By David A. Sargent UFC (Ultimate
Fighting Championship) is a brutal sport, but out of the arena comes a
heartwarming story. Themba Gorimbo is
from Zimbabwe. He lost his parents at a
young age. He later almost lost his life
while illegally mining for diamonds in Zimbabwe. He became a UFC fighter to make his way
through life. This journey brought him
to Miami where he convinced his coach to allow him to sleep on a couch in the
gym so he could train to become a better fighter. Gorimbo trained
and entered the ring. He won his first
professional fight on May 20, 2023.
Instead of spending his earnings on himself (for a place to live, etc.),
he sent the money he made from the fight back home to Zimbabwe to help provide
his village with a water well. His
generosity is magnified when we understand that before winning his first fight,
Gorimbo had only $7 in the bank. Dwayne “the Rock”
Johnson heard about Gorimbo, and he wanted to help him. Johnson flew to Miami to meet Gorimbo in
person. When they met, Johnson told
Gorimbo: “Your story moved me. When I found out you had seven bucks in your
bank account — I know what that’s like. I was here in Miami when I had seven
bucks,” Johnson said. “But then, you win your fight, and you sell your fight
kit, you buy a water well for your village in Zimbabwe so your people can have
clean water… You could have taken that money and put it down on a car, on an
apartment. But you didn’t. You took care of your people, and that just says
exactly who you are and that’s why I flew all the way in, man, just to look you
in the eyes, brother, and tell you I got your back.” And how did
Johnson “have his back”? Johnson asked
Gorimbo to go for a ride with him. He
took him to a house under the guise of introducing Gorimbo to a friend who
could help him. When they went into the
house, Johnson surprised Gorimbo with the keys to the home; he had purchased it
for him. He already had pictures of
Gorimbo’s family on display in his new home. To say that
Gorimbo was overwhelmed with gratitude is an understatement. This gift stirred generosity in his heart
again. Gorimbo told Johson that he had
been saving money to buy a home. Now,
since Johnson had provided a home for him, he was going to send the money he
had saved to build another well in Zimbabwe. “I am very
grateful of [‘the Rock’] for what he did for me and my family. This was the
best day of my life. This was a life changing day. My life has been changed,
and I will use this as motivation to change others lives, too. I am very very
grateful to everyone.” Because of our
sins, we have been left destitute – spiritually bankrupt – and doomed (Romans
6:23). But God loves us
so much that He gave His one and only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our
sins (John 3:16). Through His atoning
death and our acceptance of His offer of salvation, we can share in the
abundant spiritual blessings that God offers: forgiveness of sins, peace that
passes understanding, a forever family (the church), an eternal home in heaven,
and more (Ephesians 1:3). God will share
these blessings with those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts
16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before
men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin and prepare an eternal home for those who continue
to walk in light of His word (1 John 1:7-9). |
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood
in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled
"Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource
contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org * Information gleaned from “Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson buys
UFC fighter new home after first win: ‘Your story moved me’” by Paulina Dedaj
of Fox News, www.foxnews.com.  |
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Seven Bucks
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Thanksgiving
By Ron Thomas
|
- Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH.
He may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com |
“Think”fulness Leads to Thankfulness
By Edd Sterchi
|
tag- Edd Sterchi preaches for
the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/ |
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Still Much for Which to Be Thankful
By
David R. Ferguson David wrote in Psalm 8:1, “O Lord our Lord,
how excellent is Thy name in all the Earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the
heavens.” We are fast approaching our national
holiday called Thanksgiving, and even though we are finding ourselves living in
a time in which rampant evil seems to run amok, a time similar to that of the
Prophet Isaiah who quotes the Lord as saying in Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call
evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for
darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter,” we still have
much for which we can give thanks. We still have our Lord! We still have a
loving Father Who was willing to send His one and only begotten Son to die in
our place for our sins. We still have Jesus Christ, the very Living
Word of God, Who submitted Himself to do His Father’s will in all things and He
suffered Himself to die in our place. And it wasn’t just any death, it was a terribly
painful and humiliating death in which He was found nailed to a Cross as if He
was a common criminal, suspended between Heaven and Earth, with a robber at
each side. We should never let circumstances dictate
whether or not we will be joyful and give thanks to the Lord. Our Lord is
faithful. And He will keep the promises He has given to us, promises that only
belong to those who are one of His own. Only those who are in Christ, putting
on His robes at baptism (Galatians 3:27), are given the promise of the complete
forgiveness of our sins. Only those who have surrendered their own wills to
those of the Father above will be granted eternal life. Only those who come to
the Lord in obedient, saving faith will get to hear the words, “Well done, good
and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew
25:21). Only those who are of His fold are given the privilege of using the
term of endearment, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15), and only they are allowed to
approach the |
- David R. Ferguson
preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com |
Give Thanks
By
Clifton Angel Solomon wrote, “To every thing there is a
season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). He then
proceeded to illustrate this statement with very practical and common
occurrences that are cyclical in the life of every human being (see Eccl.
3:2–8). As he poetically notes that there is “A time to be born, and a time to
die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted” and so on,
NEVER does he say: “A time to be unthankful.” In fact ingratitude can be found
at the heart of every sin and certainly is one of man’s greatest problems. Long ago, a man wrote about the ingratitude
of people in his past. These were not people that he knew personally, but ones
that lived long before him. It is interesting that we can read about the
results of ingratitude on mankind thousands of years ago and take note of the
ever-applicable consequences that remain even today. He wrote: When
they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became
vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the
incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies
between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For
this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the
men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward
another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did
not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate
mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of
envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God,
despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit
such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in
them that do them. These are the words of Paul at Romans
1:21–32. If any of these apply to us, our conclusion must be that we need to
reassess our gratitude toward God. Ingratitude ignored leads to immoral societies
and iniquitous souls. Let us conclude with the words of Paul to the church at
Thessalonica: “In
everything, give thanks” (1Thessalonians 5:18). |
- Clifton Angel preaches
for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted
through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/ |
Sunday, May 1, 2022
“Thank You” Can Take Many Forms
When children are little, we do our best to teach them basic manners. One of the most basic is when we tell them to "say their pleases and thank yous." We want to instill in them that a verbal expression of thanks is a sign of respect and means a great deal to the one who hears it.
As we all know, however, thanks can take many forms. Certainly, we should continue to express our thanks in words, but that should not be the only way we express gratitude for what someone has done.
Tomorrow, our nation will say "thank you" to those who have given their lives to defend us and protect the liberties we enjoy. However, since those we are honoring are no longer living, it is impossible for us to vocally tell them "thank you." So, how do we thank them properly? There are a number of ways. Taking time to remember, cleaning a grave, or saying a prayer to God that remembers what has been done on our behalf are just some ways that we say "thank you" without uttering the words to the one we are trying to express gratitude toward.
Today –the Lord's Day –we have an even more important time set aside to do much the same thing. When we eat the Lord's Supper, we do not usually do anything "vocally" other than the one who leads us in prayer. However, those of us who are partaking have an opportunity to express gratitude in more silent ways, but ways that are just as meaningful and heartfelt.
We express our gratitude by partaking faithfully, with our whole heart involved. True obedience to God is a form of gratitude. Taking communion with our mind and heart truly involved thanks Him because it shows we still care deeply about what He did, though so much time has passed
We can express our gratitude through silent prayer. During the moments we are eating the bread or taking the fruit of the vine, there are many things we could be focusing on. One of those, however, could be a time of gratitude. It might be a brief and silent prayer, but what better prayer to have in our minds than, "Father, thank you for what Jesus did for me"! If it comes from the heart, that expresses true thankfulness.
We can express our gratitude through partaking each week. Part of the Lord's Supper's meaning is that it is a proclamation that He is coming again. The Lord instituted this meal as a public "statement" that the promise is still real and still meaningful to us. When we partake every week –week after week –we are showing gratitude for being given the honor of taking part in that proclamation on a regular basis.
Quite often, the man who leads us in the prayers at communion expresses thanks. Such is appropriate, and it helps us have our minds in the right place. But even if that is not expressly stated in the prayer, there are still ways we can show our gratitude as we "eat this bread and drink this cup." Our hearts should be filled with many emotions as we partake, not the least of which should be thankfulness.
So, whether vocally uttered or not, will you show your thanks today as you partake?
Monday, January 10, 2022
More Than You Think
By Adam Faughn
Have you ever
tried to calculate how many different people you interact with during a
typical day? I would venture to say that most of us would
underestimate that number
unless we really started thinking carefully. We would
probably only remember fairly
significant conversations or maybe people we rode in a
vehicle with, plus possibly a
couple of others.
But, on a day when
you are just going through your regular routine, you likely interact with a
fairly significant number of people. Did you email someone today? There is one
you might not have counted. Did you go to the store and say hello to the
cashier? There is another. Did you make a phone call to pay a bill or set up an
appointment? There is yet another. They really start adding up when you walk
through a normal day for many of us.
The point of this
little exercise is not to just cause us to start counting our interactions
(although that could be interesting also). It is to challenge us to make our
interactions count! Is it not possible that we regularly speak of the need to
be good examples before others, but then we do not live that out in these
"small" or "quick" interactions?
• When the service at the restaurant is a little (or a lot)
slower than you have come to expect, do you make a scene and act with anger, or
do you try to encourage the one who is doing the best he or she can?
• When you have waited in line at the store for a long time
and finally get to the register, do you still greet the cashier with a smile
and kind word, or do you become just another complaining customer?
• When you type something on social media, is it something
that glorifies God or just something that builds up your own ego?
• When you send an email or make a phone call, do you check
to be sure your tone is one that is gracious and kind or do you just "fire
off" a message because the person cannot see you face-to-face?
These may seem like very small things, but they are not. How
do I know that? Deep
down, we all know this is true because we have been on the other
side, have we not?
You have been the
one who was complained to through no fault of your own. You have
been the one who received the angry email. You have been the
one who was talked down
to even when you were doing the best you could.
So far, this may
not seem like a "church bulletin" article. So far, this may read like
something from the "Self Help" section of a local bookstore. I assure
you, though, there is a spiritual component to this.
What is it? When
you were treated in a way that was mean, rude, short, or such like, was your
first thought, "That person must be a follower of Jesus"? I dare say
that it was not. In fact, I dare say that was far down your list of reactions!
Why, then, would
we think we can act in ways that are rude and unbecoming and it be okay when we
are supposed to be reflecting the light of God in all the world? That smile to
a stressed-out wait staff member might be the only pleasant thing that happens
on the entire shift. Your kind word to a cashier might be the only nice thing
said to him or her for hours. The email--even one that is written to point out
something that needs to be worked on or corrected--that is filled with
reminders of the motivation being love and not spite is more likely to touch
someone's heart.
Then, when there
is a moment when someone thanks you or returns a word of kindness,
will you take the extra step of giving the credit and glory
to the God you serve? Will you
point that person to your faith, even with just a quick word
("Oh, I'm just trying to be who
Jesus wants me to be.")?
Monday, December 13, 2021
THANKGIVING
By Ron Thomas
Are there is
reasons for you to be grateful to the Lord? There are many reasons for each of
us to be grateful to the Lord. Let us be reminded of some of them. First, that
we are reading this, we can be grateful to the Lord that we have our eyesight.
Perhaps it’s not very good (for varied reasons), but we at least have it. We
can be grateful to the Lord because we can read and understand what it is that
we are reading. Perhaps we did not finish high school and our reading
comprehension is not very good, but we can read and even improve on our reading
capability if we desire. We can be grateful for the life we are living. “You
have no earthly idea how hard my life has been! How can I be grateful for that?”
The fact is, you have your life; think about the many who have lost a loved one
and the life they once had seems to be so empty. You can get up and go to work,
you can stop by a store and purchase something to eat, you can sit out in a
lawn chair and enjoy the birds flying and tweeting in and around the trees, you
can watch the boys play backyard football at a neighbors house, you can mow the
lawn, weed the garden, harvest the garden, build a snowman—you have life, and
for that you need to be grateful to the Lord.
You can be
grateful you’re surrounded by people you love, even those not of your physical
family. Are your parents still alive? Be grateful for that. Are you children healthy
and happy? Be grateful for that. Do you have employment that can provide for your
needs? Be grateful for that. Have you been deathly sick? Perhaps it’s hard to
be grateful for that, but maybe in this terrible sickness, you’ve had
opportunity to reflect in a way you never have before; be grateful to the Lord
He has given you an opportunity to observe and experience things in a new way.
Are you a
Christian? If you had nothing else for which to be grateful, you can be grateful
for that. Think about this for a moment. Without the Lord, your hope is in
what?
Without the Lord
your purpose for living ends when your life is over with no promise of the
eternal rest He gave to each who love and obey Him. Without the Lord you have no
real message of hope to give to any other. Without the Lord your understanding
of love is incomplete and physically oriented, not eternally so.
Psa 146:1 Praise ye Jehovah. Praise Jehovah, O my soul....
Psa 146:2 While I live will I praise Jehovah: I will sing
praises unto my God while I have any being....
Psa 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of
man, in whom there is no help....
Psa 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish....
Psa 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his
help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God:...
Psa 146:6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that
in them is; Who keepeth truth for ever;...
Psa 146:7 Who executeth justice for the oppressed; Who
giveth food to the hungry. Jehovah looseth the prisoners;...
Psa 146:8 Jehovah openeth the eyes of the blind; Jehovah
raiseth up them that are bowed down; Jehovah loveth the righteous;...
Psa 146:9 Jehovah preserveth the sojourners; He upholdeth
the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down....
Psa 146:10 Jehovah will reign for ever, Thy God, O Zion,
unto all generations.
Praise ye Jehovah. It is good to be reminded of such things.
Monday, November 23, 2020
Returning Thanks
Many years ago two boys were working their way through Stanford University. Their funds got desperately low, and the idea came to them to engage Paderewski, the great Polish pianist, for a piano recital. They would use the funds to help pay their board and tuition. The great pianist’s manager asked for a guarantee of $2,000. The guarantee was a lot of money in those days, but the boys agreed and proceeded to promote the concert. They worked hard, only to find that they had grossed only $1,600.
After the concert the two boys told the great artist the bad news. They gave him the entire $1,600, along with a promissory note for $400, explaining that they would earn the amount at the earliest possible moment and send the money to him. It looked like the end of their college careers.
“No, boys,” replied Paderewski, “that won’t do.” Then, tearing the note in two, he returned the money to them as well. “Now,” he told them, “take out of this $1,600 all of your expenses, and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest.”
The years rolled by -- World War I came and went. Paderewski, now Premier of Poland, was striving to feed thousands of starving people in his native land. There was only one man in the world who could help him - he was in charge of the U.S. Food and Relief Bureau. He quickly agreed to help and soon thousands of tons of food were sent to Poland.
After the starving people were fed, Paderewski journeyed to Paris to thank the man for the relief he had sent....
“That’s all right, Mr. Paderewski,” was his reply. “Besides, you don’t remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college, and I was also in trouble.” The man’s name? Herbert Clark Hoover, 31st President of the United States of America.” *
Paderewski, with great generosity and kindness, was able to help a couple of struggling college students. Years later, one of those college students was able to say “Thank you” by assisting Paderewski and his people in a great time of need. It is a wonderful thing to be able to return thanks for a noble action done on behalf of another.
Friend, something has been done for YOU! You didn’t ask for it, but you desperately needed it. It happened long before you were born, but you may still benefit greatly by the action of a loving, generous Person.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Because of OUR grievous condition due to our sin, the kind and loving Heavenly Father gave us His Son to die on the cross for our sins (Romans 5:8). Because of this great Sacrifice, we may have forgiveness from our sins (Ephesians 1:7) and the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).
How can we return thanks for this indescribable Gift and receive those blessings? By our humble submission to His will: believing and trusting Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). Then we can continue to show our gratitude by seeking to live obediently to His will for the rest of our lives (John 14:15).
Friend, a great thing has been done for you: Jesus died for you so that you might live. Won’t YOU “return thanks” by giving your life to Him?
* Bits & Pieces, August 22, 1991
Being Thankful in Everything and Anxious for Nothing
Paul wrote, "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Surely Paul could not mean what he wrote here, could he? How can we be expected to be thankful for everything, and anxious for nothing? Didn’t Paul know that I was looking forward to mowing my lawn today, and planting some flowers in my garden? How could I be thankful that all my plans are now ruined because of this incessant rain and unseasonably cold weather?
Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34, "Be not therefore anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ Or, ‘What shall we drink?’ Or, ‘Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
One’s attitude, it seems, is the key. It is a matter of one’s perspective. If one chooses to be unhappy and miserable when life’s arrows are shot our way, then one will be just that. But if one chooses to be happy, grateful and thankful, then one will be content, no matter how Satan buffets us.
What about the person who has just been robbed? Could this individual be thankful, too? Matthew Henry, English nonconformist minister and Bible commentator (1662-1714), was robbed one night. After this dreadful encounter, he went back and wrote in his diary, "I want to first thank God that I was never robbed before. Second, I thank God that they took my wallet and not my life. Third, because, although they took everything I had, it was not much. And fourth, because it was I who was robbed and it was not I who robbed."
Now this is being thankful in all circumstances and being anxious for nothing! This is surely making lemonade when life gives us lemons!
May God bless you today and always!
The Importance of Sharing
There are a number of humorous stories associated with Abraham Lincoln. One story first appeared in a February 1864 issue of The New York Post. It arose out of the large group of office and favor seekers that seemed to constantly follow in the President's wake wherever he went. When Lincoln was struck with the feared typhoid fever, the disease that took the Lincoln's young son Willie in 1862, he reportedly told a friend that at last he now had something "that I can give to everybody" (www.washingtonpost.com).
This time of year is sometimes referred to as "the season of giving." We look forward to any opportunity to giving gifts to family and friends. But as Christians we possess the most precious gift anyone can give: the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ great commission to His disciples is truly “great” because it contains the ONLY hope that lost humanity has to spending an eternity with God in heaven (Matthew 28:18-20). The apostles clearly understood this, as Luke confirms in Acts 4:12: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
We must take the good news to the lost and give them the opportunity to accept. There is nothing that we can share that’s more needed, and no other message as crucial as the precious and loving message Jesus placed in our hands.
How to Show Gratitude to God
There are four levels of gratitude that one may reach. The level of the lips – saying “thanks,” or some words that convey gratitude. But if the words are insincere they are not valid – they are lies. Lying words may sound good to the one addressed, but they are a discredit to the one who speaks them. The level of the hands – doing something to show gratitude, in response to something done for you or given to you. But if the action is forced or coerced and is not an honest reflection of feelings it too is a lie. The act is good but the motive behind it is not. The level of the heart – actually being grateful. When the gratitude is heartfelt it will show up in the lips and in the hands, sincere and genuine words and acts of appreciation which is the level of the life – one lives a life of gratitude.
STEPS TO A POSITIVE GRATEFUL CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE.
One: Guard your own mind and thoughts (Prov. 4:23). Look for the good in everything, no matter what (Rom. 8:28). Bar all suggestive, lustful, and immoral things from your mind. Fill your mind with positive things (Phil. 4:8). Do not surrender to negative emotions. Avoid all selfishness.
Two: Be other-person-centered (Phil. 2:4, Mt. 7:12). Acknowledge and respond to the good in others. Do good: return good for good, but also return good for evil (Rom. 12:21). Allow others to give to you and do things for you. Acts 20:35 does not mean one should not receive. Others cannot have the blessing of giving if there is no receiver. Giving and receiving build up the church and its individual members (Phil. 4:15-16).
Three: Practice positive praise and prayer. God is worthy of our praise. Praise Him. Prayers of petition and intercession should be offered in faith, believing in God who is able to help and able to give – and willing to do so when asked (1 Tim. 2:1, James 1:6). Just remember that prayer is incomplete and may not bring the desired or requested result if it does not include thanks-giving (Phil. 4:6-7, Eph. 5:20).
Four: Focus on what you have and not what you don’t have, on what you have received from others and not just what you have done for yourself. If you are inclined to compare your blessedness with that of others, here are a few points to help you move in the right direction. If you have nutritious food and safe drinking water, you are better off than about two thirds of all the people in the world. If you have adequate clothing, a house to live in, and easy transportation about half of the world will envy you. If you have, or have had, parents who love you and love each other – what a blessed treasure that is! Even if you don’t get what you want or what you ask for, you can probably be grateful you don’t get some things you deserve, “what you’ve got coming to you.” If your soul has been saved by obedience to Christ, you have something only about one in 7,000 can claim with any reasonable assurance. All the other things you may be thankful for are as nothing if you are not among those saved by Christ.
“Be Thankful to Him” Psa. 100:4
Thanksgiving means a lot of turkey for a lot of folks. There is too much of an emphasis on the material and not the spiritual. This Thanksgiving our emphasis should be on the spiritual aspects of Thanksgiving, not so much the physical.
I am thankful for all the physical possessions that I have, but what would happen if I lost them all? (Job 1:14,15) If it were not for God, I would have nothing. (Acts 17:28) Is there anything you are so thankful for that you would shout about it? The Psalmist did.
I am thankful for what God gives and has given me.
This seems to be the point of this Psalm. In spite of the fact that Israelites were provided for by God; nonetheless, they were not grateful, but complained. (Numbers 20:1-13) Ps. 107:1 says: “O, give thanks unto the Lord.” Today, as members of the church, the Israel of God, we should be very thankful. (Gal. 6:16)
I am thankful for what God can do for me in the future. Psa. 100:5
God's Word condemns the sin of ingratitude. To be like Christ we must be thankful. He offered thanks for food in Luke 24:30. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” (John 11:41) This is the whole point of this Psalm…thanksgiving. (vs 4)
I am thankful for Who God is. Psa. 100:2, 3
Webster says: "Forgetfulness of or poor return for kindness received: ungratefulness." Nine of ten lepers whom Jesus healed did not return "to give glory to God." (Luke 17:11-19) Paul stated that some would be unthankful. (2 Tim 3:1,2) Lack of proper training has caused ingratitude, leading some to mistakenly believe that the world owes them a living. (Gen. 3:19; 2 Thess. 3:10)
I am thankful for who we are.
"We are his people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psa. 100:3b) God has a people who are His. (Heb. 8:10)
I am grateful for being a child of God. John writes, “What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God.” (1 Jn. 3:1)
I am grateful for the privilege and honor of being a member of the church for which Christ died and purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28) I am thankful for being a part of the family of God (Eph. 3:15). What about you?
Monday, November 2, 2020
Thanksgiving Thoughts
From time to time I am reminded of the need to examine my personal prayer life. With Thanksgiving week approaching, this seems to be an opportune time to do so again. In a recent mailing I found a quote from the late G.K. Wallace.
Brother Wallace was highly esteemed as a preacher, educator and author. It was my privilege to attend one of his Bible course offerings at Freed-Hardeman College back in the mid-sixties. The following is a quote from his autobiography:
“Prayer is misunderstood by many of us who call upon God. We think of prayer simply as a fire escape. Prayer to us is something to be used only in an emergency. Prayer is to be used by us only when sickness and sorrow come into our lives. We should understand that God did not give us the privilege of prayer to be used only in time of trouble. It is not simply a ‘fox-hole’ comfort” (G. K. Wallace, Autobiography and Retirement Sermons, Sermon on “Prayer,” p. 165).
Brother Wallce’s observations regarding prayer reminded me of the inspired words of the apostle Paul found in Ephesians 5:15-21, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Saturday, August 1, 2020
God Remembers What's-His-Name
In November 2011 security forces for a California university pepper sprayed a crowd of protesters holding a peaceful rally. Wanting to minimize adverse publicity the school paid around $175,000 to computer specialists to remove any hint of the unfortunate incident from search engines (Randy Cassingham, This is True, May 1, 2016).
We serve a "forgetting" God. He has made the most amazing provisions so that those who come to Him in obedience to His Son, who died for the world's sins, could be forgiven (1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 8:12). Of that we can be confident, as the beloved apostle John has written, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
But we also serve a "remembering" God. Not only does God promise us repeatedly that "their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12; 10:16-17), but he also promises to remember the good that we do in His name (Hebrews 6:10). Think of that! All remembrance of countless faithful Christians throughout the history of the New Testament church has been erased, their names, their lives of service, the good that they have done and the service they have rendered have long since been forgotten. By men, that is. But God has promised us that He has not forgotten. He tells us in the closing book of inspired scripture, "Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them" (Revelation 14:13).
Although the whole world forgets, the One who in the end really counts will never forget.
- David Bragg works with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC and is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through the congregation's website.
Thanksgiving
Two months following the unexpected passing of my I was expected to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. In spite of the sorrow I've experienced, and the sadness we'll experience when Dad will not be sitting around the table with us, I still have so many reasons for which to give thanks.
I'm thankful that I had my dad for 51 years. I know many who would give anything to have their father's as long as I had mine.
I'm thankful for the kind of relationship I had with my dad throughout those 51 years. He was my friend, my mentor, and my confidant. He and my mother taught me about Jesus. It was his preaching that shaped my life. It was he who baptized me into Christ. And it was his integrity, attitude, priorities, and influence that caused me to want to preach as well.
I'm thankful that I've never had reason to be ashamed of my dad. I've sometimes seen people fight to become their "own person," and fight the shadow of their father. However, I've always been content, not to be known as Steve Higginbotham, but as Frank Higginbotham's son.
And I'm thankful that I can say my dad is my hero. I'm proud and thankful for a friend and fellow Christian where I preach for being a Silver Star recipient for his gallantry in service to our country. But I'm every bit as proud and thankful for my dad's service in a different army. Dad never received a medal, nor did he ever even pick up a rifle, but he sure could wield a sword effectively until the day he laid it down.
Although Thanksgiving Day will be painful as I remember my loss, you can count on our family being among those who have reason to give thanks. What about you? If you're in Christ, you too have reason to give thanks, regardless of life's circumstances.
- Steve Higginbotham preaches for the Karns Church of Christ in Knoxville, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website. Copyright © 2016 MercEmail [edited]
When To Give Thanks
I am a member of the social network Facebook. It was there that I read the rather telling infographic: “November … the month where people who have complained on Facebook for the past 11 months become thankful for 30 days.” The practice that many have of expressing specific thanksgiving each day of the month of November is a good one. It even may incite thanksgiving in others roundabout. However, let’s be sure not to become the person that is described in the infographic. Complaints are mostly expressions of ingratitude. And November certainly is not the only time in the year that we should express thanksgiving. So, when should we give thanks?
Paul wrote to Christians in Ephesus telling them that they should be “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). Every day of our lives affords us a multitude of opportunities for which we should give thanks to God. For, it is He that gives us the day. And it is He that gives us every thing that is truly good. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). I am confident Paul has in mind “every good gift and every perfect gift” when he says to give thanks for “all things.”
Furthermore, Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). One dear friend of mine has said, “I am thankful that Paul said ‘In every thing give thanks,’ and not, ‘Give thanks for every thing.’” His point was that we can be thankful even in times of tragedy, but it is not necessary that we be thankful for the tragedy itself. Very recently, my dad died unexpectedly. This is a tragedy for which I am not thankful. However, in the same day of the loss of my dad, I found things for which to be very thankful. I was (and still am) extremely thankful for the confidence that I have in his conversion to Christ. I was (and still am) truly thankful to have been with him when he died and to not have had to make a 430-mile trip after a tragic call. I was (and still am) abundantly thankful to know that his physical death contained far less suffering than the cancer or other lasting ailment with which I thought he would eventually be diagnosed. I was (and still am) thankful that my dad was doing one of his favorite things when he died—spending time with his only son.
When are we to give thanks? Always and in every thing. Not only in November. Every human being would do well to be more thankful and give thanks more often. When do you give thanks?
- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website.
Monday, March 2, 2020
In Everything Give Thanks
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
The above reference is just one of many in Scripture that encourage Christians to have a positive outlook. As a matter of fact, the second admonition, "pray without ceasing," is one good reason to rejoice and to be thankful. Regardless of what happens we have the avenue of prayer by which we may communicate with the Father!
The third instruction, "in everything give thanks," may sometimes be more difficult to follow. There are some situations in which we find it difficult to be thankful. Perhaps an observation by commentator Matthew Henry can encourage us to be more thoughtful, and therefore more thankful, in those types of situations. When Henry discovered that he had been robbed, he entered the following in his daily journal:
I thank Thee first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.While we hear much about thanksgiving during the last weeks of each year, may we cultivate a constant attitude of thankfulness. As Christians we have much for which to give thanks.
- Patrick Hogan served for many years as a minister and elder of the Shady Acres Church of Christ, in Sikeston, MO. He passed away in 2018. The congregation's website address is: http://www.shadyacreschurch.com
Showers of Blessings
The following letters supposedly were taken from an incident between a London hotel and one of its guests. In truth, this was composed by comedian Shelly Berman. It is rather long, but it is very funny and if you haven't seen it before, you'll love it.
Dear Maid,
Please do not leave any more of those little bars of soap in my bathroom since I have brought my own bath-sized Dial. Please remove the six unopened little bars from the shelf under the medicine chest and another three in the shower soap dish. They are in my way.
Thank you,
S. Berman
Dear Room 635,
I am not your regular maid. She will be back tomorrow, Thursday, from her day off. I took the 3 hotel soaps out of the shower soap dish as you requested. The 6 bars on your shelf I took out of your way and put on top of your Kleenex dispenser in case you should change your mind. This leaves only the 3 bars I left today which my instructions from the management is to leave 3 soaps daily. I hope this is satisfactory.
Kathy, Relief Maid
Dear Maid - I hope you are my regular maid,
Apparently Kathy did not tell you about my note to her concerning the little bars of soap. When I got back to my room this evening I found you had added 3 little Camays to the shelf under my medicine cabinet. I am going to be here in the hotel for two weeks and have brought my own bath-size Dial so I won't need those 6 little Camays which are on the shelf. They are in my way when shaving, brushing teeth, etc. Please remove them.
S. Berman
Dear Mr. Berman,
My day off was last Wed. so the relief maid left 3 hotel soaps which we are instructed by the management. I took the 6 soaps which were in your way on the shelf and put them in the soap dish where your Dial was. I put the Dial in the medicine cabinet for your convenience. I didn't remove the 3 complimentary soaps which are always placed inside the medicine cabinet for all new check-ins and which you did not object to when you checked in last Monday. Please let me know if I can of further assistance.
Your regular maid,
Dotty
Dear Mr. Berman,
The assistant manager, Mr. Kensedder, informed me this morning that you called him last evening and said you were unhappy with your maid service. I have assigned a new girl to your room. I hope you will accept my apologies for any past inconvenience. If you have any future complaints please contact me so I can give it my personal attention. Call extension 1108 between 8AM and 5PM. Thank you.
Elaine Carmen
Housekeeper
Dear Miss Carmen,
It is impossible to contact you by phone since I leave the hotel for business at 7:45 AM and don't get back before 5:30 or 6PM. That's the reason I called Mr. Kensedder last night. You were already off duty. I only asked Mr. Kensedder if he could do anything about those little bars of soap. The new maid you assigned me must have thought I was a new check-in today, since she left another 3 bars of hotel soap in my medicine cabinet along with her regular delivery of 3 bars on the bath-room shelf. In just 5 days here I have accumulated 24 little bars of soap. Why are you doing this to me?
S. Berman
Dear Mr. Berman,
Your maid, Kathy, has been instructed to stop delivering soap to your room and remove the extra soaps. If I can be of further assistance, please call extension 1108 between 8AM and 5PM. Thank you,
Elaine Carmen,
Housekeeper
Dear Mr. Kensedder,
My bath-size Dial is missing. Every bar of soap was taken from my room including my own bath-size Dial. I came in late last night and had to call the bellhop to bring me 4 little Cashmere Bouquets.
S. Berman
Dear Mr. Berman,
I have informed our housekeeper, Elaine Carmen, of your soap problem. I cannot understand why there was no soap in your room since our maids are instructed to leave 3 bars of soap each time they service a room. The situation will be rectified immediately. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience.
Martin L. Kensedder
Assistant Manager
Dear Mrs. Carmen,
Who....left 54 little bars of Camay in my room? I came in last night and found 54 little bars of soap. I don't want 54 little bars of Camay. I want my one.....bar of bath-size Dial. Do you realize I have 54 bars of soap in here? All I want is my bath-size Dial. Please give me back my bath-size Dial.
S. Berman
Dear Mr. Berman,
You complained of too much soap in your room so I had them removed. Then you complained to Mr. Kensedder that all your soap was missing so I personally returned them. The 24 Camays which had been taken and the 3 Camays you are supposed to receive daily. I don't know anything about the 4 Cashmere Bouquets. Obviously your maid, Kathy, did not know I had returned your soaps so she also brought 24 Camays plus the 3 daily Camays. I don't know where you got the idea this hotel issues bath-size Dial. I was able to locate some bath-size Ivory which I left in your room.
Elaine Carmen
Housekeeper
Dear Mrs. Carmen,
Just a short note to bring you up-to-date on my latest soap inventory. As of today I possess:
- On the shelf under medicine cabinet - 18 Camay in 4 stacks of 4 and 1 stack of 2.
- On the Kleenex dispenser - 11 Camay in 2 stacks of 4 and 1 stack of 3.
- On the bedroom dresser - 1 stack of 3 Cashmere Bouquet.
- 1 stack of 4 hotel-size Ivory, and 8 Camay in 2 stacks of 4.
- Inside the medicine cabinet - 14 Camay in 3 stacks of 4 and 1 stack of 2.
- In the shower soap dish - 6 Camay, very moist.
- On the northeast corner of tub - 1 Cashmere Bouquet, slightly used.
- On the northwest corner of tub - 6 Camays in 2 stacks of 3.
Please ask Kathy when she services my room to make sure the stacks are neatly piled and dusted. Also, please advise her that stacks of more than 4 have a tendency to tip. May I suggest that my bedroom window sill is not in use and will make an excellent spot for future soap deliveries. One more item, I have purchased another bar of bath-sized Dial which I am keeping in the hotel vault in order to avoid further misunderstandings.
S. Berman
It dawned on me that God is like those maids! Every day He sends us blessing after blessing. Whether we ask for them or not, whether we deserve them or not ("He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good"), whether we acknowledge them or not, we are absolutely flooded with blessings from a good and gracious God.
"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 iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things." (Psalm 103:1-5a)To the God who keeps on giving and giving be all praise and honor and glory! Have a great day!
- Alan Smith, minister for the Cruciform Church of Christ in Spring Lake, North Carolina, may be contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com or through the congregation's website: http://www.cruciformcoc.com/
Who Do You Thank?
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (The Apostle Paul, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“We ought to make an effort to act on our first thoughts, and let our unspoken gratitude find expression. Then there will be more sunshine in the world, and more power to work for what is good.” (Albert Schweitzer)
While our nation pauses this week to celebrate a day of thanksgiving, we realize there are many who would say they are thankful for a number of things, such as their homes, their jobs, their health, and especially their families, but they don’t know who to thank. Thankfulness should be expressed by thanksgiving. Someone once observed, “Pity the poor atheist. He may feel thankful in his heart for his good fortunes, but he has no one to thank.” Sad to say, there are also many who would not consider themselves to be atheists, but would fail to recognize the real source of all blessings—God. They are much like the birds and squirrels who frequent our patio in search of seeds or crumbs which we have put at their disposal. They have come to expect to find something to fill their needs, but most likely have no understanding as to the source of such provisions.
When we lose sight of the One “from Whom all blessings flow,” we seek to live our lives independent of Him. When that happens, all spins out of control. It is as Paul expressed it in Romans 1:21: “Because, though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened.” In the verses that followed he described the darkness of idolatry and sexual debauchery. The heart that realizes no dependence upon God is a heart that will take His blessings for granted and express no thankfulness toward the Creator and Sustainer of life.
When we put God out of our lives as a nation, the observance of Thanksgiving Day becomes no more than Turkey Day, a day for indulging ourselves. God would have us to partake of His bountiful supply, and to truly celebrate Thanksgiving with true thanksgiving to God from our hearts. May we heed Paul’s admonition: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
