REASONS TO BE THANKFUL
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DA Story of God’s Protection in Joplin
By Trevor Freeze • June 16, 2011
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HomeStoriesA Story of God’s Protection in Joplin
The trees were glistening with silver.
Cheryl had never seen anything quite like it. The storm was coming and she was going to outdrive it.
Or so she thought.
Cheryl had picked up her two daughters who were out celebrating high school graduation in Joplin, Mo., and was driving away from the storm. Only her compass was backward and she was actually driving square into it.
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplain Pam Rhodes was fortunate to hear Cheryl’s gripping story and pray for her family.
The details of Cheryl’s rescue have God’s fingerprints smudged all over it.
A half mile from home, rain started hammering down on 20th street, the tornado’s eventual destructive path on the night of May 22.
“She described it as white fingers coming out of the sky,” Rhodes said.
The rain was a deluge, coming down so hard, as if she was in a car wash, and Cheryl felt the Lord telling her to pull over.
There could be no other explanation for the magnitude of winds and rain bearing down. Cheryl realized she was in the midst of a massive tornado.
“The windows blew out,” Rhodes said. “She pushed her daughters down and began to pray.”
This is where the story really takes a God turn. As Cheryl describes it, there was an unexplainable force keeping all three of their heads down and it saved them from a multitude of chards that punctured the van.
Suddenly there was a peace that passed over.
Cheryl and her two daughters were now in the vortex and she could hear the Lord telling her “your daughters are going to be safe.”
A split second later, the winds and rain picked up and in the blink of an eye, the van was whipped up into the twister, landing on the top of a roof that had been torn off a building.
Smashed in a van, covered by debris and wrapped in power lines, Cheryl thinks she encountered an angel.
“A man came up and had no debris on him at all and she felt this presence, this peace,” Rhodes said. “He came and said he was going to help them get out of the car. He said, you don’t have to be afraid and he rescued them.”
And as quickly as he appeared, he vanished.
“(Cheryl) always said she could do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Rhodes said. “She feels like God will be with her now, no matter what she goes through.”
Rhodes has heard many other inspiring stories similar to Cheryl’s as the Rapid Response Team continues to minister and pray with over 2,000 survivors of the deadly storm that claimed 153 lives.
But the story of Cheryl and her two daughters is one that was particularly burdensome and Rhodes continues to lift them up in prayer, as the three women survived the tornado with just a few scratches.
“It was really just the hand of God who saved them.” Rhodes said. “God is going to use that.”
Danger can come out of nowhere.
You can find yourself in a dangerous place through no fault of your own.
You can find yourself in danger because you got to close to the edge of sin.
You can fall into bad company.
The Bible reveals that God is good all the time.
He cares for us and no matter why we find ourselves in danger, He wants to rescue and care for you.
We have plenty of reasons to be thankful.
In the passage this morning we see God blessing Lot and Abraham against terrible danger. We see the outcome resulting in greater faith, fellowship and thanksgiving which should foster you to greater faith, fellowship and thanksgiving in your life.
11 The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. 12 They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom, and they went on.
13 One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew, who lived near the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he and his servants deployed against them by night, defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said:
Abram is blessed by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth,
I. GOD RESCUES YOU.
When we get captured by sin. (Gen. 14:12-14)
Lot went from watching from the outskirts to living in sin city.
b. God empowers us when overwhelmed.
Four armies defeated Sodom and Gomorah. These armies looted the land and took Lot and his household. Although Abraham had 318 fighting men, they had to chase down 4 army divisions to rescue Lot.
13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool.
2. He rewards faith!
ask and you will receive
a. He meets you where you are! (Gen14:18-20)
b. He provides for your peace and prosperity. (v.18)
19 Thanksgiving will come out of them,
a sound of rejoicing.
I will multiply them, and they will not decrease;
I will honor them, and they will not be insignificant.
c. He blesses you. (v.19)
d. He is the greatest giver.
3. Application: Give thanks to Jesus.
Give thanks for ways Jesus positively impacted your life
Give thanks for moments of difficulty, where your faith in Jesus provided comfort or strength.
Recall a time when you felt a direct answer to prayer or intervention from Jesus and thank Him.
Thank Him for Jesus' life and teachings that have had a lasting influence on your values and actions.
Thank Him for the positive changes He brought into your life.
A Prayer for a Heart of Thanksgiving:
Lord, teach me to offer you a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all my daily experiences of life. Teach me to be joyful always, to pray continually, and to give thanks in all my circumstances. I accept them as Your will for my life (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). I long to bring pleasure to Your heart daily. Break the power of the enemy in my life. Defeat Him through my sacrifice of praise. Change my outlook and attitude into one of joyful contentment with my present circumstances. I thank You for… [Name a difficult circumstance in your life presently and thank God for it.] Amen. ~ Source: Crosswalk.com
By the President of the United States of America—
A Proclamation
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their Joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us—and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington
A Prayer of Praise
I praise Thee, O God of our Fathers, I hymn Thee, I bless Thee, I give thanks unto thee for Thy great and tender mercy. To Thee, I flee, O merciful and mighty God. Shine into my heart with the True Sun of Thy righteousness.
Enlighten my mind and keep all my senses, that henceforth I may walk uprightly and keep Thy commandments, and may finally attain unto eternal life, even to Thee, Who art the source of life, and be admitted to the glorious fruition of Thine inaccessible Light; for Thou art my God, and unto Thee, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be ascribed glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. ~ St. Gregory Palamas
A Prayer for Gratitude and Promises
Father, I come to You, confessing that I tend to have a heart that is filled with whining and complaining instead of gratitude. Please forgive me. Help me learn to see Your hand at work in my life. I want to trust You even when I don’t understand my circumstances. Right now, I choose to praise You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ By Mary Southerland
Strengthen Us to Praise and Serve
Lord God, our heavenly Father,
we give praise and thanks
for your gracious gifts
which you provide so faithfully.
Help us enjoy these blessings
with gratitude and reverence,
that we may be strengthened
to praise you and serve our neighbors;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Wilhelm Löhe.
Thanksgiving Prayer by George Webb
O Lord our God and heavenly Father,
in your indescribable mercy
you have provided food and drink
for the nourishment of our weak bodies.
Grant us peace to use these gifts from your hands
with thankful, reverent hearts.
Let your blessing rest on these your gifts,
to our comfort and sustenance.
Grant, good Lord,
that as we hunger and thirst for this food for our bodies,
so may our souls earnestly long after
the Bread of eternal Life,
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
We Give Praise to the Holy Trinity
We worship you, eternal Father.
We call on you, eternal Son.
We confess you, Holy Spirit, dwelling in one divine unity.
To you, Trinity we give praise and thanks.
To you, one God, we sing in endless praise.
To you, Father unbegotten,
to you, the only-begotten Son,
to you, Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, we confess with our hearts,
to you beyond all thought, surpassing all understanding, to the all-powerful God we give thanks; who reigns, now and forever. Amen
An Evening Thanksgiving
Accept our evening thanksgiving,
Fountain of every blessing,
for You have led us in safety through the length of the day.
You daily bless us with so many temporal mercies,
and have given us the hope of resurrection to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: An Ancient Collect, fifth century
10 Prayer of Thanks and Praise
Praise the Lord with gratitude and joy! "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15)
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Psalm 100
A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
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4 Ways to Be Thankful When Life Is Hard
Bless the Lord O My Soul (Psalm 103:1-13)
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Forgive Us Our Sins, that We May Praise and Glorify You
Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
you gave us your holy Word
and have generously provided for all our bodily needs.
We are unworthy of all these mercies
and have rather deserved punishment.
But forgive us our sins as you forgave Peter,
and prosper and bless us in our different callings
that by your strength we may be sustained and defended,
now and forever and so praise and glorify you eternally;
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.
Source: Veit Dietrich
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
A Prayer for a Thankful Heart
Jesus, I want to be like You who obeyed the Father without complaint. You embraced the chains of humanity when You walked this earth. Convict me whenever I complain or compare myself with others. Give me Your attitude of humility and thankful acceptance. I want to be like the Apostle Paul who learned contentment in every circumstance. I choose to continually offer You a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that give praise to Your name (Hebrews 13:15). I long to bring a smile to Your face. Teach me the power of a thankful heart. I know that Your truth dwells in a thankful heart. ~ Debbie McDaniel
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Jesus Christ, my Lord and God, I give thanks for your loving-kindness and all the blessings You have richly bestowed upon me. I fall down in worship and adoration before You, the King of Glory.
I praise You, I glorify You, I bless You and I give thanks to You for Your great goodness and tender mercy. To You I come, my sweet Lord and loving Master.
Shine in my heart the light of Your grace. Enlighten my mind, that I may walk uprightly all my life by keeping Your commandments. Glorified and exalted is Your holy name, now and forever. Amen.
Help Us Hear Your Word and Praise Your Grace
Almighty and eternal God,
you have graciously created all things.
We thank you for giving us sound bodies
and for preserving us from the power of the evil foe.
Help us to rightly use our ears and tongues,
to hear your Word diligently and devoutly
and to praise you for your grace
so that no one will be offended by our words,
but that all may be strengthened in faith;
through your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Veit Dietrich
Praise, Thanks, Confession of Faith
Glory be to you, almighty Father, you have given to those who fear you the heavenly bread of life, that we may be mindful of the marvels which you have done on the earth, by sending us your only Son, fully human, born of a pure virgin.
We give you thanks, holy Father, for you created us before we were, and while we were still sinners you made us partakers of your heavenly grace; through your Son, our Lord and God, who with you and the Holy Spirit makes, orders, and rules all things, now and forever. Amen. ~ Source: Dunstan of Canterbury
Prayer for Thanksgiving Day
Almighty God, most merciful Father,
you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
We give you most humble and hearty thanks
that you have crowned the fields with your blessing,
and have permitted us once more
to gather in the fruits of the earth.
Bless and protect the living seed of your Word sown in our hearts,
that in the abundant fruits of righteousness
we may always present to you an acceptable thank-offering;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913
Thankfulness Leads to Praise
O my God, let me, with thanksgiving, remember,
and confess to you your mercies on me.
Let my bones be drenched with your love,
and let them say to you, ‘Who is like you, O Lord?’
You have broken my bonds,
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
And how you have broken them, I will declare;
and all who worship you, when they hear this, shall say,
“Blessed be the Lord, in heaven and in earth,
great and wonderful is His name.“
Source: St. Augustine
What Did Jesus Say about Gratitude?
Read some quotes from Jesus in the Gospel about the themes of gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise:
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~ Matthew 6:21
"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” ~ John 14:21
"Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." ~ John 14:23
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." ~ Matthew 6:24
"And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ~ Matthew 22:37-39
Read more: Thanksgiving Prayers to Praise God
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat, GettyImages/olegbreslavtsev, GettyImages/AntonioGuillem
Sources
"Gratitude" and "Praise" prayers - acollectionofprayers.com
5 Prayers (and 15 Verses!) to Express Gratitude - Crosswalk.com
This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
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Transcript of President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation from October 3, 1789.
By the President of the United States of America—
A Proclamation
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their Joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us—and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington