Welcome to "Tuesday Morning"—a gift that just keeps on giving and giving throughout the year.

 

Craig Jones writes on all kinds of subjects and promises an entertaining trip to those who read his web-site (www.Doozyland.com). In a recent article entitled "102 Things To Be Thankful For," Craig lists in alphabetical order over a hundred things for which we should be thankful. Some of the things on his thanksgiving list are peculiar—i.e., Dried Pineapple Slices, Cream Brule, and  "That I wasn't in the obituaries today."While he listed a few things that we would probably call "religious," he failed to mention Faith, God, Jesus, Peace, Forgiveness, Love, Joy, Heaven, and the men and women who risk their lives daily in defense of our freedom. I mean, how less significant are these than tire swings, good movies, and a kitten with a cue tip? He didn't prioritize anything on his list, so I can't answer that question.

 

Today's epistle is entitled "Thankful in Everything." All of us should be more thankful than we are, and we should find ways to express our thankfulness—especially during the season of the year when the Christian world celebrates the birth of Christ. I've heard people say, "Thank you, Jesus," with about as much sincerity as I muster when I say "Hello" to the telephone solicitor whose name fails to show up on my Caller ID screen. It's time to change our habits and be really thankful for the blessings God sends our way—hour after hour, day after day, month after month.

 

The Apostle Paul understood this concept. In his letter to the Church at Philippi he said,

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4: 6, 7 NIV)

 

Continue reading below whenever you are ready. Set your spiritual cruise-control on "T" for "Thankfulness," and look around at the things and people for which you are most thankful.

 

Tom Barnard

A Thankful Pilgrim

 

P.S. For a limited time, if you send a donation in support of this electronic ministry, I will send you, postage-free, an autographed copy of my new book, "E-Couragement: Meditations for Leaders." The book is 192 pages in length and retails for $14.99. It makes a great gift for your friends, ministers, teachers, and loved ones. Our mailing address is Tom Barnard, 8404 NW 68th Terrace, Oklahoma City, OK 73132.

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Thankful in Everything

Tom Barnard

 

he national thanksgiving holiday is over. In fact, even before the last piece of pumpkin pie and ice cream was consumed on Thanksgiving Day, folks were setting their alarms to awaken early for the sales that started before dawn the next day. What began in 1621 as a decision to offer thanks to God by the Pilgrims was made a national day of thanksgiving in 1863 under the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln. Today, it is the eve of the busiest shopping day of the year in America.

 

The psalmist said, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You” (Psalm 119:62). While few do that in these busy times, perhaps we should re-visit the concept as directed by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:18):

 

“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

 

There are many other passages of Scripture that call us to be thankful. Here are a few more:

 

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

(Psalm 107:8, 9)

 

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.”

(Psalm 69:30)

 

“Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.”

(Psalm 106:1)

 

In my quest for some appropriate words to share with you today on the theme of thankfulness, I came across a short paragraph on the subject—the author of which was listed as “unknown.” In an attempt to describe the meaning of thankfulness, the author told a story about a discussion between two men. One man gave the other man a dish of sand and tried to convince him that there were small pieces of iron in it. He invited the man to run his fingers through the sand in search of iron particles. No iron was found. Then he gave the man a magnet and invited him to run the magnet through the sand. To the second man’s surprise, tiny particles of iron stuck to the magnet. Invisible to the eye a moment before, now dozens of fragments of iron were visible, firmly attached to the magnet.

 

The lesson was clear. The unthankful heart, like fingers in the sand, discovers no mercies in life. But let the thankful heart sweep through the day, and—just as the magnet finds iron in the sand—so a thankful person finds blessings in every moment of the day.

 

Priscilla Maurice (1805-54) grew up in an English home where parents (and siblings) often debated religious beliefs and disagreed often. Eventually she developed a philosophy of life that embraced the discipline of being thankful. Here are some of her words:

 

            To “give thanks to Him for all things,” is indeed a very difficult duty. It includes giving thanks for trials of all kinds…Yet they who have learned submission will not find it a hard duty. They will      so entirely love all that God wills and appoints, that they will see it is the very best thing for them.

            Hereafter they will see all the links of the chain, and how wonderfully those are fitted, which at the time seemed to have no adaptation or agreement. This belief enables them to praise Him and   give thanks now for each thing, assured that as it has been, so it will be—that the God of love will     do all things well.

 

Advent is a perfect time to be thankful. It offers us the opportunity to extend the theme of thankfulness up to and beyond Christmas. As you go about your busy schedule this week, take time to be thankful. And you don’t need to set your alarm clock to arise early in the morning to do so. Any time of the day will do.