is our heavenly Father; “All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.” [James 1:17] God does tell us to ask for His provision in our life as well as other things. However, when we ask with wrong motives, so we may spend it on our selfish pleasures; God is not pleased.[James 4]

Are you prepared to ask God what He wants for you and not what you want?

Is your heart right before God as you enter your closet to pray?

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Remember–then Share

Deut 14 to 16 We set aside different dates to remember various events, and soon we will remember the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. God set aside dates so the Israelites would recall events in their past and how the God of their provision was a God of promise. It is a privilege to know that one is chosen and elected to serve the most Holy God of the universe; thus, each date is to be a celebration of what God has accomplished.

As we celebrate, may we also remember the poor among us who have little to bring to the altar of sacrifice. We who have much are then to give out of our abundance to supply what the poor lack. We must not “must not harden our heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition. Instead, open your hand and generously lend him whatever he needs.” [Deut 15:7]

Today many are poor due to extenuating circumstances due to the COVID. Today, some are in our communities, some in our churches, and some are homeless as they have lost all. Our hearts must be open to giving and giving wherever God reveals. We must remember that God is the God of provision, and He has blessed us beyond measure so that we might be able to reach out and touch the lives of those who in need.

God provides so we may share.

February 28, 2021February 28, 2021

The Antidote to Complaining

Numbers 11 Are you a complainer? Complaining is another way of saying we are ungrateful. The Israelites had left Egypt with an abundance of materials of gold and silver and leaders that led them faithfully. Yet, the people began to be weary and with weariness began complaining. Complaining is like a plague; it infects the whole lot.

Complaining only selectively remembers the past. The Israelites began to recall the past of their lives in Egypt. Complaining is Satan’s favorite tool. He offers the sweet without the sour. He taints our memory to say it was not so bad. He wants you to remember the glory without the ugliness. That is Satan’s tool. It is what we call the selective memory syndrome. Your memory only remembers the good, and glorifies the bad. These Israelites began to think slavery was not so bad after all and began to remember the delicious foods that were abundant. Like them, we forget the ugliness of our sin and forget the price Jesus paid to release us from that sin. Beware of Satan’s tools; don’t fall into his trap and begin to whine with the “oh, woe is me” prayer.

The next time you feel a complaining infection setting in, go to God. Seek His face, seek his forgiveness for your complaining and then watch Him work.