August 1, 2014 - February 28, 2015 TO EACH OF YOU THIS DAY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! November 27, 2014 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever. And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Ezra 3:11 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5 I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High Psalm 9:1-2 Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So dont worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Todays trouble is enough for today Matthew 6:32-34 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15 Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Psalm 119:108 November 27, 2014 - Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. LET US CONTINUALLY OFFER TO GOD A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. Why is praising God a sacrifice? The word “sacrifice” (Greek, thusia) comes from the root thuo, a verb meaning “to kill or slaughter for a purpose.” Praise often requires that we “kill” our pride, fear, or sloth—anything that threatens to diminish or interfere with our worship of the Lord. We also discover here the basis of all our praise: the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by Him, in Him, with Him, to Him, and for Him that we offer our sacrifice of praise to God. Praise will never be hindered when we keep its focus on Him, the Founder and Completer of our salvation. Paul reminds us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Jesus’ cross, His blood, His love gift of life and forgiveness to us remind us to keep offering continual praise as a living sacrifice before the Lord! In light of the great sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, the appropriate response is one of worship and praise. As we glorify God, we are strengthened; and we testify to the reality that one day, all of creation will worship Him. As you go about your day today, take time to offer up sacrifices of praise to the Lord. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. LET US CONTINUALLY OFFER TO GOD A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. We all have stuff to be thankful for, but what do we do with the stuff that is just so hard to feel thankful about? I think most all of us have a sense that we are supposed to be joyful and thankful all the time, especially during the Thanksgiving season. But we all have corners of our life that bring us sorrow, disappointment, pain and even disillusionment. Those are the facets of life that tug at our spirit of contentment and gratitude. Those issues can leave us feeling like we are lame Christians because we just don’t feel “happy” about them and if we let them, they can pull us into pits of despair. The secret to a joyful, grateful heart isn’t that we feel “happy” or “good” about everything in our life. There are things that simply aren’t happy, no matter how we look at them. God doesn’t expect us to disconnect our minds from reality and live in some twilight zone of plastic happiness. Bad things are bad things. And they happen to godly people. God grieves over the brokenness in us and in our world. It isn’t wrong to grieve over them just as He does. The key to having a heart of gratitude amidst those difficult circumstances is being filled with an unshakable expectation that God will do something good with them, that He sits sovereign over every detail of life and that His character is good, perfect and loving. When I look at those pieces of my life that look overwhelmingly difficult or disappointing and can thank God for whatever good He plans to bring out of them, I am offering a sacrifice of praise. When I can entrust what looks like something that is broken beyond repair to my heavenly Father’s goodness and love, I am offering a sacrifice of praise. Hebrews says that a sacrifice of praise is the fruit of lips that confess the name of Christ. In the midst of any crisis, Christ name and character should be present in my testimony. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. LET US CONTINUALLY OFFER TO GOD A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. How can we practically offer a sacrifice of praise and live out the words: And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased? Here’s some practical ideas for offering a sacrifice of praise to the Lord during this Thanksgiving season: Are finances tight? Have you experienced the loss of a job this year? Pray for the Lord to show you something you have to share and ask Him for direction for who might have need for this particular item. And remember it does not always have to be a thing - it may just be a moment of your time - a kind word - a smile - a hug -just a simple it will be okay. Pray about how God might be calling you to “do good and share with others” - the Lord knows how much of a sacrifice it is and He will be pleased! Whatever area of weakness or difficulty you have been struggled the most with, ask the Lord to show you how to see His goodness, faithfulness and sovereignty over all of it and then ask Him to show you how He might want to bless someone through your circumstance. It is a joy to be part of God’s plan to bless someone. But the most profound thing to me is when I watch Him reach through the “holes”, the weaknesses or disappointments in my life, to bless others. I have watched the Lord use the areas of my biggest pain and disappointment to encourage people more than the neat and tidy stuff of my life. If we lift our lack to Him, with open hands for Him to do whatever He pleases with it, it will be a sacrifice of praise. May God grant us the vision and grace that would enable us to praise His name and character in our hardships and give most generously from our lack - then we will be people who know the secret of having thankful hearts in every circumstance. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us - Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:02:40 +0000