Humble Thanksgiving

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It seems, at this time of year it is difficult for me to post things on my Faith page. I looked back over the last almost 10 years and noticed a distinct decrease from three or four posts for the month of November to just one. There are numerous factors for this struggle to get pen to page, or fingers to keyboard including the increased busyness of the season as we move from Halloween, to Thanksgiving to Christmas. In addition, since 2021, I always seem to get sick or have a flare up of whatever this is that I regularly deal with, and it leaves me feeling fatigued and completely unmotivated; not good things to have when you are trying to get ready for the upcoming holidays.

Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay

I decided this morning, after I ate my oatmeal, I would listen to Christmas music with a cup of tea and try to make something come out of my ever shrinking brain. Once again, due to the time of year, my mind comes to rest on thankfulness.

I read a short article on Facebook this morning regarding Thanksgiving. It was a good reminder to look at the true foundation of thanksgiving; not the holiday, but the attitude. Probably one of the earliest examples of giving thanks is found in Genesis 8.

“20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.”
— Genesis 8:20-21 (NASB 1995)

Image by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay

While the passage itself does not use the words thanks, or thanksgiving, we are able to draw the conclusion that the altar Noah built to the Lord and sacrificed on was one of worship and thanks for all the Lord had brought them through over the last number of decades; even more specifically over the last year while they were confined to a large wooden craft bobbing around on a seascape they had never seen or experienced before.

This sacrifice to the Lord was a soothing aroma. That says something about the attitude of gratitude when it comes to us on a day to day basis. Is what comes out of my mouth, my mind, my heart, an aroma to God that soothes Him? I love this quote, and I think it goes well with having a mindset of thanksgiving.

“This is the true joy of life: the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
— George Bernard Shaw

We certainly don’t all agree on what that mighty purpose is, but no matter what you are passionate about, you must admit being thankful makes us more likely a force of nature that is used for good, rather than one that is destructive and primarily self-serving. The Bible speaks to this as well.

“18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
— Romans 1:18-25 (NASB 1995)

This passage is clear on what will happen to those who do not honor God and are not thankful. Being thankful is not just a polite social more that we teach our children. Giving thanks is an important part of keeping the light within us. I believe this applies to all people, not just believers.

Image by Marlon Sommer from Pixabay

Verse 19 tells us “that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” We are all made in God’s image. As Genesis says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness…’” (Genesis 1:26)

When we are young, we don’t naturally lean towards thankfulness. It has to be shown to us, and taught. However, a child who is secure and loved will more easily exhibit a thankful attitude. Jesus used a child to teach a very important lesson.

“1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
— Matthew 18:1-6 (ESV)

If we do not become like little children we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Why is this so, and what does it have to do with being thankful? Don’t worry, I am getting there.

We cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without humility. A child starts life from a place of humility. They don’t know pride, until it is hatched from them as part of their sin nature. What does pride say?

“I can do it myself!”

“Mine!”

“No!”

We cannot enter the kingdom of heaven until we throw away everything we ever thought we knew or believed and, like a child, accept what Christ has done for us knowing we are completely and utterly dependent on Him.

Image from Pixabay

Thanksgiving, involves humility. Whether we are thanking God for who He is and what He has done, or we are thanking our spouse for sweeping the floor, or thanking our child for picking up their room, giving thanks is a choice. This choice creates a shift, away from the darkness towards the light.

There have been numerous studies done in the last few decades on the correlation of gratitude to happiness. Generally, people who are more grateful are happier. Read this interesting article on the subject from Harvard Health Publishing, a division of Harvard Medical School. It seems that taking the time to think about what we are thankful for helps us to feel more positive about life, and may even help to make us healthier individuals. In addition, giving thanks to others in the form of spoken words, or in letters or texts adds to our sense of well being and helps us to remember how others have helped or blessed us.

All of these things are in keeping with Scripture.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High”
— Psalm 92:1 (ESV)
“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”
— Psalm 95:2 (ESV)
“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:15 (ESV)
“For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:12 (ESV)
“15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
— Ephesians 5:15-21 (ESV)

Image by Myléne from Pixabay

This last passage sticks out as one to remember. It is the wise person who makes the best use of their time; who understands what the will of God is; who does not get drunk; who is filled with the Spirit; who encourages others with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs; who sings and makes melody to God with their hearts (not just their mouths); who submits to others (humility), and who gives thanks always, and for everything to God.

As we head into Thanksgiving next Thursday, let’s try to focus on the real reasons we have to be thankful: that we are the creation of an amazing and loving God, and that we can choose to have a relationship with Him.

Have a great week!

When Darkness Comes - Part 5: Finding God in the Darkness

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This post will be rather long and contains aspects of my own experience in the darkness, but I share the details to help you understand the process.

We have been learning about the darkness. We have seen its beginning; created by an Almighty God for the benefit of His creation. Darkness was not meant to be bad. It was not meant to hide evil and torment the sinner, but our unseen enemy wanted to make the good bad. From the moment he became enamored with his beauty and too proud to place himself under the authority of the divine creator he has chosen to manipulate that which is good, right and true.

If I came to you and said, “I am going through a very dark time,” wouldn’t you assume I was struggling? Wouldn’t you pray for the light to come back into my life, so I might once again be walking in the blessedness of my Savior’s love? Why do we assume, darkness is not the place we are meant to walk? How did we get to the point where struggle and disappointment in life is thought to be in our lives because of something we did or did not do? Why do we embrace the light, the sun, the beautiful blue skies and gentle breezy days, but not the night, the dark, the gray lumbering clouds over a storm tossed sea? Isn’t all of it allowed by our Heavenly Father? Doesn’t every circumstance that comes into our lives come first through the gentle and loving hands of our risen Lord?

“I form light and create darkness;
I make well-being and create calamity;
I am the Lord, who does all these things.”
— Isaiah 45:7 (ESV)

I will be the first to admit, I do not like this truth, but truth it is. The scripture is full of God’s truth. We are not allowed to take one truth, but not the other. We do have a free will and we can dislike some of the truths that are in the Bible, but that does not change the fact that they are the truths put forth by a holy and perfect God. Part of the key to being able to accept God’s truth is to really get to know Him. Many people read one verse and decide, God is fickle, or angry, or malevolent, but they are not seeing the entire picture. Just as we take time to get to know the person we fall in love with, falling in love with God takes time and a willingness to trust.

I want to take this part of my series on When Darkness Comes, slowly. These are the things we need to understand, and know with the very core of our being. This is where the Holy Spirit makes effective the work that Jesus did on the cross. This is the time when our head knowledge, must become heart knowledge.

My Experience

About a month ago, I was having a particularly difficult time. I have long struggled with my self image, often feeling worthless and useless. Over the last 34 years as a wife and mother I have struggled with the poor choices I made, my lack of love and compassion for both my spouse and our daughters. I grieved over the death of my father, the ensuing changes in my mother’s life and how that made life more complex. I witnessed divisions and strife in our church. I became aware of the trauma one of my family members suffered at the hands of a supposed “man of God.” I saw this same family member walk away from the church and begin a self-destructive path of rebellion against God and self-indulgent behavior. During this period I sought counsel from a licensed counselor and was told I was “mercy gone wild.” I learned about boundaries and letting go of many of the dreams I had for myself and my family. I was regularly building coffins, throwing my dreams inside, nailing them shut and burying them.

Life slowly began to be less chaotic, but things were, and still are, hard. Recently, we learned our youngest daughter has a brain tumor. In addition to that she has been having a multiplicity of symptoms such as numbness, pain, tremors, dizziness and nausea. To this day, those things are still unresolved and the doctors do not believe her symptoms to be related to the tumor, which is very small and which, for now, they are keeping an eye on. This is just another straw on that proverbial camel’s back that makes the load heavier and heavier.

In my desire to draw closer to God, He lead me to see there is only one way to do this. I must take Him completely at His word. During that time a month ago, I had a three day period of a sadness so deep, I did not know how God was going to bring me out of it. I was hopeless. Hopeless for our country, hopeless for my daughter, hopeless for those who think they know truth, but are wearing blinders, hopeless for so many young people who have walked away from the church and from Him, and hopeless for myself. I never felt so completely lost in the darkness. I cried. No, I sobbed. I could not stop sobbing. Hour after hour I wondered how I could make so many tears.

Finally, when the tears began to dry up, I heard God’s voice telling me, “Get your journal and tell me what you know.”

This is the first step to finding Him in the deep darkness. Remind yourself of who God is.

Learn Who God is, and then Tell Him

(excerpt take from my journal - Bible verses added after)

Lord, I know Your truth. Your word gives me that truth and it never changes.

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”
— John 17:17 (NASB)
“The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”
— Isaiah 40:8 (NASB)

I know Your lovingkindness is everlasting.

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him,
And His justice to the children’s children,”
— Psalm 103:17 (NASB)

I know Your mercies are new every morning.

“For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”
— Psalm 30:5 (NASB)

I know Your grace is matchless.

“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”
— John 1:16 (NASB)

You have freely given, so I might freely receive.

“Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NASB)

You have bridged the gap between our sin laden world and your perfect heaven. I know You gave us Jesus. It was Your plan that He be the perfect sacrifice.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16 (NASB)

I know all have sinned and fall short of Your glory.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
— Romans 3:23 (NASB)

I know the punishment for sin is death.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 6:23 (NASB)

I know, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

“for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””
— Romans 10:13 (NASB)

I know it is not by my own power and strength, but because of your mercy, that you saved me.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

I know you have removed my sin as far as the east is from the west.

“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our wrongdoings from us.”
— Psalm 103:12 (NASB)

Every truth, I believe about God is backed by scripture and these are just a few of them. You could do whole studies on the attributes and characteristics of our Almighty Redeemer. It is important when we are in the darkness to go back to what we know is true and to cling to it.

Next week we will look at the next phase of our journey as we walk in the dark. Thank you for following along.