Thank You, God, For Everything :: By Nathele Graham

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

In the United States, we set aside one day each year and call it “Thanksgiving.” We all have different ways of celebrating that day. Traditionally, families come together and eat way too much food. The traditional meal consists of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, yams, pumpkin pie, and more. When I was young, my family would gather at my grandparent’s house, and we had a feast. There were leftovers for the following week, and the highlight was turkey soup. As a child, I took this all for granted and didn’t understand how much I had to thank God for, so I didn’t thank God for all He provided.

Today, I wonder why people who don’t know God celebrate a day of thanksgiving. Who are they thankful to? Then I think of all that Christians take for granted and wonder why we aren’t more thankful to God every day rather than just one day a year.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). Always be thankful to God.

Paul had been in prison in Philippi; he had suffered much in that city. Paul and Silas had been in prayer when a young woman, who was possessed with a spirit of divination, began harassing them. She was used by some men who made money from her ungodly ability. So, when Paul cast out that demon, her “handlers” were angry, and they had Paul and Silas arrested for practicing their faith openly. They were beaten and thrown into prison where they were shackled. They didn’t get mad at God but sang His praises.

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” them” (Acts 16:25).

This is an example of being thankful in everything but not necessarily for everything. In every situation, be thankful. Their example of faith was heard by all of the prisoners and was instrumental in the jailer coming to salvation. There was an earthquake, but no prisoner escaped. The jailer was happily surprised because he would have had to pay the fine for any and all who escaped. He knew that Paul and Silas were somehow the reason no prisoner escaped.

“Then he called for a light, and sprang in and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house” (Acts 16:29-32).

Their joy of the Lord in a bad situation brought lost souls to salvation.

We need to study Scripture to learn about giving thanks. Paul tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

It isn’t always easy to rejoice. Quite often, there is trouble and grief in our life, and our hearts are burdened with sorrow. I will admit that when my husband died, I was hard-pressed to find anything to be thankful for. When a dark cloud of loneliness comes over me and I’m overcome with grief, that’s when I start praising God for the time Ron and I had together.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:6).

Holidays are notorious times for people becoming depressed. If you are one who is feeling empty during Thanksgiving, then Christmas, try doing what Paul did. Sing praises to the Lord for all to hear. With your whole heart, give thanks to God.

God gave us everything. He created the food we eat and gave us the love of family and friends. It’s important to thank Him; He notices when you don’t. Jesus walked through many towns during His ministry and met many people who had health troubles. He healed the deaf, blind, and lame. He raised a girl from the dead and cast out many demons. One of the worst diseases of that day was leprosy. If you had the misfortune of getting that disease, you were an outcast. You couldn’t come near a healthy person but had to call out “Unclean” so everyone would stay away.

“And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men, that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (Luke 17:12-13).

Their need was great, and they knew that only Jesus could help. The truth is that all of us have great needs, and only Jesus can help. We may not have leprosy, but we have sin. Only Jesus can take that sin away. We need to repent and call out to Him for mercy. He is always ready to forgive a sinner who truly comes to Him for salvation.

“And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed” (Luke 17:14).

Can you imagine the joy they felt when they saw they were healed of that dreaded disease? They should have given thanks to God who healed them, but they hurried to the priest to be declared clean.

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan” (Luke 17:15-16).

Only one of the ten gave thanks to God for the healing. He wasn’t even Jewish, but a Samaritan. Did Jesus notice? “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger” (Luke 17:17-18).

Yes, Jesus notices when we take His blessings for granted. Take time out on Thanksgiving to turn away from football games, and thank God for the abundance of food on the table. If, like Paul, you happen to be in a prison, or homeless, God still loves you. Give thanks to God. Maybe your table isn’t filled with a feast, but remember to thank God for what you do have instead of complaining about what you don’t have. Paul traveled and spread the Gospel, and there were many times when he went hungry. Some of the congregations he had established were grateful and supported him in his missionary work, and he was thankful.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:11-12).

Thank God for what He has given you, and praise Him with all your heart.

It can seem very easy for those men who wrote Scripture under the direction of the Holy Spirit to be thankful even when life was rough. Remember, they were people just like you and me. They hurt when they were beaten, and their stomach growled when they were hungry. The difference is they were completely walking with God and served Him with their whole hearts no matter what their circumstances. I pray that I can walk closer to Him each day and show the lost world what Jesus means to me. I need to sweeten my words to others and openly be thankful for what God has done for me. He shed His blood for my salvation.

Paul gave good advice on how to take our thoughts captive and see God’s blessings through the troubles. “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Turn your thoughts to the lovely things in life, and don’t dwell on the trials. Thank God for all His blessings.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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Give Us A Leader :: By Daymond Duck

Since the mid-term elections, TV and social media pundits are saying, “Biden, Pelosi, Trump, and McConnell are too old. We need fresh blood, someone with new ideas to solve our problems. It is time for someone else to lead, someone that can appeal to young voters, a uniter, not a divider.”

The interesting thing about this is that Bible prophecy teachers have long said there will be an outcry for “a man with a plan” at the end of the age.

We can be sure he (the Antichrist) is coming, and it is even likely that he is alive and ready to answer the call.

It is no coincidence that both parties are calling for a new leader at the same time the New York Federal Reserve Bank and several other banks are conducting a 12-week pilot program (The 12 weeks started on Nov. 15, 2022) to study the use of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Just to let you know, LifeSiteNews posted an article by Emily Mangiaracina dated Nov. 16, 2022, that says:

Some banks involved in the 12-week pilot program are global banks (As global banks, they will impact the global economic system).

The government says CBDCs will speed up transactions and improve the global financial system (They are predicting a worldwide impact).

If the government starts using CBDCs, they can monitor everything people buy and sell (in every nation that uses them).

If the government wants to impose negative interest rates on citizens, the government can charge interest on the money citizens have in the bank.

If the government wants to deduct taxes from citizens’ bank accounts, the government can deduct taxes without the citizens’ permission.

If other nations want to use the CBDC, it can be a multi-national currency (It can even be transformed into a one-world currency).

The U.S. government has not said when a CBDC might be implemented, but the 12-week pilot program is taking place now (It could be implemented when the U.S. government wants to implement it).

(My opinion: The Mark of the Beast will be implemented in the middle of the Tribulation Period. Christians will see it beginning to come to pass, but the Pre-Trib Rapture will remove Christians before it is implemented.)

(Another opinion: At the same time that all of this is beginning to come to pass, globalists want to replace the Ten Commandments in the Bible with ten climate change commandments and make them global law. Should I say Mystery Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth?)

(Another opinion: These prophecies were given almost 2,000 years ago, and anyone that thinks it is just a coincidence or a conspiracy theory that all of these things are happening at the same time needs to think again, and they may need to make their salvation sure.)

Here are more prophecy-related current events that recently made the news.

One, concerning the tracking of all buying and selling: on Nov. 9, 2022, a joint directive by China’s National Health Commission and other health-related agencies called for the healthcare records of China’s 1.4 billion citizens to be digitized and linked to their national ID number by 2025.

Chinese government agencies can then track and deny benefits to any citizen that doesn’t comply with government policies.

Two, concerning the growth of Israel at the end of the age: on Nov. 18, 2022, it was reported that Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to legalize dozens of settlements in Judea and Samaria within 60 days of being sworn in as Israel’s next Prime Min.

This will have to be approved by the Knesset.

Pres. Biden, many world leaders, and the Palestinians will strongly oppose it.

Three, according to Rev. 16:12, the great Euphrates River will dry up during the Tribulation Period to allow the Kings of the East (an alliance of Eastern nations probably under the leadership of China) to move their 200-million-man army into the Middle East in preparation for an attack on Israel.

On Nov. 18, 2022, it was reported that the rainfall in Iraq has declined by 30% over the last 3 decades, almost 40% of Iraq is now desert, dams are reducing the flow of water from Turkey, and the flow of water in the river is now down to about 20% of what it once was.

(Note: This is causing lakes behind dams to dry up, reducing the supply of electricity, causing crop failure, threatening the supply of food and drinking water, and more. It is a major disaster in the making.)

Four, concerning world government: at the recent G20 meeting (19 major nations plus the EU) on Nov. 15-16, 2022, Klaus Schwab, head of the World Economic Forum (WEF), said, “We (the nations) need a “deep systemic and structural restructuring of our world.”

The nations are transitioning to a restructured world (called Build Back Better or The Great Reset) right now, and this transition will lead to the rise of Antichrist and the Tribulation Period.

Five, concerning world government: on Nov. 18, 2022, French Pres. Emanuel Macron said, “We need a single global order” (a New World Order to maintain peace and stability in the world).

Many students of Bible prophecy know the UN goal is 2030 or sooner.

Every day takes us one day closer, and they are going by fast for some people.

Six, concerning the coming world religion and the Conference of Parties (COP27) meeting at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, earlier this month: on Nov. 21, 2022, it was reported that members of the Interfaith Sustainable Development Center took their 10 climate change commandments to Mt. Sinai and smashed them to mirror Moses’s smashing the stone tablets that God wrote the Ten Commandments on.

The 10 climate change commandments were written by the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders, and they were smashed to protest the world’s inaction on climate change.

Seven, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has an undeniable record of supporting unlimited abortion, same-sex marriage, gender conversions, climate change which favors reducing the population of the earth, and Covid-19 vaccinations that cause miscarriages or infertility.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the birth rate in the U.S. has dropped to the point that we are no longer replacing all our deceased citizens.

This has prompted Schumer to say the U.S. has a worker shortage and we need to embrace more immigrants.

Have you got that?

Schumer wants to kill babies of U.S. citizens, pay for transgender operations and Covid-19 vaccinations to prevent babies from being born, etc., but he wants to increase the population of the U.S. with illegal immigrants from other countries.

Who would have ever thought that a U.S. Senator would want to stop U.S. citizens from reproducing and replace them with illegal immigrants?

Eight, concerning pestilence and a deliberate reduction in the population of the earth: on Nov. 22, 2022, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), delivered a speech about Covid-19 at the White House where he said, “I did not imagine, and I don’t think any of my colleagues imagined that we would see a three-year saga of suffering and death and a million Americans losing their lives.”

One million people might not have died if Dr. Fauci and his colleagues had not deliberately blocked the use of Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine.

The blood of one million Americans may be on their hands.

Nine, concerning corruption in the recent elections: a Trump supporter, Kari Lake (R), challenged Arizona’s Sec. of State, Kati Hobbs (D), for Governor.

As Sec. of State, Hobbs was Arizona’s top election official.

The Republican, Lake, called for the Democrat, Hobbs, to resign her position in charge of the election, but Hobbs refused to resign.

There were 223 polling places in Maricopa County where most of the Arizona voters live, and the printer ink in the tabulation machines was too light in 70 of the tabulation machines that were in predominantly Republican areas.

The voting was slowed, and voters were told to leave their ballots so they could be counted someplace else.

With 98% of the votes counted and Hobbs leading by about 17,200 votes, Hobbs declared herself the winner of the election.

Lake has requested a revote in those areas where the tabulation machines failed, and the votes were counted someplace else.

Hobbs, who oversees the election and declared herself the winner, refuses to do it.

As the person in charge of the election, Hobbs had 2 years to be sure the tabulation machines had the right ink in them and they worked properly.

Hobbs’ actions have caused doubt about the validity of the election.

Lake has attorneys reviewing the situation and says she is still in the fight.

Arizona’s Attorney Gen. has ordered Maricopa County to submit a full report on how the election was conducted, and election officials in two Republican-led counties are refusing to certify the election.

(Note: Demonstrators protesting about a stolen election in Brazil have had their bank accounts frozen and been banned from posting information on social media.)

Ten, concerning inflation: on Nov. 19, 2022, the American Farm Bureau Federation reported that the average Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings will cost 20% more in the U.S. this year than last year.

(More: A report by the Heritage Foundation says inflation in the U.S. has cost the average family $7,400 in 2022. At this rate, many families will own nothing before 2030.)

Eleven, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog in the latter days and latter years: this week, I read that Israel is extremely concerned about recent developments in the relationship between Russia and Iran (sale of drones, oil, etc.), so Israel is monitoring and assessing that relationship every day.

(More: On Nov. 21, 2022, it was reported that Israel’s National Security Advisor notified Russia that Israel will start supplying high-precision missiles to Ukraine if Iran starts supplying ballistic missiles to Russia. Putin has warned Israel against supplying weapons to Ukraine.)

Twelve, concerning world government: on Nov. 22, 2022, lifesitenews.com reported that Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano recently told a group of medical doctors (summarized in the words of Vigano and myself):

At the recent G-20 Summit, Klaus Schwab discussed the World Economic Forum’s future steps toward the creation of a world government.

Schwab said: “In the fourth industrial revolution, the winners will take it all, so if you are a World Economic Forum first mover, you are the winners.”

Vigano said, “These (Schwab’s) very serious statements have two implications: the first is that ‘the winners will take it all’ and will be ‘winners.’ The second is that those who do not adapt to this ‘fourth industrial revolution’ will find themselves ousted and will lose – they will lose everything, including their freedom.”

Vigano added, “It is a global coup d’état…. Those who govern nations have all become either enslaved or blackmailed by this international mafia.”

“The driving principles (of people like Klaus Schwab, George Soros, and Bill Gates) are rebellion against God, hatred for the Church and humanity, and destructive fury aimed against Creation and especially against man because he is created in the image and likeness of God.”

“It is not possible to pretend that what is happening before our eyes is solely the result of profit-seeking or the desire for power. Certainly, the economic part cannot be disregarded, considering how many people have collaborated with the World Economic Forum. And yet, beyond profit, there are unstated purposes that stem from a “theological” vision – one that is turned upside-down, it’s true, but still theological – a vision that sees two opposing sides: the side of Christ and the side of the Antichrist.”

“Our battle is not against creatures made of flesh and blood, but against the Principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of evil that dwell in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

As I understand Vigano, there is more behind the creation of a New World Order than well-funded rich men lusting for money and power.

World leaders are under the influence of organized spiritual forces that are working to get rid of God and enslave everyone under an antichrist government.

One of Vigano’s most profound statements is, “There can be no neutrality because when there is a clash between two armies, those who choose not to fight are also making a choice that affects the outcome of the battle.”

Here is a link to the article:

https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/abp-vigano-the-covid-pandemic-farce-served-as-a-trial-balloon-for-the-new-world-order/?utm_source=daily-usa-2022-11-23&utm_medium=email

Twelve, concerning world government: on May 22-28, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) met to vote on 13 amendments the U.S. wanted to a treaty that would give the WHO control over the healthcare of every individual on earth.

12 of the amendments were tabled, and all the nations were given permission to submit amendments until Sept. 2022.

WHO’s consideration of the amendments was scheduled to begin in Nov. 2022.

The WHO soon announced that it would draft a new treaty called the International Pandemic Treaty based on the requested amendments.

The WHO also wanted the power to declare public health emergencies, require a digital passport, and a digital ID system.

So, the WHO said it would draft a treaty that would allow the WHO to:

  • Declare public health emergencies,
  • Control everyone’s health care,
  • Require a digital passport, and
  • Require a digital ID system.

The WHO said it would ask for the New International Treaty to be finalized by 2024 (By 2024 probably means before the end of 2023).

In addition to declaring a public health emergency over nations, the WHO said it would also ask for the power to declare a public health emergency over regions of nations.

Nothing was said about how many regions of nations there will be.

The WHO said it wanted an Emergency Committee of “Regional Directors” (or Regional Czars) that would report to the WHO Director-General.

The WHO would have the power to declare (and enforce) a public health emergency even if the leaders of individual nations disagreed.

This means the WHO Director-General and Regional Directors would have power over the nations.

Think about it: global digital passport, global digital ID system, the world divided into regions under Regional Directors, the Regional Directors reporting to one man (the Director General).

I don’t know if all of this is in the treaty or not, but this I do know: On Nov. 11, 2022, naturalnews.com reported that the New International Pandemic Treaty is in the final stages of development.

According to Mike Adams and Dr. Francis Boyle, the treaty has been “specifically written to overturn the United States Constitution and all domestic laws in every nation worldwide.”

The article says, “In essence, the new WHO pandemic treaty turns the entire world into a China-style medical police state where sovereign nations, states, and individuals themselves have no recognized health freedom rights whatsoever.”

It says, “Even worse, the WHO pandemic treaty calls for global censorship against all who disagree with the WHO, allowing the WHO to dictate which voices or organizations should be removed from tech platforms.”

“In essence, it makes the WHO the ‘Ministry of Truth.'”

Here is a link to an article:

https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-11-22-who-pandemic-treaty-in-final-stages-overrule-us-constitution-medical-dictatorship.html

Here is a link to a video:

https://www.brighteon.com/f6c011ae-e0a1-4693-be9b-60e0ca13ddf5

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com