Thankful for What Matters

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

Even during our worst days, we can think of things we can be thankful for. The fact that we are alive and breathing is enough to stop and give thanks to the creator of life. Most of us are prone to complain about the things that we have very little control over. The weather, the traffic, the workings of politics, and the price of eggs (and thank God they have come down). It sometimes takes work to give thanks in “everything” But being thankful is more than counting our blessings. It is an attitude that is grounded in how we view God. We are creatures of comfort, and often view our blessings by how comfortable we are. But I purpose to you that being THANKFUL is to look through the looking glass of the Kingdom of God. The things in this life will fade away with the passing of time. The things we should be thankful for are eternal.
 On this Thanksgiving Day, be thankful for the many blessings, family, friends, material things, and good health, but let us not forget to be thankful to God for what really matters. Be thankful for the TRUTH of His word, thankful for a HEART that can be made clean, be thankful for being an ANCHOR in the Rock of Ages, that He will NEVER leave us alone. Thankful for His KINDNESS toward us, His FAITHFULNESS  to keep us day by day, and thankful for His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE regardless of our sinful condition, and knowledge that we can have eternal LIFE, and live in His presence for eternity. BE YE THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE.

Life Eternal- Thankful

 John 3:15 
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life

I’m THANKFUL for eternal life. That there is life after death. Heaven is not a fairy tale, but is a real place. A place where we will live with Him forever and forever. Because our names are written in the Lamb's book of life, we can see God face to face. Because we have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, and the oil of the Holy Spirit has filled our vessels, we are prepared to enter the gates of heaven. Jesus said, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name have you done many wonderful works?” Life eternal is only secured by those who have been saved through the blood of Christ and are living according to His commandments. The world likes to believe that there are many ways to eternal life, that having a sincere motive and living a good life is all that God requires. Many in the world are critical of Christians, who believe that Jesus is the only way to have eternal life. But we stand on the truth of God’s word. Jesus said it, and I believe it! On the day of judgment when we all stand before God, we will give an account of the life we lived. God and God alone will judge rightly. Until then, we lift the Name of Jesus to the World, and proclaim that in Him is everlasting life. I’m THANKFUL for the hope of eternal life.

Unconditional Love- Thankful

Romans 5:8 
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I’m Thankful for His unconditional love. For when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We don't deserve His love. “He paid the debt he did not own. I owned the debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand-new song, "Amazing grace" Christ Jesus paid the debt I could never pay’”. For God so unconditionally loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” Unconditional love means He loves you in spite of your imperfection and failures. He does not require you to change who you are to love you. His love will cause you to want to change to please Him. He loves you too much to leave in your sin. His love will cause you to love yourself unselfishly (Love your neighbor as yourself) because you are special to Him. His love will put in your heart a desire to love others unconditionally, and to love even your enemies. His love will give you the grace to forgive others, because He forgives you. How great is His love. It is unfathomable, inconceivable, relentless, and will keep chasing you until the end of your days. Be THANKFUL that He pursued you and did not give up on you. Be THANKFUL that His love is unconditional.

Faithfulness of God- Thankful

 Lamentations 3:23 
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I’m THANKFUL for God’s faithfulness. The prophet Jeremiah wrote in the book of Lamentations, “It is of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” We serve a God who is unchanging in His nature. He is steadfast, reliable, and trustworthy. He is faithful to keep his promises. What he says, He will do. He is faithful to never leave us alone. He is faithful to love us no matter what we do. He is faithful to save us to the utmost and adopt us into the family of God. He is faithful to keep us in time of trials and temptations. Faithful to pour out His grace and show His mercy. When we get up in the morning, He is faithful to provide our daily bread. When we go about our duties and responsibilities throughout the day, He is faithful to guide and direct our path. When we lay our heads down at night, He is faithful to protect us from the evil one. How great is His faithfulness! And faithful is He who has called each one of us into a life of Holy Living.  For, “Faithful is He who calls you to be sanctified, will also do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Kindness of God- Thankful

  Titus 3:4 
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.

I’M THANKFUL that I serve a good and kind God. “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”(Ps 63:3) God demonstrated the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7) Kindness is defined by the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate: God considered our sin, and was generous to send His Son to die for our sins so that we could be reconciled to Him.
As Christians, we should be living in the spirit of kindness. It is one of the evidence that we are children of God by the kindness we show to others. There are those in the world that see the virtue of being kind to humanity. How much more should God’s people reach out to a messed-up world and show kindness, and let others know about the loving kindness of Jesus. The words we speak are powerful. What you say, and how you say it changes how others see Jesus in you. I’m THANKFUL that Christ was kind to me, giving me the chance to be kind to others. “ If you can't say something good or kind about someone, it is best not to say nothing at all.” Let kindness abide in your heart and be spoken through your mouth. Why? Because Jesus has been kind to us.

Never Alone- Thankful

 Heb 13:5 he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

I’m THANKFUL that we serve a God who will never forsake us. “Moses encouraged God’s people: “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He is that will go with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you.” And the writer of the Hebrews affirms the promise of God. “ I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” When it feels like you are all alone, fear not, for He is with you! Examples can be found of many who experience being alone. During the time that the COVID epidemic reached its peak of impact, many were shut in, left alone. Cut off from family and friends. Hospital beds were filled with people left to die without a loved one by their side. Being left alone to face the end of life. The greater epidemic was that of loneliness. Look around you. You may know of people who may feel forsaken, isolated from others. Feeling alone even in a crowded room, filled with conversation. I’m THANKFUL in my hour of loneliness that God made Himself known to me. His Spirit never left me alone. Even though I didn’t know it, He was by my side, guiding me every step of the way. I’m reminded of the old hymn, Never Alone, “When in affliction's valley I tread the road of care, My Savior helps me carry the cross so heavy to bear; Though all around me is darkness, earthly joys all flown; My Savior whispers His promise, never to leave me alone! No never alone, No never alone,” THANKFUL that Jesus sent the Comforter that we never need to be alone.

Anchor in Jesus- Thankful

 Heb. 6:19 
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil

I’m THANKFUL for the ANCHOR we have when the storms of life come our way. The Hebrew writer pinned the words, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” We all face “storms” that will cause our lifeboat to face perils beyond measure. Like the disciples, we may cry out, “Master, care not that we perish.” THANKFUL that Jesus can be our ANCHOR and is able to keep us steady, our faith can be anchored in the Rock of Ages. We don’t have to drift through life with uncertainty. We can be anchored in knowing that Christ will take us through any crisis that we will face. We can sing with assurance the words of the songwriter, “We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll; fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.” Is your life anchored in Jesus? Are you trusting Him with your life? Storms are inevitable. Don’t be caught without an anchor. Thankful for the Anchor in Jesus!