What are you thankful for today?

Why: To cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving for all of God's blessings to us, especially His redemptive work through Jesus Christ.

Text

1 Chronicles 16:34. ³⁴Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Thessalonians 5:18. ¹⁸Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

What are you thankful for today?

I am thankful for so many things. You may be thankful for some of the same things. You may be thankful for others.

I am thankful that in the beginning God created male and female in His image (Genesis 1:27). I am thankful that God said it is not good for man to be alone. I am thankful that God made a suitable helper for Adam, bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. I am thankful that God created us to leave father and mother and to cleave to one another and become one flesh (2:18-25). I am thankful God said to "be fruitful and increase in number" (1:28). I am thankful that God "saw all that he had made and it was very good" (1:31).

I am thankful for the love and friendship of a spouse who is a "suitable helpmate." I am thankful that she is my best friend. I am thankful for the laughter she brings to our home. I am thankful for quiet conversations, for shared burdens in the journey of life, for prayer together.

I am thankful for the laughter and hugs of precious children. For cuddles on the couch first thing in the morning. For Legos. For dolls. And for learning. For tears that wipe away. For giggles, twirls, and dancing to Scripture Rock. For running good-byes.

I am thankful for family prayer. For holding hands in a circle, bowing before the Father. And, then, for "shake the love around."

And I am thankful for my parents. For their love. For all they put up with when as I was growing up. Even for the mistakes they made. For the all those things that I experienced which by God's grace makes me who I am today.

I am thankful for things. Things that make life possible, things that we need. And for things that make life a bit easier. I'm thankful that God supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

I am thankful for good food to eat- sometimes for too much food to eat! I'm thankful for turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. All that good stuff- but especially cherry pie. I am thankful for vitamins and gingko biloba (though I'd be more thankful if I could remember where I put it!). I am thankful that our family has never gone hungry. He has always kept food on the table.

I am thankful for a warm, dry house. For a fireplace. For telephones. For computers. For tools to do things and fix things- well, try to fix things.

I'm thankful for clothes that fit. For shoes without holes. For a comfortable bed. And for a real, soft, feather pillow.

I am thankful that my Father is the ultimate owner of all things. I am thankful for the things He has leant me for the time being to use for His purposes and to His glory. I am thankful for stuff. But I am even more thankful that I don't need to live for stuff. I am thankful I can live for Jesus. The stuff, the home, the wheels are the fruit of His grace. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:21) I'm thankful for the Lord.

I'm thankful for this country. I'm thankful that God establishes governments to provide the environment where His truth can spread. (Romans 13:1-8) I am thankful that many years ago people came to this land seeking religious freedom, working hard to establish a nation in which we could seek God and obey Him without the government getting in the way.

I'm thankful for our President. Not because he is a Republican. Not because he is from Texas. And not even because he is pro-life (though I am thankful for that). I'm thankful for our President because he says the first thing he does every day is kneel in the Oval Office and pray for God's guidance. "Literally," he says. I'm thankful that when our President was asked by high school students (in a press conference this week with Russian President Putin) what advise he would give youth today, he said, "Listen to your mother." (They laughed.) He also said things like follow your dreams, expect the unexpected, believe you can do it. But I most thankful for the last thing he said. "Love the Lord."

I am thankful for a country where I am free to worship. I'm thankful for a land where I'm free to tip my head back and sing praise to God until I'm hoarse. I am thankful it is still not illegal to tell others about Jesus. I am thankful that I can pray when I want without getting thrown into a lion's den. And I'm thankful for those, like our public school students, who quietly bow their heads and pray even when some say they shouldn't do it. I'm thankful for things like "See You At The Pole." I am thankful for the right of free speech and the freedom of religion.

I am thankful for civil servants and government workers. For the Congress and the Senate. For state and local elected officials.

I am thankful for heroic firemen and policemen. I am thankful for people in communities who sacrifice their time to serve on crisis management teams. I am thankful for churches with a community outreaches. With soup kitchens. With food pantries. With funds to help the needy. With people who coordinate things like Operation Christmas Child drop-offs. I am thankful for the Salvation Army. For everyone who reaches out and cares- especially for those who do it in Jesus name.

I am thankful for people who protect our country against foreign aggression. I'm thankful for people who stand up for right even when it costs them a lot.

I'm thankful the Taliban is on the run. I'm thankful the Christian relief workers are home. I'm thankful God loves our enemies. I'm thankful He loves me. I'm thankful, that by His grace, I can love my enemies.

I am thankful for people in church families in our community, across the nation, and around the world, who selflessly serve others, week after week, often unnoticed. I'm thankful for people who serve in groups like Alpha-Omega. Like One-on-One. And Big Brother-Big Sister programs. For Hospice Care. For people like Young Life kids, leaders, and their board members. People who give countless unnoticed hours for the good of others.

I am thankful for mission organizations who care for the needy and take the Gospel to those who so desperately need good news. I am thankful for Action International Ministries with their selfless ministry to the poorest of the poor. I praise God for groups like World Relief. And Compassion International. And Samaritan's Purse. And grassroots groups like LIGHT in the Philippines, through whom we have our church-to-church partnership with Castillejos Christian Church. I'm thankful for groups like these and so many others.

I am thankful for everyone who makes the world a better place in the name of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for those who are salt and light, seasoning and illuminating the world with the love of God. I'm thankful for prayers for neighbors and acts of kindness. For the up close and personal. And I'm also thankful for those who try to make the world a better place by fighting for legislation, who protest injustice, who campaign for Kingdom causes.

Can you tell? I'm also thankful for the important spiritual things in my life. Things that make an eternal difference. Things that are relevant to and grounded in present reality . . . and yet move me beyond the here and now.

I'm thankful for the Bible, Word of God. It is utterly infallible and trustworthy. I am thankful that it "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). I'm thankful that through it I know the heart and will of God. I'm thankful that over and over, God's Word offers wisdom, encouragement, direction, insight, correction, inspiration, and strength. I'm thankful that "word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). I'm thankful that it examines and forms my thoughts, my attitudes, and my values. I'm thankful God hasn't stopped teaching through His Word and that I haven't stopped learning and applying things God wants me to know and live that are revealed in the Bible.

I'm thankful for early mornings curled up on the couch for prayer with the Bible on my lap. I'm thankful for hours of study, seeking God to find direction for myself . . . and for our church. I'm thankful for how the Bible prompts me to pray for issues, people, and events in a way that is consistent with what God wants. I'm thank that the things He talks about in this book are things He wants to be understood and experienced by His people. I'm thankful that I can pray for those things.

I'm thankful for the doctrinal truth revealed in God's Word- all those big "tion" words: salvation, justification, redemption, sanctification, glorification. I'm thankful the truth revealed throughout Scripture that God loves people and is deeply committed to providing a way for reconciliation with Him. I'm thankful that He did- through Jesus.

I am thankful for Christ's Church. I'm thankful for the universal church, that "invisible" organism that is present in around the globe, the Kingdom of God reigning in the hearts of those who live to do God's will. I'm thankful that Christ is fulfilling His promise. "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18 KJV). I'm thankful that He is fulfilling His promise even in places where it is not easy to be a Christian- like in Kabul, Kuala Lumpur, Cairo, and Calcutta.

I thankful He is working incredible things in accordance with His purposes in nurturing an openness to the Gospel and love of Christ among the 300 million Dalits, the "untouchable" caste of India. I'm thankful that the Indian church is praying that they will be filled with the Spirit to rise to the historical opportunity before them. I'm thankful that we can kneel before the Father's throne with them, pleading with Him to complete the work He has begun among the untouchables.

I am thankful for the local church. For the grassroots presence of Jesus Christ through the Spirit-filled lives of believers in community after community around the world. I'm thank that God is raising the awareness of the need of local churches everywhere to network and not compete for their local slice of the local spiritual pie. I'm thankful how that is illustrated by this letter we received this week from Troy Christian Chapel- a slice of the Body of Christ I haven't heard of before, but for whom I deeply grateful. They write:

Dear Leaders and Brothers and Sister in Christ,

What a joy to know that you are ministering as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ!

All too often, Christians tend to view other Christians as their competition. We, too, have been guilt of this attitude, and we sense our deepening need for each other as fellow-members of the body of Christ in the midst of a culture which is often alien. Because this is true, we have chosen to pray for the well-being and spiritual growth of your Christian community. We wish to commend you and to assure you that the believers at Troy Christian Chapel uphold you in your faithfulness to God and his mission to the world.

Every Sunday, we choose a different Christian congregation or parish as our focus for thanksgiving and prayer. Yesterday in our worship services, we publicly prayed for you- not that you would become like us, but that you would continue to follow Jesus Christ and be effective in his purpose for you. We also prayed that our love for you may grow.

I am thankful for this local church, College Baptist Church. I am thankful for this beautiful place. But I'm really thankful for you who love Jesus so much, for you who are committed to this local gathering of the Church and the advance of God's glory and mission through this fellowship. I'm thankful that someday when this beautiful building passes away- for everything physical in this world is temporary- the church of Jesus Christ will remain.

I am thankful for the great worship in this place. For the incredible organ and pianos. For our brass and strings. For the gifted musicians who minister to us and with us every week. For our voices. I am thankful that God is glorified through our whole-hearted worship.

I am thankful for people- for you. For children. For youth. For college age. For 20 something's and 30ers. For the middle age and . . . mature. I'm thankful for those who serve faithfully on boards. I am thankful for the Christian Education Board which leads and organizes our Sunday School program and children ministries. I am thankful for our Trustees who oversee the use of our finances and the upkeep of our facilities. I praise God for our Missions Board and their oversight of our missions giving. I thank God for our Deacons and their heart-felt burden for our spiritual growth. I am thankful for person after person who contribute in some way, often unseen and unnoticed, to the life of this congregation. I thank God. And I thank you.

I am thankful for our growing concern for the mission God has given us- the mission of spreading His glory throughout our community as we share the love and transforming power of Jesus Christ with others (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20). I thank God for opening doors at Beacon Hill. For souls saved. For conversations with parents. For kids coming to church. For our youth and adults who have been there for hugs, for words of encouragement, for love-sharing. I'm thankful for the many ways He will continue to opne new doors of community ministry in the future.

I'm thankful for heartfelt prayer for people who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. I'm thankful that God is at work to answer our prayers. I am thankful that He is preparing us to be a part of the answer.

I'm thankful for the things that happen in this congregation that demonstrate care and concern for each other. I'm thankful for meals shared with people who are sick or discouraged. I'm thankful for acts of generosity and kindness that help to mold us together and make us community. I'm thankful for agape love.

I'm thankful for community- a precious commodity that, praise God, can be continually nurtured and developed (John 17:20-23). And I'm thankful for the communication, understanding, and forgiveness that needs to occur in order for community to happen. I'm thankful that God has given us the way to foster godly, biblical, Christian relationships. I'm thankful that whatever the situation or circumstance He makes it absolutely clear His will is for us to take the initiative, to approach the other person, to explain our feelings, to make wrong things right, and to do it quickly (Matthew 5:23, 24;18:15; Ephesians 4:26, 27, 29-32). I'm thankful that we are given this pattern so that we as a people will be known for our love (John 13:35).

I'm thankful that "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17). I'm thankful that I learn so much when I learn from others. I thankful that things resolved leads to growth.

I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit. I'm thankful that He convicts me of sin (John 16:18). I'm thankful that He teaches and counsels me (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). I am thankful that through the Holy Spirit's filling I have all the power I need to do the job He has given me to do and to be the person who He wants me to be (Acts 1:8; Romans 12:1, 2). I praise God for the grace of the fruit of the Spirit that reflects God's character through my life as I surrender to Him (Galatians 5:22-23). I thank God for His patience and forgiveness for the many times I have not been filled with the Spirit, but have tried to live the Christian life in my own strength- and have utterly failed. I'm so thankful for His forgiveness and renewed filling.

I thank God for spiritual gifts to serve Him. I praise God for the privilege of preaching, teaching, exhorting, encouraging.

I am thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the Nativity. I thank God for a humble, obedient maiden. For an honest, godly carpenter. I'm thankful for angels singing. For shepherds kneeling. For wise men. I'm thankful the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14; Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-12).

I'm thankful that Jesus is the fulfillment of promise, the way to be reconciled to God (1 Corinthians 5:17-19). I'm thankful that He glorified His Father through His obedience, even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). I'm thankful that He died there for me. Though I am dirty, wretched, fallen, and sinful (Romans 3:23). Though I'm the kind of person who is often unthoughtful, unkind, unloving, and insensitive. Though I don't deserve an ounce of forgiveness. Though I often care about my own reputation more than His glory. Though I'm all that and more, He still loves me and died for me.

I am thankful that He didn't stay dead. I'm thankful for the resurrection (1 Corinthians 5:13, 14). I praise God for the resurrection power that transforms and renews my fallen nature and fallen mind. I praise God that the resurrection defeated Satan.

I praise God for the hope of eternal life. I thank God Jesus is preparing a place for me in His house (John 14:2).

I'm thankful that His glory and who He is ultimate. I'm thankful that He is I am. He is timeless. He is all-powerful. He is all-sufficient. He is all-knowing. He is all-loving. He is all-in-all. He is my Savior. He is my Lord. He is my King. He is my everything. And I am thankful for Him today. I am thankful that I can joyfully daily surrender to Him as the One who is absolutely worthy of trust, worship, adoration, affection, devotion. I am thankful that I can take up my cross and follow Him.

1 Chronicles 16:34. ³⁴Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Thessalonians 5:18. ¹⁸Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I am thankful for so many things. You may be thankful for some of the same things. You may be thankful for others.