Open your Heart to Thank God
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· 11 viewsA little boy was asked by his father to say grace at the table. While the rest of the family bowed their heads, closed their eyes and waited for the boy to pray, the little guy opened one of his eyes and looked at every dish of food his mother had prepared. After the examination, he bowed his head and honestly prayed, “Lord, I don’t really like the looks of it, but I thank you for it, and I’ll eat it anyway. Amen.” It’s hard to be thankful when we are in midst of too many negative things happening around us. Furthermore, how can we thank someone we do not know? Unless we understand why we must be thankful... we can’t be truly thankful. Appreciation is Perception. And Unless we know who we shall be thankful to... we won’t be able to thank Him enough. Gratitude is based on our Attitude. We must SPARK to give thanks and know the Lord. Stop complaining. Pray with thanksgiving. Ask and believe and you shall receive. Remember to count your blessings and Know God better and better.
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A little boy was asked by his father to say grace at the table. While the rest of the family bowed their heads, closed their eyes and waited for the boy to pray, the little guy opened one of his eyes and looked at every dish of food his mother had prepared. After the examination, he bowed his head and honestly prayed, “Lord, I don’t really like the looks of it, but I thank you for it, and I’ll eat it anyway. Amen.”
Thanksgiving might not be celebrated in the United States today, were it not for a patient, persistent woman named Sarah Hale.
Thanksgiving might not be celebrated in the United States today, were it not for a patient, persistent woman named Sarah Hale.
It is well-known that the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621 to give thanks for their winter in the New World.
It is well-known that the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621 to give thanks for their winter in the New World.
In 1789, President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation to commemorate the first Pilgrim celebration. But Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States discontinued it, calling Thanksgiving, “a kingly practice.”
In 1789, President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation to commemorate the first Pilgrim celebration. But Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States discontinued it, calling Thanksgiving, “a kingly practice.”
After this, Thanksgiving was observed by some individual states, and on whatever date suited their fancy.
After this, Thanksgiving was observed by some individual states, and on whatever date suited their fancy.
Then in 1828, Mrs. Hale, the editor of the magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book and author of the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” began campaigning for the restoration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
Then in 1828, Mrs. Hale, the editor of the magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book and author of the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” began campaigning for the restoration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
She wrote letters and sought appointments with national leaders from the President down. Time after time she was politely rebuffed, sometimes being told it was “impossible” and “impractical,” and sometimes being dismissed with a this-is-none-of-your-business scolding.
She wrote letters and sought appointments with national leaders from the President down. Time after time she was politely rebuffed, sometimes being told it was “impossible” and “impractical,” and sometimes being dismissed with a this-is-none-of-your-business scolding.
Finally in 1863 President Lincoln listened seriously to her plea that North and South “lay aside enmities and strife on (Thanksgiving) Day.” He proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November to be the official “National Thanksgiving Day.” This day was finally ratified by the U. S. Congress in 1941.
Finally in 1863 President Lincoln listened seriously to her plea that North and South “lay aside enmities and strife on (Thanksgiving) Day.” He proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November to be the official “National Thanksgiving Day.” This day was finally ratified by the U. S. Congress in 1941.
BREATHE!
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
But how can we be thankful in the midst of all these negative things happening around us?
Hurricane Harvey
Mass shooting in Vegas
Fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas
Shooting at Tehama County
Deadly earthquake in Iran-Iraq
Countless rape-slay cases in the Philippines
How can we be thankful in the midst of:
cancer
chaos between spouses
career going down
cash problems
children rebelling
church conflicts
corruption in government
BREATHE!
Well…
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Maybe you’ll ask, until when is later?
I guess, what you should ask yourselves is, until when are you going to run away from the Lord?
BREATHE!
“Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord, and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.
(NCV)
10 “Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord,
and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.
Will you underline the phrase “understanding begins with knowing”
How many times have you been told to “seek God”?
For sure many many times, right?
Even the Bible said the word “seek” many times,
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
in it says, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will given to you as well. Be careful not be confused, the word seek here actually means “desire” greek word zēteō. Desire His kingdom and His righteousness. Not the literal meaning of the word “seek” which is “to look for” Because God is not missing, heaven is not no where to be found Mankind is the one missing, people are the ones that is lost So the fact is, it is God that is seeking you It is not Him that is hiding, but it’s actually you Turn to your seat mates and say.. “stop hiding from God” When Adam & Eve committed the sin, it was them that went hiding It was not God who went hiding, it was mankind that has gone hiding from Him () God is seeking you, but you keep on running away from Him So the answer to the question of until when is “later on”, is until the day you decide to be found Once again, turn to your seat mates and say.. “stop hiding from God”
Be careful not to confuse yourselves, the word seek here actually means “desire”
Greek word zēteō. Desire His kingdom and His righteousness.
Not the literal meaning of the word “seek” which is “to look for”
Because God is not missing, heaven is not no where to be found
Mankind is the one missing, people are the ones that is lost
So the fact is, it is actually God that is seeking you
It is not Him that is hiding from us, but it’s actually you hiding from Him
Turn to your seat mates and ask.. “until when are you going to hide from God?”
BREATHE!
When Adam & Eve committed the sin, it was them that went hiding
It was not God who went hiding, it was mankind that has gone hiding from Him
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
) God is seeking you, but you keep on running away from Him So the answer to the question of until when is “later on”, is until the day you decide to be found Once again, turn to your seat mates and say.. “stop hiding from God”
God is seeking you, but you keep on running away from Him
BREATHE!
So, going back to the question of until when is “later”, the answer is, until the day you decide to be found
Once again, turn to your seat mates and say.. “stop hiding from God”
See the problem is… We are always looking at things within the limited scope of our own lens Of course we cannot see things the way how God sees them Precisely! Because we are not God
BREATHE!
See the problem is… We are always looking at things within the limited scope of our own lens
Of course we cannot see things the way how God sees them
Absolutely not! Because He is God and we are not!
We can not outgrow God’s
power
greatness
goodness
kindness
grace
mercy
love
faithfulness
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
BREATHE!
But, we can outgrow our:
discontentment
dissatisfaction
complaints
resentments
doubts
uncertainties
How?
Listen to this...
when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
We can outgrow those things if we put off our old self, and put on our new self
BREATHE!
We may not be able to completely see things the way how God sees them
But, it will help if we get to know God better
Knowing the character of God
Knowing timeless principles from His Word
Knowing the Divinity of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Knowing the uncompromisable will of the Lord
Knowing God will greatly help us to look at things from a different angle
Otherwise, we can hardly open our hearts to be thankful
We won’t be able to open our hearts to be grateful
Appreciation is Perception
and if you don’t change your perception, do not expect to change your situation
our Gratitude is based on our Attitude
BREATHE!
Unless we understand why we must be thankful... we can’t be truly thankful
Unless we know who we shall be thankful to... we won’t be able to thank Him enough
Again, () says… “Understanding begins with Knowing”
How can we thank someone we do not know?
Story: Exchange Gifts during Christmas Parties (High School Days)
BREATHE!
Previously, we learned that Moses sought to know God by appealing to reveal His glory (earthly presence).
He sought to see the face of God
We learned that to know God, we must be REBORN
Receive Jesus
Edify the Lord
Believe in Him
Obey His commands
Reconcile with God
Nurture His Love
BREATHE!
We also studied the encounter of Nicodemus when he came to Jesus.
Obviously, just like Moses, he also wants to know the Lord.
We learned that no amount of human intelligence will suffice for us to know God.
But instead, to know God, we must be REBORN
REceive the Holy Spirit
our BOdies should be used to honor God
ReNew our thoughts and attitudes
BREATHE!
Today let’s take another look in the Bible as we continue with our series for the month of November entitled “iKnow”
Part 1 is “Knowing God”
Part 2 is when “Nicodemus Came to Jesus”
Now Part 3 is “Open your Heart to thank God”
BREATHE!
Text: Thanksgiving and Prayer
Text: Thanksgiving and Prayer
From Rome, Paul wrote this letter to the believer in Ephesus sometime in 61-62 AD
Tychicus carried this circular letter to many churches in the province of Asia, of which Ephesus is the capital city
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he put an emphases on Christ’s reconciliation of Jew and Gentile
He also dealt with Christian behavior that reflects the unity of the Spirit
He goes from praise to prayer
He prayed that God will strengthen their relationship with Him, because their holiness will depend on getting to know God better
Take a listen
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
Paul never stopped giving thanks
He always Remember
He kept on Praying
He always Ask
He urge the believers to Know God better
We must SPARK to Give Thanks and Know the Lord
We must SPARK to Give Thanks and Know the Lord
Everybody say “SPARK”!
Spark means, intense feelings. A sense of liveliness and excitement.
Stop Complaining
Sometimes I try to be cheerful and to stop complaining,
Pray with Thanksgiving
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Ask and Believe then you shall Receive
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Remember to Count your Blessings
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
Know God better and better
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Prayer
Prayer
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Thankfulness
A little boy was asked by his father to say grace at the table. While the rest of the family waited, the little guy eyed every dish of food his mother had prepared. After the examination, he bowed his head and honestly prayed, “Lord, I don’t like the looks of it, but I thank you for it, and I’ll eat it anyway. Amen.”1384
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 6587 Thanksgiving Lady
Thanksgiving Lady
Thanksgiving might not be celebrated in the United States today, were it not for a patient, persistent woman named Sarah Hale.
It is well-known that the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621 to give thanks for their winter in the New World.
In 1789, President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation to commemorate the first Pilgrim celebration. But Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States discontinued it, calling Thanksgiving, “a kingly practice.”
After this, Thanksgiving was observed by some individual states, and on whatever date suited their fancy.
Then in 1828, Mrs. Hale, the editor of the magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book and author of the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” began campaigning for the restoration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
She wrote letters and sought appointments with national leaders from the President down. Time after time she was politely rebuffed, sometimes being told it was “impossible” and “impractical,” and sometimes being dismissed with a this-is-none-of-your-business scolding.
Finally in 1863 President Lincoln listened seriously to her plea that North and South “lay aside enmities and strife on (Thanksgiving) Day.” He proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November to be the official “National Thanksgiving Day.” This day was finally ratified by the U. S. Congress in 1941.