GIVING THANKS IS GETTING HARDER FOR ME
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, It’s good to focus on giving thanks. Each year, I find it harder to give thanks to the Lord. When I was a new Christian, I could list all the things I saw him do in my life and praise Him for them. But after all these years, the list is far too long. There’s no way I could include everything on it. In truth, everything good in my life belongs on the list, everything I am and have.
I’m sure the good things I see in my life are just the tip of the iceberg of all God is ding for me. There must be a hundred times more things that he does or prevents that I don’t even know to thank him for. Writing a list would be endless.
When I do try to thank him for all he’s done in my life, I just can’t find words to do it. “Thank you” sounds so weak and ineffective. What words can express appreciation for all He has done for us? There is no part of my life that he hasn’t changed, improved and enriched. In fact he is my life. As Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “For me to live is Christ.”
So how am I to thank him? I just ask Him to look at my heart to read what’s there. I know even that falls short because I’m not even aware of most of what He has done for me. I Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” One day I will see Him face to face and be fully aware of what He has done for me. Then I’ll spend all eternity thanking Him. Then I’ll have words to praise and worship Him. Until then, I’ll just have to do the best with what I have.
Revelation 5:11-13 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
What words would you use right now to thank Him for all He’s done for you? Thank Him now.
INDIA UPDATE & PRAYER REQUEST I’ve updated you about what is happening with CTO, now I’ll catch you up on my (our) life. We (Nancy and I) are doing well – God is very good to us. Aging bodies take more time and work but we have no serious complaints. We enjoy time with children and grandchildren. Our love and friendship grow every day. I peach sermons or teach classes when asked, including a weekly men’s Bible study on Zoom. I teach a class to 6 homeschooled grandchildren on-line twice a week. I oversee CTO’s daily operations, finances and plans. I write this blog, one for pastors and another about spiritual warfare (I could use help proof-reading blogs). I will be leading two marriage retreats in March, one of which I organize and run myself. Then there is some counseling and lots of emails to respond to. I’m working with LifeWay on a 4th module for training pastors. I now have written 16 books for pastors and oversee translating them into Telugu, Hindi and Spanish as well as printing them in India for distribution. CTO’s web site is a great resource for pastors and anyone studying the Bible. There is a lot of great material free for anyone to use (https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/). I thank God for the opportunity to serve Him in any way I can.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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