“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).

When I was growing up, Thanksgiving was an important day. My grandmother cooked all of her special recipes (I still make them today), the best dinnerware was set on the table, cloth tablecloths were used, and the family would gather to give thanks to God. We all wore our “Sunday best” clothes; the girls wore dresses, and the boys wore slacks and dress shirts. It was a special day, and even as a child, I knew I had a lot to be thankful for. Not only for the feast that was about to be devoured, but for the blessings of family and the blessings of a home to live in and not facing hunger.

The older generation taught the younger generation the importance of giving thanks to God for all He provides. That gratitude has never left me, but I often wonder about those who have no belief in God. They celebrate Thanksgiving, but to whom are they thankful? Christians know exactly who blesses us every day, and we know we need to thank God for everything, but do we?

These days, it seems as if the day set aside to be thankful is spent watching football. The kids are stuck on their phones, and very little thankfulness or family time is stressed. Even in Old Testament times, the great heroes of Scripture thanked God. The feasts of Israel are all centered around God. The Psalms are filled with praises to God, and Job made the great declaration “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

Job, King David, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, and others knew God, and they served Him; they believed His promise of redemption and were thankful. Did they understand all of the details of Jesus’ birth? No, but they believed God and looked forward to the Messiah coming. The Psalms have more joy and thanks giving to God than is found in many Christian hearts today.

Is God an imaginary being who lives somewhere in the wild blue yonder, or do you know Him as your Saviour?

God is not imaginary; He is real, and His love is the greatest love there is. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

God’s Son willingly left Heaven’s glory, stepped into this fallen world, and shed His own blood for the salvation of everyone who believes. Now that’s something to be thankful for. God is very real, and Jesus is God. Jesus was crucified, but the grave couldn’t hold Him. He arose from the grave and conquered death. Thank you, Jesus, thank You so much!

When we humble ourselves and repent of our sin, our salvation is secure. Like Job, we know that our redeemer lives!

The difference between Christians today and the people who lived in Old Testament times is the cross. Jesus brought grace and mercy to mankind, and reconciliation for the curse of the sin we all inherit from Adam. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

Are you thankful for that? You should be. We all should thank God every day for His love and blessings. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

We all are born into this world, and even the most precious baby has a sinful nature.

Only being born a second time – born of the Spirit through faith in Jesus – is the only way that sin can be forgiven. No works and no other religion can bring salvation. Only God can be thanked for that.

Christians are heirs to the promise of God. Our redemption is secure, and no matter how rich or poor we are in this life, our eternal home is a mansion being built by Jesus. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12-14).

Jesus shed His blood to purchase our redemption. Faith in Him means you are purchased by the Blood of the Lamb and sealed by the Holy Spirit. That seal cannot be broken, and our salvation is safe. Will we ever sin again? Yes. Will that sin cancel our salvation? No. Should we thank God for that promise? Absolutely!

Jesus referred to himself as our Good Shepherd. Sheep need a shepherd to keep them safe, and Christians are safe with Jesus as our Shepherd. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:27-30).

We have so many reasons to give thanks to God.

As I’m writing this, I’m feeling very humble and thankful. I’m just one woman who tries to serve Him, but too often I fail. When I think of how small I am and how mighty and powerful He is, I’m overwhelmed. He knows me and gave His life for me. I’m not just a number like a social security number, or the next to be served at a donut counter. The God of all Creation knows me, and the Holy Spirit lives inside of me. If you’ve accepted His free gift of salvation, then this is also true for you. Are you thankful? I hope you are.

But all of this brings up the question about who are non-believers thankful to?

I have been to a funeral service where I sat next to a friend who didn’t believe. During the service, the pastor asked everybody to bow their heads in a silent prayer. I prayed for God to comfort the family and give them strength to face each new day. The young man who had died was a Christian, so that was a comfort. What did my friend do? Who did she pray to? Did she even pray, or was her mind a blank?

I’ve been in similar situations on a few occasions, and I always wonder about the non-believers. Then along comes Thanksgiving. In America, we celebrate a day of Thanksgiving every year on the fourth Thursday in November. The Pilgrims knew who had kept them alive on their journey to this new land, and they knew it was God Almighty who had provided them with food to sustain them through harsh times. They were thankful to God, and we who celebrate Thanksgiving in this modern time need to understand that we also need to be thankful to God.

“Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness” (Psalm 97:12). God is holy and is to be praised.

As Americans prepare to celebrate a day of thanksgiving, let me encourage each and every one of us to take a look at our blessings. Family, friends, homes, and food are all things to be thankful for. God is the one who gives us all blessings. Be thankful to Him. Remember, too, that God the Son gave His life so that everyone who truly believes in His death, burial, and resurrection will live eternally with Him. Thank God for that blessing.

May everyone who reads this have a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving.

God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

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

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

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

 

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

Life can be a challenge at times. Too often, we think that once we have accepted Christ for salvation, life will be easy. Oh, if only that were true. We forget that we still live in a fallen world and have free will.

We have no way to see the future, so when we make a decision based upon the limits of our human sight, we can find ourselves making poor choices. For instance, if you decide to marry a person who is not a Christian or who has very different values from you, there can be rough consequences, but God can turn even our worst choices into blessings.

Our choices in life have a direct effect on the joy we experience in life. Every decision we make should be made only after talking to God and listening to His guidance. In spite of poor choices and troubling times, we have more blessings than we can count. Life itself is a blessing. Even though we may have some tough times, we have many blessings directly from God.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

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.

We only have to look to Christ’s disciples to see that even having a close relationship and walk with Him, they still had trouble and faced fear. My thoughts jump to the time when Jesus and His disciples were crossing the sea. Jesus had nothing to fear, so he was able to get some rest, but a storm arose. These men had seen many miracles and care from Jesus, but when they were tested, they reacted like most of us would.

“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38).

Of course, Jesus cared, but in the time of trouble, they forgot that He always cares. “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40).

How often do we forget that Jesus cares? Faith is easy when things run smoothly, but when the storms come, remember the blessings. Counting blessings in good times and bad will bring into focus just exactly how much Jesus cares about each of us.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

Quite often, when the storms in life arise, it’s because of choices we have made. We all sin and make choices that aren’t good. Yet, we blame God for the problems. Still, Jesus is there to help us through. There isn’t a sin so big that Jesus won’t forgive. The Apostle Paul had a huge burden of sin, but when he met Jesus, he repented and was able to serve Jesus until he died.

If you think that God has turned away from you, just start counting your blessings. Where do you begin? Well, you were given the blessing of life. Not only life on this earth, but if you’ve accepted Jesus, then you have life eternal.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he love us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved:)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). 

That is truly a blessing. I remember reading about Fanny Crosby, who wrote many beloved hymns, but was blind. She counted her blindness as a blessing, because she said that when she died and she was able to see, the first sight she would see would be Jesus. I know Jesus will outshine the beauty found in His creation, but Fanny Crosby would experience sight by seeing Jesus first. What a blessing!!

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Riches in this life can come at a very high cost. There will always be someone who seems to have more than you. The bottom line is that lands and gold will not bring salvation; only faith in Jesus Christ can do that. Real treasure is what you give in Jesus’ name. I’m not talking about tithing to your church, but what you give to help others that will bring glory to Jesus. Make Jesus the foundation of your life and build on that foundation.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:11-13).

Every Christian will stand before Jesus one day. We are not saved by works, but our works will be judged. “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).

As you count your blessings, ask God to show you how to use them to bless others in His name. Things done for His glory will earn eternal rewards. Even Buckingham Palace will look like a shack compared to what is waiting for all who serve Jesus.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). That promise is counted as a blessing.

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

We live in a fallen world, and trouble is all around us. Sometimes it’s easy to think that previous generations had it easier, or that the heroes in Scripture weren’t troubled like we are. That just isn’t true. In his second letter to the congregation in Corinth, Paul spoke of a time when he was greatly troubled.

“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:” (2 Corinthians 1:8).

Suffering may not seem like a blessing, but if we use our trials and tribulations to glorify God, our troubles can bless others. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3-6).

Suffering may not seem like a blessing, but when you use your own sufferings to help others in their time of trouble, you are a blessing to others. God is always with you and will see you through troubles. None of us can ever suffer what Christ suffered in order to purchase our salvation. That is a blessing of too great a value to even take lightly.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

If you are having a sleepless night, try counting blessings. Thank God for each one. You may not fall asleep before daylight, but you will have seen how much God loves you. Now it’s time to share His blessings with others. Smile at someone who seems weighted down by burdens and cares. Share the Gospel with someone who needs to hear it. Share how God has blessed you even when you weren’t aware of His blessings.

God bless you all

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

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

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

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).