"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Be Thankful!

"If the stars came out only once a year, everyone would stay up all night just to watch." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson


Remember the story from Luke 17:11-19 where ten lepers are healed by Jesus, but only one, a Samaritan, comes back to give Him thanks?

How important is our thanks to God and others? I found this thought-provoking as I read it from the latest In Touch magazine.

We tend to ignore the things that are always present or available to us; it's easy to take those things for granted, no matter how wonderful they are. When we're accustomed to material blessings, we hardly count them as blessings until we begin to lose them -- whether they involve health, financial comfort, or easy access to life's "necessities." Might we be so familiar with such blessings that we actually trivialize them or view them as our rights? Have we heard about God's grace so often that it no longer gets our attention?


Wow! Is this why this recession has been so hard on many Americans? Things we previously took for granted -- such as being able to have a house, fancy car, good food plus DSL, cool cell phones and the latest entertainment -- were no longer easy for us to acquire? Makes me wonder how many "rights," "necessities," and blessings I have been taking for granted because they are things I am used to having. What things would I most miss if I no longer had them? Things I'd previously thought would just always be here. What about you?

My pastor often says that he will never be the greatest fisherman (he loves bass fishing). Nor will he ever be the world's best golfer or father or preacher. But he says he wants to be the most grateful man ever! So he praises God every day all the time. He doesn't want to be a grumbler or murmurer. (Ever notice from the Old Testament how much God detested that attitude in the Israelites?) So how about we give my preacher a run for his money and try to be the most thankful people in the world? Afterall, God is good and He has given us many wonderful gifts to enjoy!

Can I get an "amen" on that? ;)

4 comments:

Achelois said...

Amen :)

I loved this - "We tend to ignore the things that are always present or available to us; it's easy to take those things for granted, no matter how wonderful they are.

You made me realize something today.

Susanne said...

Ah, finally! An "amen." Hehehehe....thanks! :-P

What did I make you realize?

And thank you for your comments. I greatly enjoy them. :)

Achelois said...

My husband. He is such a loving man and I take his love for granted.

Carmen said...

I need to remember how blessed and fortunate I am. I don't have a large house or extravagant vehicles or the most expensive clothes but I have a home that safe for us, keeps us warm and sheltered, food on our table, family that loves me and a God that provides all that I need.