~ I FORGOT TO SAY THANK YOU ~

NOVEMBER 1 Bible Reading: Luke 23:32-43 Key Verse: Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know Key Words: Father, forgive them
not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Some time back I preached a series of messages on the sayings of Jesus from the cross. These sayings are as follows: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43) Woman, behold thy son! Behold thy mother! (John 19:26-27) Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (Matthew 27:46) I thirst. (John 19:28) It is finished. (John 19:30) Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46) Thinking of what Jesus did for me reminds me of the following story I read. I n her classic autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells of
the time she and her sister were forced to take off all their clothes during Nazi inspections at a death camp. Miss Ten Boom stood in line feeling forsaken and defiled. Suddenly, she remembered that Jesus hung naked on the cross. Struck with wonder and worship during that seemingly forsaken moment, Ten Boom leaned forward and whispered to her sister, Betsie, they took His clothes off, too. B etsie gasped and said, Oh, Corrie, and I never said thank you! Thanksgiving does not require bounty, just recognition of what Jesus has done and is doing for you.

What to do: Write down a list of all Jesus has done for you and today, rather than ask for things, simply thank the Lord for all He has done for you.

~ BUT ARE YOU THANKFUL? ~

NOVEMBER 2 Bible Reading: Proverbs 10:22-32 Key Verse: Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he Key Words: The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich
addeth no sorrow with it.

A re you genuinely thankful for the blessings of God? Dr. Robert Hill,
author of over forty books, tells of visiting Bangkok, Thailand, where he was invited to a special celebration given by the king and queen. His Thai guide, a young man named Joseph, asked several questions as he drove them to the Pavilion. He knew a little English and was delighted to carry on a conversation. When he asked where the Hills lived, they told him Richmond, Virginia. Oh, you are a rich man, responded the boy.

Bob laughed and told him, No, he wasnt rich.

Then, he asked, do you own an automobile? He told him that they had two cars in their family. His next question was We were rich, but about the house where they lived. He told him that it was a simple home with ten rooms. He were we thankful? was amazed at the size, especially when he related that he and his family lived in two small rooms. W hen he again asked about their family, they told the guide that they had four healthy children, two of which were in college and two still at home. Joseph was silent for a moment or so, then he replied, You are a rich man. They laughed, but deep in their hearts, they knew he was right, though they had never thought of it in those terms. Mr. Hill reports, We were rich, but were we thankful?

What to do: Ask yourself the question, Am I thankful? Have the family list all the reasons they have to be thankful.* *This would be a great time to teach your children to be thankful for such things as: Jesus, salvation, their church, pastor and staff, the Bible, etc.

~ TWO ATTITUDES ~
NOVEMBER 3 Bible Reading: James 1:1-12 Key Verse: James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers Key Words: Count it all joy
temptations;

S omeone has said that a spirit of thankfulness is essential to personal

magnetism. Translated, that simply means no one wants to be around someone who has an unthankful spirit. It is impossible to be S tress researcher, Hans Selye, claims anxious and thankful that two attitudes, more than any other, influence our quality of everyday life; and on at the same time. those two emotions depend our peace of mind, our feelings of security and insecurity, of fulfillment or frustration; in short, the extent to which life is considered successful. T he most destructive emotion, Selye says, is revenge. But the one emotion, more than any other, that accounts for the absence of stress is a spirit of gratitude. Yes, thankfulness! Revenge is the outworking of the flesh in us, but thankfulness is an outworking of the Holy Spirit. M ike McAdams of Nashville, Tennessee, visited his wife, Cheryl, in the Intensive Care Unit of a Nashville hospital. How is she? his pastor asked.

Mike said, Its touch and go. She recognized me, we prayed together and
held hands, and then we quoted James 1:2, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; McAdams went on to say, You know, its impossible to be anxious and thankful at the same time. A nd he is right, you know. It just depends on which of the two attitudes you desire the most.

What to do: Live by Gods Word, not by your emotions. Understand that youll never develop genuine friendships if you have an unthankful spirit.

~ THANK GOD FOR OUR CHURCH ~

NOVEMBER 4 Bible Reading: I Corinthians 1:1-10 Key Verse: I Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Key Words: no division among you

Corinthians is not a book of praise but of correction. Let me show you. Chapter One: Paul is correcting their use of human wisdom, verse 22. Chapter Two: He is correcting their thinking in regard to spiritual things, verses 14-15. Chapter Three: Paul is attempting to correct their carnality, verse 3. Chapter Four: They are being corrected because of their stewardship, verse 2. Chapter Five: The church is refusing to deal with immorality, verses 1 and 7. Chapter Six: They are taking one another to court, verse 1. Chapter Seven: Paul is correcting them in their thoughts on marriage, verses 2-3. Chapter Eight: Paul deals with offending others, verse 13. Chapter Nine: Paul is correcting them because they question his apostleship, verse 1. Our church is a place Chapter Ten: Paul is correcting their attitude and where we can sing praises actions toward communion, to God, listen and learn verse 31. from Gods Word. Chapter Eleven: Again Paul deals with communion, this time in regard to drunkenness at communion, verse 29. Chapter Twelve & Thirteen: There is a problem of misuse of spiritual gifts, chapter 12, verse 1 and chapter 13, verse 1. Chapter Fourteen: Paul deals with the misuse of speaking in tongues, verses 1 and 40. Chapter Fifteen: Paul corrects their theology in regard to the resurrection, verses 13-14 and 17. Chapter Sixteen: Paul deals with their lack of financial giving, verse 2. (Particularly note the words let every one of you.) N ow, I must confess to you that I will occasionally review all the problems

T he church at Corinth was not a model church. As a matter of fact, I

which the church at Corinth experienced; and as I do so, I cannot help but thank God for our church not that we are perfect; for we are not; but our church is a place where we can sing praises to God, listen and learn from Gods Word, without the pressures of worldliness. Lord, my prayer is that we will always seek to please You and not man.

What to do: If you have gospel preaching and Godly music in your church, thank God for it daily. Pray for the spirit of your church to be a Godly Spirit. Pray for the Pastor and staff. Pray for the ministries. Send notes of encouragement to someone God lays on your heart (at least once a week).

~ ~ THE FLOWERS ~~
NOVEMBER 5 Bible Reading: I Chronicles 16:7-36 Key Verse: I Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; Key Words: O give thanks unto the Lord
for his mercy endureth for ever.

they have defeated the Philistines and recaptured the Ark of the Covenant (the dwelling place of God). On the day the ark was being brought back to Jerusalem, the people, in order to show their thanks to God, do four things. First of all, they tell others what God has done for them (verse 8). Secondly, they give praise to God (verse 28). Thirdly, they give financially to God (verse 29). Fourthly, they rejoice in God (verse 34). T his was a major event in Israel; they were indeed thankful. Now this raises a question: it is easy to be thankful for the big things, and we should be thankful for those things but what about the little things? Should we not be thankful for those as well? G ertis Weissman was among the prisoners in a Nazi death camp. She recalled an episode one spring when she and her fellow inmates stood at roll call for hours, nearly collapsing with hunger and fatigue. But they noticed that,

I n our Bible reading for today, the people of Israel are rejoicing because

according to Weissman, in the corner of that bleak, horrid gray place the concrete had broken, and a flower had poked its head through, and the thousands of women there took great pains to avoid stepping on it. It was a spot of beauty in their ugly and heinous world, and they, all of them, were thankful to God for it. I encourage you to be thankful for the little things.

What to do: Today write down a half-dozen or so little things, and thank God for them all week. (Yes, even all month.)

NOVEMBER 6 Bible Reading: II Timothy 1:1-18 Key Verse: II Timothy1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with Key Words: I thank God
pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

~ ~ A THANKFUL MAN ~ ~

I f I were to ask you what one thing stands out in your mind about the
Apostle Paul, what would your answer be? As I study the life of Paul, the one thing that stands out in my mind is his gratitude. You just never seem to find Paul discouraged, even though he was beaten several times, put in prison, and often threatened with death. He had to travel in constant danger of being robbed; he was shipwrecked and lived a constant life of peril; but in spite of all of the above things, Paul was constantly in a spirit of thanksgiving. I Corinthians 1:4a, I thank my God always on your behalf, Ephesians 1:16a, Cease not to give thanks for you, Philippians 1:3, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Colossians 1:3, We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, I Thessalonians 1:2, We give thanks to God always for you all, And in our text, Paul thanks God for Timothy (II Timothy 1:3). Paul was a thankful man.

The devotional book, Springs in the Valley, tells of a man who found a barn where Satan kept his seeds ready to sow in the human heart. He found that the seeds of discouragement were more numerous than the others, and he learned

that those seeds could be made to grow almost anywhere. But when Satan was questioned, he reluctantly admitted that there was one place in which he could never get the seed of discouragement to grow. And where is that? asked the man.

Satan replied sadly, In the heart of a grateful person. Always be grateful.

What to do: Ask God to give you a grateful heart. Stay in Gods Word. That helps develop a grateful heart. Focus on the spiritual and the things of God, not the world.

~ JUST TO~ AY THANK ~OU ~ S Y

NOVEMBER 7 Bible Reading: Luke 17:11-21 Key Verse: Luke 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him Key Words: Giving him thanks
thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

for what God has done for us is, I am afraid, quite common, because we fail to realize that without the Lord we would all be sunk. T he Theresa Boyle, a trawler from Scotland, had been sunk by a Nazi bomber in the North Sea. The crew of ten was able to get away in their lifeboat which was only a small boat. For hours they rowed about hoping someone would see them. T his happened in February. It was terribly cold, and they did not have much food with them. Forty hours went past and no one had sighted their boat. As the weary hours dragged on, one after another of the men became exhausted and Have you ever could not help with the rowing. thanked the Lord T en more hours went past, which Jesus for what He seemed to them much longer; and hope was has done? beginning to fail when, in the distance, an airplane was seen. Oh, how their hearts beat! Was it a friend or a foe? Soon they recognized it to be a friendly plane. Would

T here were ten lepers healed, but only one was thankful. Thanklessness

they be seen? T he keen eye of the pilot on patrol did not miss them, although their boat was being buffeted by the heavy seas. By this time eight of the men were lying on the floorboard, too weak to row, but just able to wave anxiously at the pilot. The plane flew low. The men realized they had been seen, and off it went in search of help. It found two mine sweepers, some fifteen miles away, and asked them by lamp signals to follow it. By firing colored lights the pilot guided the mine sweeper to the open boat. It circled round until the men, the entire crew of the sunken trawler, were taken on board SAVED! Then it flew off. After going two miles, a signal lamp from one rescue ship recalled the plane. Anything wrong? signaled the pilot. No, the reply flickered. These chaps we picked up just wanted to say Thank You! With this message, off flew the plane to carry on its duty of patrol. H as this story struck a chord with you? Have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus for what He has done?

What to do: Thank the Lord today for your salvation. Tell others what Jesus has done for you. As a family, have at least one praise day a week, where all the family praises the Lord no complaints, criticisms, or gripes allowed!

~ ~ ~ THE MEANING OF THANKS ~

NOVEMBER 8 Bible Reading: II Samuel 22:44-51 Key Verse: II Samuel 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, Key Words: Therefore I will give thanks
among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

did on this earth was to give thanks to God. Have you ever wondered what the word thanks really means?

In chapter twenty-three and verse one, we are told that the last thing David There is a method of Bible study known as the first-mention principle. The

idea is that the first time you find a word in the Bible, it will carry that meaning throughout the entire Word of God. Well, the first time we find the word thanks is

in our text, II Samuel 22:50. It appears that the meaning is to look back on what has occurred; and you will see that God has not done something to you, but rather Llook at events as what has allowed something to happen for you. God is allowing. If we would all look at the events in our lives as God allowing something for us, it would certainly help us from becoming sour and bitter toward God and people. I read the following article and found it quite applicable: It is said that in Africa there is a fruit call the taste berry, because it changes a persons taste so that everything eaten tastes sweet and pleasant. Sour fruit, even if eaten several hours after the taste berry, becomes sweet and delicious. Gratitude is the taste berry of Christianity, and when our hearts are filled with gratitude, nothing that God sends us seems unpleasant to us. Sorrowing heart, sweeten your grief with gratitude. Burdened soul, lighten your burden by singing Gods praises. Disappointed one, dispel your loneliness by making others grateful. Sick one, grow strong in soul, thanking God that He loves you enough to chasten you. Keep the taste berry of gratitude in your hearts, and it will do for you what the taste berry of Africa does for the African.

What to do: Do not look at events as what man is doing, but look at events as what God is allowing. Apply Romans 8:28. Stay in Gods Word. It will be your taste berry.

~ ~ ~ FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE ~

NOVEMBER 9

Bible Reading: Psalm 139 Key Verse: Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully Key Words: I will praise thee
made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

In our Bible reading for today, the psalmist is praising God for making him and thanking God for His marvelous handiwork of creating man. Biologist Albert T. Smith made the following statement: Mans best efforts to duplicate himself falls far short of what many in the field of science believe is Gods most fantastic creation: the human brain. Smith goes on to say, As

computers continue to be developed, intricate and astounding as they are, they merely point out similarities that prove that the brain, as Gods computer, is matchless. The brain has perhaps You belong to God - not yourself thirty million neurons, but or the world but to God. each has connections with other brain cells. Each of these connections has the capacity of varying communications with neighboring cells. Thus, information passed by a neuron is almost limitless. The storage capacity of the brain is vastly superior to the computer. To provide a computer with such capacity is far beyond the technology of our day. Impressed as we are with what is known about the human brain, there is even more that is unknown. Dr. Smith goes on to say, Whatever the reason for our shortcomings to fully understanding the brain, what we do know creates an awe of God! N o wonder the psalmist said, I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14)

What to do: Understand that you are fearfully and wonderfully made and that you belong to God-not yourself or the world-but to God (I Corinthians 6:19-20). List some things that God has created and why you are thankful for these things.

NOVEMBER 10 Bible Reading: James 1:12-17 Key Verse: James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, Key Words: cometh down from the Father
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

~ ~ A RARITY ~

E very good and perfect (maturing) gift comes from the Father. We should
be thankful for this that God is perfecting and maturing us. The one thing I have discovered in my years in the ministry is that genuine thankfulness is a rarity.

to a rest camp after a period of active service. When he returned to his outfit, he wrote a letter to General George Patton and thanked him for the splendid care he had received. General Patton wrote back and thanked him for his letter. In that letter he said in part, For thirty-five years I have sought to give comfort and convenience to all the men in the Armed Forces, but this is the first letter of thanks that Ive ever received for those thirty-five years of service. We all have something each There are fewer points in which and everyday for which we human nature is lacking than that of should be thankful. gratitude. M atthew Henry, the famous scholar, was once accosted by thieves who robbed him of all the possessions he had on him. He later wrote in his diary, Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second because, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third because, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed. W e all have something each and everyday for which we should be thankful. Should we not begin to put Gods goodness into words of gratitude?

A soldier serving during World War II in the American Third Army was sent

What to do: Everyday thank God for His goodness. Find one thing a day you can thank someone for. Understand that genuine thankfulness comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, not our own self-centered desires (Ephesians 5:18, 20).

~ ~ ~ THANKS FOR THE REMINDER ~

NOVEMBER 11 Bible Reading: II Corinthians 12:1-10 Key Verse: II Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in Key Words: for when I am weak, then am I strong
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christs sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

T he Apostle Paul reminds us that we are only strong in Christ when we realize that we are weak. We all should sing, Without Him I can do nothing, because a truer song has never been written.

for one young man reading a newspaper. The youth, by his testimony, was a Christian but was weak in the faith, and he had many temptations. So many, as a matter of fact, that he told the pastor that he could hardly bear them. The pastor took from his pocket a Bible and penknife, and said, I will make the penknife stand on the cover of my Bible, in spite of the rocking of the train. T he young man, thinking that this was certainly a trick of some kind, watched with great interest, saying, I am afraid that it will not be very easy to do that, sir. But, said the pastor, I am doing it. Oh, but you are holding it, retorted the young man. Why, of course, I am! Did you ever see a penknife standing on its own without being held up? I see, said the young man, You mean that I cant stand, and bear my temptations and testings alone Christ must hold me up. The conversation ended when the young man said, Thanks for reminding me. None of us can stand alone without Christ. Today, thank the Lord that He is holding you up.

A pastor traveling by train was the only occupant of a compartment except

What to do: Understand that you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you. Ask God daily for His strength. Remember, its easier to fail than succeed; but real success only comes through Christ.

~ THANKS FOR EACH MEAL ~

NOVEMBER 12 Bible Reading: Matthew 15:29-39 Key Verse: Matthew 15:36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and
gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Key Words: and gave thanks

the food He has, by His grace, supplied for you? A little lad of six was invited out to lunch in a neighbors home. As soon as everyone was seated around the dinner table, the food was served, and everyone began to eat. The little boy was puzzled, and with child-like frankness asked, Dont you pray before eating? The host was uncomfortable, but mumbled a few words. Afterward he said, We normally dont pray before eating. T he little fellow again was quite candid, Sounds just like my dog; he doesnt pray either. A visiting farmer stopped at a city restaurant to eat lunch. When he was served his food, he bowed his head and gave thanks to the Lord. Some sitting nearby noticed the farmer praying and shouted, Hey, Pops, back where you come from, does everyone pray before eating? T he old farmer shot back without hesitation and said, Nope, the hogs dont. D o you and your family thank God before each meal? There are many in this world that do not have the blessing of meals three times a day (or more). Let me encourage you to genuinely thank God before each meal. It really is a great testimony to your family and to others.

L et me just be forward and ask before each meal, do you thank God for

What to do: Make it a habit of thanking God before each meal for His marvelous blessings.

~ THINKING YOURSELF HAPPY ~

November 13 Bible Reading: Acts 26:1-20 Key Verse: Acts 26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall Key Words: I think myself happy
answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

T o say the least, Paul was in a perplexing situation. He was facing death
for literally doing nothing wrong (Acts 25:10). He now stands before King Agrippa and says, I think myself happy. There are times that in the midst of all sorrow and trials, we have to look for the good and literally think ourselves happy. Have you ever done that? I know those who think themselves into sorrow, and others who think themselves into a fit of anger; but I know very few people who think themselves into being happy. N ear the end of her life, Frances Havergal jotted down on a calendar everyday things for which she thanked God for that day. She said, Its my way of thinking myself happy. Focus on The seventeenth century pastor Jeremy Taylor was the things persecuted for his faith. His house was plundered; his family driven out; his estate seized. He wrote, I have that matter. fallen into the hands of publicans, and they have taken all from me. Now what? They have taken away my merry countenance, my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience. They have still, though, left me with my family, my Bible, the promises of God, my hope of heaven, and my charity to them, too. Still I sleep; I eat; I drink; I read; I meditate. God has given me so many causes for joy that the little handful of thorns shall not take away my thankfulness to God. Should we not carry the same attitude? Today, I challenge you - no matter what happens in your life, think yourself happy.

What to do: Focus on the things that matter, not the things that do not matter. Stay close to God. Thinking oneself happy requires this. Stay in the Word. Thinking oneself happy requires this, as well.

~ THINK AND THANK ~

NOVEMBER 14 Bible Reading: Proverbs 23:1-9 Key Verse: Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and Key Words: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he
drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Look again, please, at verse seven in our Scripture reading for today and
notice the word thinketh. Did you know that the words think and thank come from the same root? I tell you this simply to remind you that how you think will determine your thanks. Helen Keller once said, I have often thought that it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some point during their teen years. It would help them to be more thankful during their adult years. F ormer Senator Richard Neuberger once said, The experience of contracting cancer changed me. A change came over me which, I believe, is irreversible. Questions of prestige, of political success, of financial status, became all at once unimportant. In their stead has come a new appreciation of things I once took for granted, such as eating lunch with a friend, scratching my cats ear and hearing her purr, the company of my wife, reading a book or magazine in the comfort of my bed, raiding the refrigerator for a glass of orange juice or a slice of cake. For the first time I think I am savoring life. I shudder when I remember all the occasions that I spoiled myself, even when I had the best of health, by my false pride, synthetic values, and my worldly goals. As I think about it, it really is the little day-to-day things that make one thankful!! As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

What to do: Spiritually evaluate your priorities and goals in life. Ask yourself, Am I really a thankful person? (You will know that by what you think about.) Read Philippians 4:8; and as you do, ask yourself, Is this my thought life? Everyday make a thankful list (not a lengthy one).

~ GIVING OF THANKS ~
NOVEMBER 15 Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-20 Key Verse: Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and Key Words: Giving thanks always for all things
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

In verses nineteen through twenty-one, we are given the three-fold results

of being filled with the Spirit. There will be a song in our hearts (a merry heart). (Verse 19) thankfulness for all things. (Verse 20) a submissive spirit. (Verse 21) For the sake of this devotion, I want to focus on verse twenty and the giving of thanks for all things. I have found that each of us are very thankful for the apparent blessings, but we often fail to thank God for those blessings which we tend to overlook. Let me give you an example: The parents of a young man who was killed in the war gave their church a check for $200 as a memorial to their loved one. When the presentation was made, another war mother whispered to her husband, Let us give the same for our boy. The father said, Why, what are you talking about? Our boy didnt lose his life. The mother said, Thats just the point. Let us give it because he didnt.

How often we overlook the blessings of God, often because we are caught

up with ourselves and all the cares of this world that surround us. So let me encourage you to be alert to discern all the blessings of God, so that we can thank God for all His goodness.

What to do: Be discerning of all of Gods goodness. Be thankful for things that do not happen, not just for things that do. If your family has life and health, be thankful!

~ REVERSE PROPORTION ~
NOVEMBER 16 Bible Reading: Luke 15:11-32 Key Verse: Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father,
give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

Key Words: Father, give me

we have? I n our Scripture reading for today the prodigal We are, son was truly blessed. He had a father who loved him indeed, a and had provided for him; he undoubtedly lived in a blessed people. nice house, with cattle and plenty of land. The father was rich he had rings, purple robes, cattle, and servants; but the prodigal wanted more. He had heard about a city in a far-away country; and rather than being thankful for what he had, he wanted more. Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that, We exhibit a degree of thanksgiving in life in reverse proportion to the amount of blessing we receive. Let me explain. A hungry man is more thankful for his morsel of bread than a rich man is for his table full of food. A lonely woman in a nursing home will appreciate a visit more than a popular woman who receives visits and calls on a daily basis. A Russian who finally gets his own copy of the Bible after years of state-imposed atheism is more thankful than most, if not all, of the people assembled in a Sunday morning church service who hear the Word continually, but fail to heed what they hear. R alph Waldo Emerson also observed that, If the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event that would be! But because theyre there every night, we barely give them a look. We are, indeed, a blessed people; and you, unlike the prodigal, dont have to get down in the pigpen of life to learn to appreciate and be thankful for what God has blessed you with.

Have you ever noticed that the more we have, the less we appreciate what

What to do: Look around and name as many blessings of God as you can. Are you thankful for them all? Look down and see that there are those who are less fortunate than you. Look up and thank God for your salvation if, indeed, you are saved.

~ SACRIFICE ~
NOVEMBER 17 Bible Reading: II Corinthians 11:23-33 Key Verse: II Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a
fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Key Words: Are they ministers of Christ?

sandpaper. There is also no doubt that Paul had a great love for them, for he had sacrificed tremendously for them; but it appears that the church at Corinth had very little appreciation for Pauls sacrifice. A harried waitress approached the table where a young girl was sitting by herself. She quickly asked the girl what she wanted. How much is an ice cream sundae? the little girl inquired. The waitress snapped, A dollar seventy-five.

T here is no question that the church at Corinth was Pauls heavenly

The girl looked at her fistful of change and then asked, How much is a dish

of just plain ice cream? One fifty, retorted the waitress. Then Ill take the plain ice cream, please, said the young customer. The waitress returned with the bowl of ice cream and delivered it with a rude silence. After the little girl finished her ice cream and left, the waitress went to clear off the table. To her shame, she found two dimes and five pennies. Her tip was the exact amount the little girl needed to get a sundae rather than just plain ice cream. In each of our lives, others have made sacrifices for our well-being. The question is, are we grateful; or do we treat those who have sacrificed for us with a rude, unappreciative spirit?

What to do: Make a list of those who have sacrificed for your benefit. Send those you list a word of thanks. Ask God everyday to give you a thankful spirit for others who have sacrificed that you might have.

~ INVESTING YOUR LIFE IN OTHERS ~

NOVEMBER 18 Bible Reading: Romans 16 Key Verse: Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a Key Words: I commend unto you
servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

A s you read Romans 16, you read a seemingly long list of names that
mean absolutely nothing to the casual reader; but you have to go beyond the surface and look deeply into the lives of these thirty-six people and see how Paul had invested his life in them, mentored them, prayed for them, watched after them and now here they are, all serving God because Paul had invested his life in others. There is no greater joy than investing your life into others for the glory of God. In his autobiography, Breaking Barriers, syndicated columnist Carl Rowan tells about a teacher who greatly influenced his life. Rowan relates: Miss Thompson reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a piece of paper containing a quote attributed to Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. I listened intently as she read: Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir mens blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans, aim high in hope and work. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. More than thirty years later, I gave a speech in which I said that Frances Thompson had given me a desperately needed belief in myself. A newspaper printed the story, and someone mailed the clipping to my beloved teacher. She wrote me: For years, I endured my brothers arguments that I had wasted my life; that I should have married and had a family. When I read that you gave me credit for helping to launch a marvelous career, I put the clipping in front of my brother. After hed read it, I said, You see, I didnt really waste my life, did I? Y ou never know who you are having an impact on; so never quit; never give up; always invest your life in others for Gods service.

What to do: List those who invested their lives in you and send them a card of appreciation. Make a list of those you want to invest your life in and list how that can be done. Now do it!!!

~ FORGIVE ME WHEN I WHINE ~

NOVEMBER 19 Bible Reading: Numbers 11:1-9 Key Verse: Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the
LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Key Words: the people complained

Egypt by God. They had crossed the Red Sea safely on dry ground, I might add. They had watched as the army of the enemy had been consumed by that same sea. God had provided food and water; their clothing and shoes were seemingly everlasting. God had provided for them a land flowing with milk and honey, but yet they whined. They whined for the same reasons we whine. We focus on what we dont have rather than on what we do have. I read the following and found it to be a blessing. I trust you will as well. The author is unknown. Forgive Me When I Whine
Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair; I envied her she seemed so gay, and how I wished I were so fair; When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle; She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, she smiled. Oh God, forgive me when I whine; I have two feet the world is mine. And when I stopped to buy some sweets, the lad who served me had such charm; He seemed to radiate good cheer; his manner was so kind and warm; I said, Its nice to deal with you; such courtesy I seldom find; He turned and said, Oh, thank you sir. And then I saw that he was blind. Oh God, forgive me when I whine; I have two eyes the world is mine. Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue; He stood and watched the others play; it seemed he knew not what to do; I stopped a moment, then I said, Why dont you join the others, dear? He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear. Oh God, forgive me when I whine; I have two ears the world is mine. With feet to take me where Id go, with eyes to see the sunsets glow,

H ow quickly we forget the blessings of God! Israel had been led out of

With ears to hear what I would know. I am blessed indeed. The world is mine oh, God forgive me when I whine.

Oh Lord, forgive us when we whine!!!

What to do: Put up an I will not whine sign in a prominent place. Write down all the reasons you have to whine, and then visit the cancer ward of Childrens Hospital. You will stop your whining in a mega-second. Everyday thank God for your health.

~ THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION ~
November 20 Bible Reading: Psalm 148 Key Verse: Psalm 148:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the Key Words: Praise ye the Lord.
heavens: praise him in the heights.

days are now filled with praise and thanksgiving as he looks back over his days upon this earth, and he remembers the many blessings of God. A s we draw near to the day we designate as Thanksgiving a day when we remember the blessings of God and hopefully thank Him for those many blessings, I am reminded of the First National Thanksgiving Proclamation, which reads as follows: Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; Whereas, both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness! Now therefore, I do recommend next, to be devoted by the people of the states to the service of that great and glorious Being, Who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be, that we may then all unite in

The Psalmist David is now drawing to the end of his earthly life. All of his

rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country. George Washington, 1779 I trust that today and everyday we will remember the blessings of God, and be thankful for them.

What to do: Ask each family member to name one thing and one person they are thankful for, and why they are thankful.

~ THANKSGIVING ~
NOVEMBER 21 Bible Reading: I Thessalonians 5:15-28 Key Verse: I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will Key Words: In everything give thanks
of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

the blessings of God, our country, and our family. But would you not agree with me that we should be thankful everyday for the blessings of God? Which raises the question how...how can I develop an attitude of gratitude? Let me suggest the following. 1. Do not focus on the material things of life but focus on the spiritual things. Focusing on the material things will lead to being emotionally low because the flesh can never be happy; it is always wanting more. Read Mark 10:17-21. 2. Do not focus on what you cannot dofocus on what you can do. Everyone has different gifts and talents. Do what you can do. 3. Do not focus on what you do not havefocus on what you do have. Reminds me of an illustration I use occasionally. It goes in part... ~I complained about poor eyesight until I saw the man who was blind. ~I complained about my poor hearing until I met the man who was deaf. ~I complained about my aching legs until I saw the man who had no legs.

Soon we will be celebrating Thanksgiving, a day set aside to remember all

Focus on what you have, not what you do not or cannot have. Do not focus on yourself, focus on others. Remember J-O-Y stands for Jesus first, others second, and you last. 6. And last of all, focus on God, not man. Remember, a spirit of thankfulness depends on what you are focusing on. Make sure your focus is right, and you will daily have an attitude of gratitude.
5.

4.

What to do: Ask God to continue to give you an attitude of gratitude. Apply the principles found in todays devotion, but do so daily.

NOVEMBER 22 Bible Reading: Psalm 92 Key Verse: Psalm 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to Key Words: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.
sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

~ HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING ~

In Gods Word, there are a number of reasons given for us to be filled with
thankfulnessjust to name a few For our friends (Romans 16:4, II Thessalonians 2:13), For God Himself (I Corinthians 15:57, Revelation 11:17), For those who have helped us in times of need (II Corinthians 1:11, 9:15), For all things (Ephesians 5:20, I Thessalonians 5:18), For heaven (Hebrews 13:15), and For our salvation. The list goes on and on. The problem is we tend to focus on our problems rather than our blessings. W hen our New England colonies were first established, the settlers endured many difficulties. They decided to lay their many distresses before God in fervent days of fasting and prayer, but constant meditation upon their difficulties kept them in discouragement and discontent even to the point of wanting to return to their homeland with all of its persecutions. Again it was suggested that a day of fasting and prayer be appointed; but a plain common sense old colonist rose up in their meeting which was filled with despair and said, It seems high time to me that we should consider the mercies of God for a

change. The colony is growing; the fields are increasing their harvest; the rivers are full of fish; and the woods are full of wildlife; the air is fresh; and our freedoms are ever before us; our families have health; and most of all, we have our religious freedom; so I suggest that we amend our resolution from a day of fasting and prayer to a day of thanksgiving. So they did, and the rest is history. Thought: A real spirit of thanksgiving depends on whether you focus on your burdens or your blessings.
I do hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving.

What to do: Focus on what you have rather than what you do not have.

~ ~ BLESS THE LORD~ ~

NOVEMBER 23 Bible Reading: Psalm 104 Key Verse: Psalm 104:35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and
let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

Key Words: Bless thou the LORD, O my soul.

Bless [thou] the LORD, O my soul. The psalmist is thanking God for His creation. In verses one through four, we see days one and two of Creation while in verses five through nine, we have day three. In verses ten through eighteen we see days four and five. Then in verses nineteen through thirty we have day six, and in verses thirty-one through thirty-five we have day seven. The point being that even in the day-to-day events of life, we have so much to be thankful for that we really take for granted. There is an imaginative story of that morning when the sun did not rise. Six oclock came and there was no sign of dawn. At seven oclock there was still no ray of light. At noon it was as black as midnight and no bird sang. There was only the hoot of the owl and the swoop of the bat. Then came the black hours of the black afternoon. No one slept that night. Some wept, some wrung their hands in anguish. Every church was thronged to its doors with people upon their knees. Thus they remained the whole night through; then millions of eager, tearwet faces were turned toward the east. When the sky began to grow red and the

T he psalmist starts the psalm and ends the psalm with the same words,

sun rose once more there was a shout of great joy. Now millions of lips said, Bless the Lord, O my soul. Why were these people so thankful? Just because the sun rose after one day of darkness. The very constancy of Gods blessings sometimes seems to kill our gratitude. Whereas the wonderful thing about the mercies of God is that they are fresh every morning and new every morning. We all should cry out daily, Bless the Lord, O my soul.

What to do: Make it a daily practice during your prayer time (You do have a prayer time, dont you?) to thank God for His wonderful blessings. Make a small list of things you often take for granted and thank God for them.

~ ~ TEN APPLES ~~

NOVEMBER 24 Bible Reading: II Chronicles 29:20-36 Key Verse: II Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye
have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.

Key Words: thank offerings

H ezekiah as king accomplished a number of things. He was king when

God defeated the Assyrian army. He was king when God gave him fifteen years of additional life; but in our text Hezekiah, the king, had led the nation back into temple worship. The people had been worshipping false gods, but through Hezekiahs dedication to God the altars of the false gods were destroyed and worship of Jehovah was returned. As a result of this change, Hezekiah had the priests cleanse themselves and had the people give an offering of thanksgiving to God. Our giving, as well, is a reflection of our gratitude toward God.

T he following story sadly illustrates many believers gratitude toward the blessings of God. Once upon a time there was a man who had nothing, and God gave him ten apples. He gave him the first three apples to eat.

He gave him the second three apples to trade for shelter from the sun and rain. He gave him the third three apples to trade for clothing to wear. He gave him the last apple to give back to God in order that he could show his gratitude for the other nine. The man ate the first three apples. He traded the second three apples for shelter from the sun and rain. He traded the third three apples for clothing to wear. Then he looked at the tenth apple. It seemed bigger and juicier than the rest. He knew that God had given him the tenth apple so that he might demonstrate his love and gratitude by returning it to God. But it was so much bigger and juicier than the rest; and he began to reason within himself, God has all the other apples in the orchard, hell not miss this one. So the man ate the apple and gave God the core. Now, the moral of this story is this: It is not about the apple it is about you and me and our attitude of gratitude. Do you demonstrate thankfulness to God through your giving?

What to do: Lay aside a minimum of ten percent of everything you receive and give it to God (through your local church). Teach this principle to your children. Always pray about how much to give beyond your ten percent to special church projects and missions endeavors.

~ ~ ~ BEGINNING AND ENDING ~

NOVEMBER 25 Bible Reading: Nehemiah 11:3-17 Key Verse: Nehemiah 11:17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of
Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

Key Words: begin the thanksgiving in prayer

A fter the Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah led the nation of Israel in

rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem and in restoring the temple and in restoring the worship of God. After the restoration of the walls and temple, the

people of Israel gathered together in a thanksgiving service, and Mattaniah, a leader of the tribe of Levi, began the service with a prayer of thanksgiving. N ow, this raises a question in my mind: how do we begin and end our prayers? Do we do this by giving thanks to God? T he Rev. Leslie F. Church related Almighty God, we the following story at the annual thank Thee that it is not meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society: always as bad as this. A friend of his was staying in Yorkshire one very wet Sunday with two other friends. On the way to church he was told they would be the only people there probably, and that the service would be taken by a lay preacher who would have walked fifteen miles over the hills in the pouring rain to get there. Is he a great preacher? the friend asked. No, but he can pray. He always begins, continues, and ends with thanking God. Sure enough, they were the whole congregation, and the old man came into the pulpit, drenched through with the rain, but punctual. He began his prayer thus: Almighty God, we thank Thee that it is not always as bad as this. Let me encourage each of us to begin and end our prayer with thanksgiving to God.

What to do: Always include thanksgiving to God in your prayer. Let others see and hear your life of thanksgiving. Remember, there are always reasons to be thankful.

~ ~ THANKING ~ OD FOR NOTHING ~ G

~
NOVEMBER 26

Bible Reading: Isaiah 51:1-8 Key Verse: Isaiah 51:3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her
waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Key Words: thanksgiving

they go through a major adversity. In verse one, Isaiah says that they are in a pit, so he now reminds them in verse three that God is their Comfort. He alone

In our Bible reading for today, Isaiah is encouraging the people of Israel as

can make the wilderness they are in like the Garden of Eden. He alone can give them joy and gladness, and bring back a heart of thanksgiving. I have found that it Thank God for the times He protected is easy to be thankful you and you never knew it. when God comforts us, and brings us out of our adversity; but when was the last time we thanked God for not having to go through adversity? One day a missionary longed to see his brothers. They agreed to meet in the remote mountains of central Italy. After arriving and enjoying the reunion, each of the brothers began to tell about their journey and how they arrived for the reunion. O ne brother who had traveled by mule said, God protected me in a miraculous way. When I was crossing a narrow bridge over a deep mountain gorge, the mule jumped. I fell and narrowly escaped falling over the wall into the gorge. God, by His love, saved my life. The second brother said, I had to cross a river, and I slipped and fell. The water carried me down the river. But God, in His grace, provided a tree which had fallen across the river. I grabbed a branch and pulled myself to shore, thanks to Gods mercy. T he third brother said, I, as well, am thankful. I am thankful that I came across no gorge to fall into, and no river to sweep me away. I had a most pleasant trip. I am thankful that nothing happened on my journey.

What to do: Thank God that He has seen or will see you through adversity. Thank God also for those events that never happen. Thank God for the times He protected you and you never knew it.

~ IT TURNED OUT GOOD ~

NOVEMBER 27 Bible Reading: Jonah 2 Key Verse: Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of Key Words: with the voice of thanksgiving
thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Everyone knows the story of Jonah how he attempted to flee from the
presence of God, went down to Joppa and got on a ship headed for Tarshish, and how God sent a storm, and Jonah was cast overboard and swallowed by a great fish. I n our Bible reading from Jonah 2, Jonah is now praying for Gods deliverance. That which appeared to be bad Thank God for turned out to be good. Jonah was delivered and he went to Nineveh and preached. The city even that which repented and turned to God. appears to be bad. I have found that often in life, that which appears to be bad is actually good, and that which appears to be good is often bad. Let me explain. A wise old Chinese gentleman lived on the troubled Mongolian border. One day his favorite horse, a beautiful white mare, jumped the fence and was seized on the other side by the enemy. His friends came to comfort him. Were so sorry about your horse, they said. Thats bad news. How do you know its bad news? he asked. It might be good news.

A week later, the Chinaman looked out his window to see his mare returning at breakneck speed, and alongside her was a beautiful stallion. He put both horses into the enclosure, and his friends came to admire the new addition. What a beautiful horse, they said. Thats good news. How do you know its good news? replied the man. It might be bad news. The next day, the mans only son decided to try riding the stallion. It threw him, and he landed painfully, breaking his leg. The friends made another visit, all of them sympathetic, saying, Were so sorry about this. Its such bad news. How do you know its bad news? replied the man. It might be good news. Within a month, a terrible war broke out between China and Mongolia. The Chinese recruiters came through the area, pressing all the young men into the army. All of them perished except for the Chinamans son, who couldnt go off

to war because of his broken leg. You see, said the gentleman, the things you considered good were actually bad, and the things that seemed to be bad news were actually for our good. What to do: Thank God for all things, even that which appears to be bad. Ask God to develop in you a no-quit attitude, and a thankful spirit to go along with that attitude. Never run from rough situations, they usually turn out to be some of your greatest blessings.

~ ~ BE CONTENT ~~
NOVEMBER 28 Bible Reading: Hebrews 13:1-9 Key Verse: Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and Key Words: Let your conversation be without covetousness
be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

that he is writing to Jewish believers in the church at Jerusalem. As he closes out his letter to them, he reminds them of five key things that they need to do to be a Christian. First of all, dont stifle out brotherly love, but let it continue. Second, he tells them to be hospitable. Thirdly, they are to remember those who are imprisoned. Fourthly, he tells them to keep themselves sexually pure. Last of all, in verse five he tells them to be content with Use what you have for Gods glory. what they have. I have found that those who are not content with such things as they have are, in general, not happy people. We fail so often to genuinely appreciate the possessions that we have. P erhaps you have heard of the man who wished to dispose of his home. He went to see a friend who was in the real estate business and, describing his house and grounds to the man, asked him to write an advertisement which he could put in the newspapers. His friend did as he was requested and then read what he had written to the home-owner. Read that again, said the man who wanted to sell his house. His friend

M ost people believe that Paul is the writer of the book of Hebrews, and

obliged, to hear this astonishing remark: The house is not for sale. All my life Ive wanted a place just like the one you have described; but I never knew I had it until I heard what you have written about it. There is a grand old song: Count your blessings, name them one by one. If some of us would do that very thing we should be happier Christians.

What to do: Be thankful for what you have. Use what you have for Gods glory. Ask God daily to give you a thankful, content spirit.

NOVEMBER 29 Bible Reading: II Thessalonians 1 Key Verse: II Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, Key Words: We are bound to thank God always for you
brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

~ ~ ~ I THANK MY GOD FOR THEM ~

I know that there are those who can make serving the Lord burdensome;
still others can be downright difficult to get along with. The Lord tells us about all these ornery ones. He calls them backbiters, talebearers, jealous ones, ones full of envy, malcontents, and the list goes on and on. But in spite of all of those who get their joy out of being our thorns in the flesh, our heavenly sandpaper, there are still Thank God for those those God brings our way who bring great who encouraged you to joy and blessing into our lives. keep serving God. I n the eighteenth century in Wales, a young man named William Williams graduated from medical school, but quickly changed his profession from medical to ministry. God called Williams into full-time evangelism. He said, I remember when I announced that God had called me out of medicine into evangelism, there were those who belittled me, scoffed at me, mocked me, scorned me. I became somewhat discouraged, but I found along the way many others who were a tremendous blessing. D uring his forty-three years in evangelism, Williams traveled over 95,000 miles, would preach to crowds ranging in number from a dozen or so to crowds

larger than 60,000. What a blessing most of these people were! D uring his ministry, he said, I was robbed, mobbed, and brutally beaten, talked about, put down, run down, and even ran out of some towns. But I must say that those who abused me were far less than those who uplifted me; and its for those who encouraged me, I thank my God for them. And so should we all!!!

What to do: Thank God for those who encouraged you to keep serving God. Pray for those who abandon you and misuse you. Always be right righteousness will ultimately prevail.

~ ~ ~ HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT ~

NOVEMBER 30 Bible Reading: II Corinthians 9 Key Verse: II Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Key Words: unspeakable gift

P aul had been writing to the church at Corinth to encourage them to do financially as they had promised to do for the church in Jerusalem. He commends the church of Macedonia for fulfilling their commitment. C hapter nine closes with Paul talking about Gods unspeakable gift. The word unspeakable means indescribable. This is not money Paul is talking about; hes talking about Jesus Christ and what Christ has done for them. We do what we do for God because of our spirit of thankfulness for His unspeakable gift of Jesus Who has given us everlasting life. A Christian general and a judge in India were on a military expedition. When they came to a Mohammedan area, they were met by several ladies of a Christian mission. The Indian judge was impressed with these cultured women missionaries, and said, I cannot understand why these ladies give up their time and risk infection working in this filthy part of town. It is rather amazing, replied the general, unless you realize their motive. Ah, thats just my difficulty. Their motive is gratitude. Gratitude! What have our poor people ever done for them that these ladies

should feel gratitude? I wish you would explain it for me. To explain would involve the essential differences between our religions. Ill listen to you, said the judge. The general gave him a story of a friend in greatest difficulties over money matters, and his debt was paid by a kind stranger. Then he explained, Though our debts have been paid and we are free, we owe the deepest gratitude to Jesus Christ our Saviour, Who paid them for us, and that explains these missionary ladies. They have only one motive: to prove their gratitude to Him Who paid their debts. Thank God for His unspeakable gift!

What to do: Show others your thankfulness to God for His unspeakable gift through your actions of love and service.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6 Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 7:12

THANKS

TO

GO D

Thanks to God for my Redeemer; Thanks for all Thou dost provide; Thanks for times now but a memry; Thanks for Jesus, by my side; Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime; Thanks for dark and dreary fall, Thanks for tears by now forgotten; Thanks for peace within my soul. Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered; Thanks for what Thou dost deny! Thanks for storms that I have weathered; Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure; Thanks for comfort in despair; Thanks for grace that none can measure; Thanks for love beyond compare. Thanks for roses by the wayside; Thanks for thorns their stems contain! Thanks for home and thanks for fireside; Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain. Thanks for joy, and thanks for sorrow; Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee; Thanks for hope in the tomorrow; Thanks through all eternity.

J.A. Hultman

A SONG
IT IS A LITTLE THINGA SONG; AND YET IT BRINGS THE WARMTH OF MAY, AND HELPS TO MAKE A FAINT HEART STRONG, AND GIVES A JOY TO EACH NEW DAY. IT IS A LITTLE THINGA SONG; A LULLABY TO SOOTHE THE YOUNG; A CHEERFUL HUM WHEN TASKS ARE LONG; A HYMN OF HOPE WHEN HEARTS ARE WRUNG. IT IS A LITTLE THINGA SONG; YET HEAVEN WOULD BE A LONELY PLACE, DESPITE THE VASTNESS OF ITS THRONG, WITHOUT A CHOIR TO PRAISE GODS GRACE.
DOROTHY R. LARSON

I deeply appreciate the help of

Cathy Fortenberry Sandy Lancaster Glenda Myrick Mary Parsons John and Tascha Piatt Reba Pontbriand And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.

Dr. Mike Rouse