BE THANKFUL
While on a short-term mission trip, Preacher Jack Hinton was leading worship at a leper colony on the island of Tobago. A woman who had been facing away from the pulpit turned around.
“It was the most hideous face I had ever seen”, Hinton said. “The woman’s nose and ears were entirely gone. She lifted a fingerless hand in the air and asked, ‘Can we sing “Count Your Many Blessings.”?”
Overcome with emotion, Hinton left the service. He was followed by a team member who said, “I guess you’ll never be able to sing that song again.”
“Yes I will,” he replied, “but I’ll never sing it the same way.”
BE THANKFUL
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
~Author Unknown~
So many times we fail to express thankfulness and instead show our discontent with the things we have in life. We may very well need an attitude adjustment to be thankful for the things we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have.
Tom Tune who was a missionary to Hong Kong gave an illustration with reference to where we live and how we should be thankful. He pointed out that in Hong Kong over 500,000 people live in squatter’s huts. More than 150,000 live in bed spaces. In the day they are rented by night workers and at night be day workers. More than 60,000 live on rooftops and about 50,000 in cocklofts, 12,000 in basements, 10,000 in stalls and caves, and about 30,000 live in boats and hulks. There is as many as 3000 people living on one acre of ground and in one six acre tract there were 100,000 people living. More than 20,000 people in Hong Kong have no housing of any kind. They sleep in the street. Each night they wander around waiting for the 9:00 hour when the shops close so they can put their beds outside the doors. NOW WHAT DO YOU HAVE (OR HAVE NOT) OVER WHICH TO BE UNTHANKFUL FOR?????
We need to have a deep appreciation for the simple and necessary things of life avoiding over emphasizing the luxuries of life. The bible says:
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I hope you have been to worship today to give thanks to the God of the heavens that makes all things possible for you.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Johnson Oatman
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing, as the days go by.
When you look at others with their land and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy,
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small
Do not be discourage, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journeys end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one’
Count your blessings; see what God hath done;
Count your blessing; name them one by one;
Count your many blessing, see what God hath done.
THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK –
“Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that thankfulness is indeed a virtue”
William J. Bennett
“If you have nothing to be thankful for, make up your mind that there is something wrong with you.”
“A grateful mind is a great mind”
God Bless Us All
Raymond L. Stiner