Tag Archives: George Washington

Posted on

Will we Proclaim the truth even when lies are more popular?

 

Do you sometimes feel like you’re swimming upstream when you’re trying to go the right way … and so many are going the wrong way?

“Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts” Zech. 8:16

“Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.”  

Patrick Henry

If liberty has any genuine meaning in our age of deception, it certainly carries the right to tell people the truth – even when they’ve been conditioned by their trusted teachers to think they don’t want to hear it.

“The LORD is my helper; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” Heb 13:6

Never before in our lifetimes, have we been so obviously confronted by what appeared to be such a threat of ultimate loss of freedom, that even the most optimistic Pollyanna had to concede that we were all at a crossroads of choice.  The question was, “would we choose to bow to God or bow to men who deny their Creator?”  Which choice will you make next time? 

“That the generation to come might know them… and declare them to their children.” Ps 78:6

 Think of that purpose… for your own life… right now.

 Starting with the horribly misguided public mandates of the “covid plandemic,” thinking people all over the world have been forced to consider choices that most of us never dreamed would be faced so universally in the modern world.  It comes down to this.  The Creator and Savior of the entire world is empowering countless, humble influencers in our world today to be courageous spokesmen for the Great I AM.  Like Moses, after 40 lonely years herding sheep in the wilderness of Midian which is now Arabia, we should rightly feel humbled and inadequate to speak… especially when God is charging us to go be His ambassador.  “Let my people go” was the message then.  It hasn’t changed much, has it?

“we are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices.” 2 Cor 2:11

The kingdom of darkness has been aggressively using deceit and fear to intimidate the human family ever since Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The long-awaited promise of the entrance of Jesus, the Creator and Messiah, into human history changed the dynamics of the battle. But the warfare of darkness verses light, of deception verses truth, and of bondage verses deliverance is as sharply in focus today as it ever was.

“If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” 1 Ki 18:21

In the light of what has been called the greatest deceptive manipulation of the entire planet’s human population in all of history, Bible-believing Christians, like never before, need to personally take stock of who they will bow to and trust as their provider of peace and safety.  Will it be their Creator and Savior?  Or will it be the historically fabled golden image of their human government?  The contrasting line in the sand could not be more clear.

“I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” Phil 1:9

The challenge that perplexes all too many well-meaning believers is, “how should we take our stand for righteousness and trust in God?” And that’s where it gets down to really knowing how to apply the “truth that will set us free.”

Two anchors for today’s teacher of truth

There are two foundational anchors I’ve often tied to when engaging others in my discussions.

First: Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.”  It doesn’t really matter what is the current conflict or chaos going on around us. The root cause is always the confusion produced by ignorance of the truth, coupled with people’s stubborn resistance to receiving the gift of the love of the truth.

And that brings us to the second anchor of Biblical principle.

2 Thes. 5:21, “Prove (or test) all things.. hold fast that which is good.”

Never be afraid to ask probing questions of those who are confused by deceptive schemes of the devil.  “Where did you get that idea?” “What facts do you have to support your beliefs?” “Are you open to considering another viewpoint?”

Remember what Jesus said.  He doesn’t want you wasting time casting your pearls before pigs.  If they aren’t receptive to your testimony and willing to entertain a continuing discussion, then shake the dust off your feet and go find someone who is hungry to receive the truth you’ve discovered.

“…through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.”  Prov. 11:9

If you are listening to this… Even years after the most cunning global deception of 2020, the principles of how to process what we will all have had to learn, at least in some part, are timeless.

For anyone whose spiritual eyes are open to the discerning insights of Godly logic and historic retrospect, the epic capitulation to falsehood during the Great Scamdemic – of virtually the entire human population of modern nations – could not be more breathtaking.  The questions touch every area of our modern living.

It’s all included.  Our food supply, our economic provision, our basic human rights to assemble, to speak, and to worship; our civic responsibilities; our trust in our society’s educators, or health professionals, or sources of information about current events; What’s true?  Who can you believe?  What are our fundamental spiritual convictions that set our standard for what actions we should take?

“..these things happened …as an example, but … written … for our instruction.” 1 Co 10:11

For perspective, try to put your mind in the context of living as a citizen of Germany in 1939.  America is still recovering from the greatest economic depression in their history lasting a full 10 years. Germany is also gaining a renewed sense of national pride after suffering humiliating losses through the greatest world war ever endured.. supposedly the war to end all wars.  Ordinary German citizens seemed to turn a deaf ear to the deceptive anti-God arrogance of the rising anti-Christ of their generation.  Remember, the Bible clearly states that there have been many anti-Christs who carried out the corrupt deadly agenda of the god of this age… the one who is at constant war with the God who owns all the cattle on a thousand hills, the One to Whom the whole earth belongs along with all the fullness it contains.  Try to keep that perspective.  The Creator of the universe has not lost His control. The self-destructive pattern of human society is following exactly what God predicted they would in His Word, just like has happened in past societies.

many convincing proofs  Acts 1:3

Before looking at just how we should obey the Bible in honoring the Lord on our day of sabbath rest, it would be wise for all of us to see some natural understanding that our Creator, made evidently clear about the fallen creation we all live in. 

What you could miss by neglecting God’s word as a better medical opinion

Did you know that the medical establishment of George Washington’s day deliberately used a deeply flawed intervention that killed our first president? How did they do such a thing? They didn’t pay attention to God’s Word, the Bible.  It’s true.  Today, most would agree that the life-blood of our physical being is seen in the complex chemistry and physiology in our bodies we call our bloodstream, our cardio vascular system, and the vitally needed cells we call hemoglobin and macrophages (white blood cells).  The very life of our physical being is absolutely dependent on the adequate supply and circulation of our blood (see Leviticus 17:11). If too much blood is lost from our veins, we die.  The doctors of medicine in 1799 held the false belief that “blood-letting” was the solution to a severe common cold, which is a type of what is today called a “corona virus.” When President Washington’s cold took a turn for the worse at age 67, the doctors who had already drained nearly a quart of his so-called “bad blood” decided dangerously to drain out even more, which literally killed him. Do you think that could be an example of “my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge?”

When you hear the word “quarantine” what comes to your mind?  If you know some of the miraculous insights of the laws God gave to Moses in the Torah, you’re likely very aware that quarantine was God’s sensible direction for separating sick people from healthy ones, to prevent the spread of infectious disease, right?

Question.  Why would sensible people submit to an unprecedented overnight ruling by government bureaucrats worldwide to quarantine HEALTHY people and dictate that all children and most non–essential working adults stay home and not even go outside without face-coverings? They had no scientific support for that intervention. There’s no therapeutic benefit in it.  What would be better? Besides advising people to take good hygiene measures seriously, like frequent hand washing and bolstering good sanitation practices in public places, why didn’t we hear frequent public service announcements urging everyone to stop doing the things that lower our immune response (like consuming refined sugar maybe?), and start supplementing our nutrition with plenty of vitamins A, C, and D and zinc? Those are proven and widely prescribed therapies by trusted health professionals. Why didn’t we hear about that?

Another thing for perspective.  What have modern governments been notably effective at using to control their populations and convince them to do things that normal common-sense people would otherwise reject without even thinking about it?  As a former president’s chief of staff infamously posited, “never let a crisis go to waste.”  Few things produce stampeding fear in the herd of humanity more than the public promotion of the fear that everyone could lose their health and die if they don’t separate themselves from one another.  They can even be persuaded that it’s an act of goodness to report their neighbor to public employees if they are seen gathering with too many other people.

Nobody gets excited because millions of people get sick every year and tens of thousands of people die of the annual new (or novel) flu bug that goes around regularly.  Yet now, you’d think we were living in the dark ages, fearing the black death because someone might breathe on us.

Anybody with a little horse sense can learn that viruses, like bacterial infections, can cause people with weak immune systems to come down with a bad case of flu symptoms. By the way, the word “virus” came from the ancient Latin word meaning POISON.  We’ve seen cycles over recent decades of Spanish flu, swine flu, bird flu and all kinds of contagious infections that 99% of the population survive, and are stronger afterwards.  So, knowing that less than one third of one percent of those known to contract the infection were dying, why all the bluster and fear-mongering to generate public policies that were actually producing more susceptibility to all kinds of other health problems like lowered immunity, social and mental health issues, criminal behavior, and epidemic suicide from job losses and endless anxieties?

Marxist, socialist, and globalist radicals may think they control the world with their anti-God, anti-liberty, and anti-life agenda. But could it be that God sovereignly used the  chaotic crisis to cause lost people to seek Him and His own people to repent of their rebellious pride, apathy and unrighteousness?

Let’s keep God’s perspective to guide our thoughts and actions. Remember the second Psalm and realize that the rise of darkness in our own time is not going to succeed beyond its God-determined limits. What does it say in the 2nd Psalm?

1 Why do the nations rage, ​​And the people plot a vain thing?

2 ​​The kings of the earth set themselves, ​​And the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,

3 ​​“Let us break Their bonds in pieces ​​And cast away Their cords from us.”​

4 ​​He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; ​​The Lord shall hold them in derision.

If you’ve not yet taken time to learn the rest of today’s stories that are not being heard on the so-called “main stream” media outlets, be encouraged and refreshed by heeding Jesus’ words… to “be careful what you listen to” and “how you hear.”  Turn off the main stream TV news. Discover alternative, truth-telling, voices… Ones that don’t depend on corporate support from mega-stockholder companies with globalist, politically motivated agendas. The Internet is a providential gift for those who learn to use it wisely. Find thoughtful, truthful sources you can respect for their integrity, their faithfulness to honesty and respect for Biblical authority as much as possible.  It doesn’t have to all be under a Christian label.  Look for content from trustworthy medical professionals who are willing to serve their patients rather than push the agendas of profiteering drug companies known as Big Pharma. It will take some discernment. Some of the best I’ve heard are featured guests on programs produced by a weekly podcast health freedom news channel called The Highwire.   I will list some recommended sources I’ve discovered in the notes for today’s show on our ReclaimYourLegacy.com website. Look for them below.

And another important heads up.  Don’t fall for the leftist controlled so-called “fact-checkers” like Snopes, Wikipedia and the heavily censored social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Stop using Google for a search engine. They heavily skew your searches by leftist bias and they censor excellent research that isn’t submitted to the globalist, anti-truth narrative. Use others like Brave.  I expect to see major shifts of truth-loving patriots away from popular platforms that are heavily censored by the big Tech corporations. 

Now, let’s briefly consider “Who is the Lord of the Sabbath?”

So now, what about the question regarding who is the authority – The LORD – of God’s sabbath?

Most Americans saw how leftist bureaucrats, elected leaders and media celebrities shamelessly abused their influence to accomplish what they’ve been trying to do for decades. The fabricated crisis of a feared epidemic gave them presumed power they previously lacked: To restrict the normal activities of Christian churches all over America!

Is it ever right to forbid the church to gather for corporate worship and fellowship on the Lord’s Day… or on any day for that matter? But when have we ever seen nearly 100% unity in the church universal?  The seemingly unanimous decision to stop assembling together must have been solidly backed by Scripture, right?

Is the Word of God unclear about God’s call to His church to gather together?

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”   (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Romans chapter 13 is commonly raised in support of obeying governing authorities. Why? Because “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement.” It’s clear that God doesn’t want his people rioting in resistance to that which God has appointed to keep order in society.  But what is God’s order for His established civic governors? The next verses tell us.

“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”

Are governing authorities delegated by God to determine what is good and what is wrong? The underlying assumption here is that the government is correctly distinguishing right and wrong in accordance with what God would deem to be right and wrong.

So, what if the government is approving that which God has deemed to be evil, or is condemning or punishing that which God has deemed to be good?  What then? Are we still to submit? The answer is obviously, no.

Peter’s response in Acts 5:11-42 is notable: “We must obey God rather than men.” (verse 29)

The primary principle that must always be upheld is clear: No government has the authority to command what God has forbidden, nor does any government have the authority to forbid what God has commanded. Whenever this primary principle is violated, the Christian is not obligated to submit; indeed, the Christian is obligated to respectfully resist.

So how can gathering together in faith to worship God on His day, regardless of the circumstances, ever be deemed morally wrong?  Would the government ever have the right to use the sword against us, to execute capital punishment towards those churches who chose to “sin” by continuing to congregate and worship God? Would we be considered evildoers in the eyes of Christ because we refused to stop worshipping Him on what we respect as His day, as He has COMMANDED US TO DO?!  If that happened, would the government be acting as the avenging servant of God by carrying out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer?

Christ’s church may obviously be challenged by the perplexing ways to cope when forced to go underground, but let’s be clear. No government can forbid what God has commanded, period. No exceptions can ever violate this fundamental axiom of biblical faithfulness.

Is the human leadership of the church permitted to forbid something that God has commanded, or to command something that God has forbidden? If so, what Scriptures would justify this? Certainly not Romans 13.  Christian assemblies must hold their leaders accountable to obey God’s word, and find ways to adjust to circumstances, just as underground assemblies of God’s people have had to do for generations in many countries.

The early church is strongly urged in the letter to the Hebrews to continue gathering because it was through gathering together that they would be encouraged to hold fast the confession of their hope without wavering. In other words, it was by gathering together that they would be heartened to stand fast in the day of affliction. Yet, in our day of affliction, we have instead opted to refrain from gathering together. And that has resulted in many, within the church, becoming disheartened.  The Bible plainly states that one of the best ways to love our brethren is by regularly gathering together …as well as to honor the Lord’s Sabbath Day of rest! By gathering together, we can stir each other to love and do good works, as well as encourage each other in the midst of affliction, even if you want to argue about which day to do it.

The Bible has much to say about God’s Sabbath… beginning with His day of rest in the Genesis account of creation. When we apply it to corporate worship in the body of Christ’s redeemed and transformed children, the priority of the Lord’s Sabbath is very compelling.

Even our nation’s president recognized the sacredness of having the church gather for the celebration of Passover and Easter.  In the face of the 2020 pandemic media panic, our president lamented that his medical advisors were making it seem like he had no option but to insist that citizens stay home on Passover Sunday 2020.  Sadly, only a few brave groups of Christians in nations around the world took a stand to assemble after several weeks of forced lockdown. By not speaking up or offering any resistance whatsoever, most of our Lord’s 21st century church only emboldened governments to abuse their powers to the extreme.  Hopefully, if the challenge is ever raised again, more thoughtful church leaders will know how to peacefully and respectfully LEAD their congregations to turn down any government’s order to stay home on the day they respect as the Lord’s Sabbath.

God is raising up a generation of warriors like Joshua and Caleb… like the thousands of early church martyrs… and like Luther and Tyndale.  Using God’s spiritual weapons of warfare to destroy the works of the devil, brave and obedient Christian soldiers will reclaim the victory that Jesus died for.  They will boldly prevail against the gates of hell that deceive and intimidate God’s fearful sheep who prevent Christ’s Ekklesia from bringing glory to their Lord through his victory that overcomes the power of the evil one. 

As Jesus said, “Let both the wheat and the weeds grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”

Suggested sources:

www.TheHighwire.com

https://rumble.com/c/TheHighWire

https://thetenpennyreport.com/

Posted on

Reclaiming Your Legacy of Thanksgiving

by Dennis Petersen

reagan-1st-congress-prayerMuch has been researched and written lately about the proven personal benefits of expressing genuine gratitude.  It turns out that thankfulness is not typically a result of being happy, but rather the opposite is true.  People who deliberately and openly confess their thankfulness to others are the happiest of people.  And isn’t it interesting that those who recognize that their lives have a purpose are the ones who are prone to give thanks to their Creator and to those around them.

Have you discovered your purpose?  Do you have a clear reason why you’re excited to get up in the morning?  If you have a mission to drive your daily goals, you’re a much happier person than those who are just being driven by survival mode.

We’re a nation of people that has a centuries-old tradition of celebrating annual solemn days of Thanksgiving.  Yet, it seems that our current generation has almost no concept of the deeply personal conviction of the importance of gratitude.  And it’s pretty obvious that that gratitude should most deservedly be directed to the Almighty Giver of every blessing and perfect gift in our lives.

It seems like everybody is scrambling frantically to demand that their comforts and material desires be accommodated.  How often we see people so ungrateful that complaints and cynical dissatisfaction has become society’s normal?  Things haven’t changed much in 2,000 years have they?

Remember The Sin of Ingratitude in Luke 17:7-19?
Jesus healed ten men of leprosy.  One of them was a Samaritan man.  He was the only one of the ten who came back to Jesus and humbly thanked Him for healing him.  Jesus asked him: “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”  Sadly, my missionary friend in Africa reports that barely 10% of those they help will bother to express their gratitude with even a word of thanks or a note card.  Gratitude may be rare, but those who express it discover the most enriching lives on earth.  Instead of loneliness, poverty and depression, they are the ones most inclined to be enriched, energized, inspired and transformed

Gratitude goes counter to the ‘victim mentality’ that has deceived so many who think they are entitled to everything at the expense of others in our culture.  When we give thanks sincerely, we acknowledge that we have received a benefit that is unearned.  We can’t help but look beyond ourselves.

When you are stunned with the reality that you survived what could have been a fatal event, how does that make you feel?

After the victory of the Battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress proclaimed the first National Day of Thanksgiving, November 1, 1777.  How did they express their feeling?  Here’s what they wrote in the proclamation:

“The grateful feeling of their hearts… join the penitent confession of their manifold sins…  that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance… and… under the providence of Almighty God… secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings, independence and peace.”

If we want to reclaim our true history, we are going to have to work at telling our children about our real history.  It isn’t being taught in most schools and colleges today.  Thomas Jefferson was the governor of Virginia in 1779.  What did he chose to proclaim for his State after Admiral John Paul Jones captured the British ship HMS Serapis?  The Continental Congress declared a Day of Thanksgiving, which

“Congress… hath thought proper… to recommend to the several States… a day of public and solemn Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his mercies, and of Prayer, for the continuance of his favour… That He would go forth with our hosts and crown our arms with victory; That He would grant to His church, the plentiful effusions of Divine Grace, and pour out His Holy Spirit on all Ministers of the Gospel; That He would bless and prosper the means of education, and spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth… I do therefore… issue this proclamation… appointing… a day of public and solemn Thanksgiving and Prayer to Almighty God… Given under my hand… this 11th day of November, in the year of our Lord, 1779… Thomas Jefferson.”

 

Hear what that same Continental Congress proclaimed after Benedict Arnold’s traitorous plot to betray West Point was thwarted.  It was a Day of Thanksgiving, October 18, 1780:

“In the late remarkable interposition of His watchful providence, in the rescuing the person of our Commander-in-Chief and the army from imminent dangers, at the moment when treason was ripened for execution… it is therefore recommended… a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer… to confess our unworthiness… and to offer fervent supplications to the God of all grace… to cause the knowledge of Christianity to spread over all the earth.”

After British General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Congress proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving, October 11, 1782:

“It being the indispensable duty of all nations… to offer up their supplications to Almighty God… the United States in Congress assembled… do hereby recommend it to the inhabitants of these states in general, to observe… the last Thursday… of November next, as a Day of Solemn Thanksgiving to God for all his mercies.”

After the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, Congress recommended that the States declare a Day of Thanksgiving.  Massachusetts Governor John Hancock, the former President of the Continental Congress, proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving, November 8, 1783:

“The Citizens of these United States have every Reason for Praise and Gratitude to the God of their salvation… I do… appoint… the 11th day of December next (the day recommended by the Congress to all the States) to be religiously observed as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer, that all the people may then assemble to celebrate… that he hath been pleased to continue to us the Light of the Blessed Gospel… That we also offer up fervent supplications… to cause pure Religion and Virtue to flourish… and to fill the world with His glory.”

After the U.S. Congress passed the First Amendment, it requested President George Washington issue a National Day of Thanksgiving, which he did, October 3, 1789:

“Whereas both 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 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… Thursday, the 26TH DAY of NOVEMBER … to be devoted by the People of these United 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 rendering unto Him our sincere and humble Thanks… for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government… particularly the national one now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed… to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue.”

On January 1, 1795, President George Washington proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving:

“When we review the calamities, which afflict so many other nations… the great degree of internal tranquility we have enjoyed –    the recent confirmation of that tranquility by the suppression of an insurrection which so wantonly threatened it – the happy course of public affairs in general –  the unexampled prosperity of all classes of our citizens; our circumstances which peculiarly mark our situation with indications of the Divine beneficence towards us.  In such a state of things it is, in an especial manner, our duty as people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experience…  I, George Washington, President of the United States, do recommend to all religious societies and denominations, and to all persons whomsoever, within the United States,  to set apart…a Day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer: and on that day to meet together and render their sincere and hearty thanks to the great Ruler of Nations.”

 

the-first-prayer-in-congress-september-1774After hearing those inspiring proclamations from national leaders – which, by the way, were entirely inspired by the attitude of profoundly committed preachers in the churches of the American colonies – doesn’t it seem about time that the pastors of our Bible-believing congregations lead the way for reclaiming our lost legacy for the current generation?  Should they not humbly call for days of contrition, repentance and sober thanksgiving?  We have such excellent Biblical and historic precedents to guide our way.

 

Taking God’s Blessings for Granted
Dr. Martin Luther observed: “The greater God’s gifts and works, the less they are regarded.”   It seems that the blessings of life, health, freedom and food are not really appreciated unless they are lost, or threatened. Sunrises and sunsets occur daily so they are taken for granted aren’t they?

Consider the Stars
Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that “If the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event it would be. But because they are there every night, we barely give them a look.”

The Blessings of Being Hungry and Lonely
Have you noticed that the blessings of rain are barely appreciated unless one has been through a drought?  A hungry man is more thankful for a tiny morsel than most affluent Americans for their table full of choice foods. A lonely woman in a nursing home will appreciate a visit more than a rock star with a crowd of fans. A Christian who has suffered under persecution for decades and receives his first copy of the Holy Scriptures is more thankful for one book than we are for all the Christian books, Bible translations and magazines that overflow our shelves.

You Should Experience Blindness for a Few Days
Helen Keller said: “I have often thought that it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days for some time during his early adult life. It would make him more appreciative of sight and of the joys of sound.”

A Biblical Command
There are at least 138 passages of Scripture that deal with the subject of thanksgiving. We are commanded: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name.” Psalm 100:4.

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8.

“Give thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:12.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15.

“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.

Joyful, Prayerful and Thankful
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Plainly it is God’s will for us to be joyful, prayerful and thankful.

A Sacrifice of Praise
“Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.” Hebrews 13:15.

What makes praise a sacrifice?  Could it be that when the blessings we are thankful for have not yet manifested themselves in God’s providence?
A Good Habit
“It ought to be as habitual for us to thank as to ask.” C. H. Spurgeon

The Parent of All Virtues
It has been said that a thankful heart is the parent of all virtues.

What is the Root of Sin?

“The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness… for although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”  Romans 1:18-21.  Look!  The failure to give thanks to God is the root sin that leads to futile thinking and foolish, darkened hearts.  Think about that.

One of the Worst Sins
In 1 Timothy 3:1-5 the apostle Paul gives a list of some of the most terrible sins including: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, traitorous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power.”  Did you see that ungratefulness is listed in the middle of a list of horrible sins?

A Fruit of Character
What’s one of the first lessons good parents teach their children is to say? “Thank You”. It takes character and courage to admit being in debt to others. It is humbling. However, those who cannot admit their indebtedness to others cannot learn, nor can they seek forgiveness.

Maturity
Failure to express gratitude is more than immaturity and rudeness, it is ungodly. We are commanded to honour our parents, our elders and our leaders. It is a sign of maturity to acknowledge indebtedness.  Have you learned anything?  Then you’re in debt to somebody else, aren’t you?  We are all in debt, first, and mostly, to God Himself, for our life, health, food, talents, family, friends, opportunities and for our salvation itself. We are also in debt to past generations who have sacrificed for the freedoms we now enjoy: Reformers, martyrs, pioneers, missionaries, soldiers, parents, teachers, pastors and so many others have sacrificed for our benefit.
An Attitude of Entitlement
Instead of the Christian character of gratitude, our present culture prefers to promote an attitude of entitlement. This is the very opposite of gratitude. It builds on pride and covetousness. It is fuelled by bitterness, greed and envy. All too many in the present humanistic society take things for granted, demand to get, rather than seeking to give.  It is sheer wickedness, and is a sure road to being led astray by all sorts of empty promises and destructive ideas.

An Attitude of Gratitude
A grateful mind is a great mind. “Be thankful, therefore, for the least benefit and thou shalt be worthy to receive greater.” Thomas a Kempis.  Start giving thanks to God and the humblest of servants like your garbage man for the little blessings in life.  Start today to write notes of sincere gratitude to people who have blessed you in any small way.  Ask God to guide your thoughts.  Partner with a friend to hold one another accountable in your new habit of expressing gratitude.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; To declare Your loving kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night.” Psalm 92:1-2.

Pride, Ingratitude and Unteachability
Those who do not take advice do not think they have anything to learn. They are often the same people who have a problem expressing a genuine heartfelt gratitude to others. It is a sign of pride to be ungrateful.  It reveals an unwillingness to acknowledge a debt to others.  By God’s grace, when we are humble enough to admit our wrong, He is powerful enough to enable us to change.  We can be a thankful person.

 

Let’s Make this season a Turning Point for expressing Thanks-giving.

List 7 things you are thankful for in your personal life today.

Call 2 people who you can honestly thank for something they contributed to your life.

Privately talk to God about the gratitude you have for His saving grace.

Take 2 minutes to begin pondering the incredible blessings you have to live now.

Promise yourself you will thank the next 10 people you encounter for something they did for you, even if it’s just a common courtesy.

The results of gratitude?

You will become healthier.  Recent studies suggest that gratitude strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep quality, and reduces inflammation in the body.  Grateful people are also more inclined to eat better and exercise which obviously increases your wellness.

You will become a more compassionate person.  When you make a routine of expressing gratitude to God and to others for tiny courtesies, you are looking beyond yourself.  You will be kinder.  You will be more forgiving. You will find joy in serving others and be willing to bear others’ burdens without expecting anything in return.

 

When you appreciate what you have, it’s impossible not to share it with others.  On the other hand, you can’t give something away when you’re empty yourself.  When you don’t know how rich you really are, you can’t take delight in sharing little insights with others.  The more aware and thankful we are of the good things in our lives, the more we are able to give to others.

 

Your relationships will deepen.  When you relate more gratefully to others you will draw closer and bond more deeply to the people in your life.  When you express gratitude to the people you love, you become more satisfied with your relationships.  You will reach out to others more easily.  You’ll be more generous.  You’ll be more forgiving and less judgmental.

A grateful heart is more content, more happy no matter what his circumstances are like.  And a happy heart focuses more on the really important joys of peace and little blessings that make life worthwhile.  That’s like a healing ointment to restore your health even when modern medicine can’t do it.

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done… Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:8,34.