Giving Thanks Always (9/4-6)

04 06 Sept 2015 Giving Thanks Always – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always . . .”

To whom should we always give thanks to? “For all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20b). What else should we do? “Making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19b).

Giving thanks in words is good, but making melody unto the Lord is even greater. It does something to your soul. It feels tender, sweet and peaceful when we sing even when we, Deaf people cannot hear the music. Be filled with the Holy Spirit helps a Deaf person experience constant renewal by giving thanks and singing unto the Lord.

Just how important it is to always give thanks? Maybe you wonder if it is worth giving thanks in spite of the problems that you might have or what we have been “hearing” many tragedies from News. I was reading one article from RBC, Our Daily Bread. It was an unusual short story which I didn’t know what to make of it. But at the end, there’s a point that’s something to think about. It really taught me something.

The story was about a family that was left with a tragedy, a void that nothing could fill. A toddler chasing a cat wandered into the road and was run over by a truck. A 4-year-old watched in shocked silence as her parents cradled the lifeless body of her little sister. For years, the cold emptiness of that moment confined the family in sadness. The only comfort was numbness. Relief was unimaginable.

Author Ann Voskamp was the 4-year-old, and the sorrow surrounding her sister’s death formed her view of life and God. The world she grew up in had little concept of grace. Joy was an idea that had no basis in reality.

Ann Voskamp set out to discover the elusive thing the Bible calls joy. [Elusive means hard to understand] The words for joy and grace come from the Greek word chairo, which she found out is at the center of the Greek word for thanksgiving. Could it be that simple? She wondered. To test her discovery, Ann Voskamp decided to give thanks for 1,000 gifts she already had. Soon her being gratefulness was flowing freely. Ann Voskamp discovered that giving thanks brought to life feeling of joy that had died along with her sister. Joy comes from thanksgiving. [Written by Ackerman Link]

Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me” (John 11:41). Just as Jesus gave thanks before, not after, raising Lazarus from the dead. This is a good example if you are “feeling dead,” try thanking Your Heavenly Father and He will “raise you up” into the inner renewal of the Holy Spirit who will give you a song to sing.

Song: Thank You, Lord!

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,

Thank you, Lord, for making me whole.

Thank you, Lord, for giving to me,

Thy great salvation so rich and free.

(Inspiring Choruses)