1-- Pfhl 111 Thankfulness Etrs

Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School http://www.geocities.com/bibleloverbill PFHL Course 111-- Thank, Thankful, Thanks, Thanksgiving (5 pgs.) (compiled and formatted by Bill Stevenson) Directions: Write an essay about how you personally relate or have experienced the concepts in the following verses about thankfulness. This is assignment worth 2 units, so write at least 2 quality pages (single spaced lines and no redundancies). Note: By May 1977, I believed that I was more thankful to God than all of the Christians I knew. But a five day collapsed lung experience taught me how far short I was from matching God’s desires in this area. I realized that I should be thankful for every breath I am allowed to take whether I am in a good or bad situation. Thus, I investigated what the Bible says about this area of appreciation. Try to determine why I chose each of the following and placed it where I did. Serious Thankfulness Problems: 1.) “Because, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts and their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” [Romans 1:21] 2.) “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.’” [Luke 18:11] *************************************************************************** Commandments: 3.) “Oh, give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks unto the God of gods, for His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His mercy endures forever. To Him who alone doeth great wonders, for His mercy endures forever.” [Psalm 136.1-4] 4.) “Great is our LORD, and of great power; His understanding is infinite. The LORD lifts up the meek; He casts the wicked down to the ground. Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving….” [Psalm 147:5-7a] 5.) “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.... Glory in His holy name; let the heart of them rejoice who seek the LORD.

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Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually.... Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth. Oh, give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.” [1 Chronicles 16:8, 10-11, 34 & Psalm 105:1-4] “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” [Colossians 2:6-8] “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” [Colossians 4:2] “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty.” [1 Timothy 2:1 & 2] “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body; and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” [Colossians 3:15-17] “Always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” [1 Thessalonians 5:15b-18] “Through Jesus then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” [Hebrews 13:15 & 16] “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 2

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:4-7] ************************************************************************** The Righteous and Thankfulness: 13.) “Praise the LORD. Oh, give thanks unto the LORD for He is good; for His mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can show forth all His praise? Blessed are they that observe justice, and he [or she] who doeth righteousness at all times.” [Psalm 106:1-3] 14.) “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely, the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name; the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.” [Psalm 140:12-13] 15.) “Be, therefore, imitators of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. But among you there must not be even hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking [jesting], which are out of place, but, rather, giving of thanks.” [Ephesians 5:1-4] 16.) “Therefore be careful how you live, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God even the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting yourselves one to an other in the fear [awesome respect] of God.” [Ephesians 5:15-21] 17.) “Ye who love the LORD, hate evil. He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

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Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.” [Psalm 97: 10-12] 18.) “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endures but a moment in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” [Psalm 30:4-5] 19.) “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Thy name’s sake.... So we, Thy people and sheep of Thy pasture, will give Thee thanks forever. We will show forth Thy praise to all generations.” [Psalm 79:9 & 13] ************************************************************************* A poem by Helen Steiner Rice: “Thank you, God, for everything- the big things and the small, for every good gift comes from You-- the giver of them all. And all too often we accept, without any thanks or praise, the gifts You send as blessings each day in many ways. First, thank You for the little things that often come our way, the things we take for granted but don’t mention when we pray. Then, thank You for the ‘miracles’ we are much too blind to see, and give us new awareness of our many gifts from Thee. Finally, help us to remember that the key to life and living is to make each prayer a prayer of thanks and every day thanksgiving.” Carla Vaught wrote in her Yahoo 360 blog of http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blogYMHgWPI5fqdVtNQQ5ga5A9_3jsDGCInnaHk-?cq=1&p=2242&n=28500: I am thankful for: • The wife who says it's hot dogs tonight, because it means she is giving even more of herself to her family out of love. • The husband who is on the computer too much, because it means he is at home instead of being out at the bars with his friends. • The children that make too much noise, because it means they are healthy enough to be playful. • The teenager who is complaining about doing their chores, because it means they are at home, and not on the streets. • The taxes i have to pay, because it means i am employed. • The mess to clean up after my birthday party, because it means i have been surrounded by friends. • The clothes that fit me a little too snug, because it means i have enough to eat. • My shadow that watches me work, because it means i am out in the sunshine. 4

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A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixed, because it means i have a home. All the bad things i hear about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech. The parking spot i end up with at the far end of a parking lot because it means i am capable of walking and also have transportation. My utility bills each month, because it means i am warm, or cool, and have water when needed. My neighbor's diesel truck that wakes me at 12:00am every night, because it means that i can hear. The pile of laundry in front of the washer, because it means i have clothes to wear. My tired and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means i have been capable of working hard. The alarm that wakes me in the early morning hours, because it means i am alive. And finally, for too much e-mail. Because it means i have friends who are thinking of me.

So take the time to send this to the ones you care about, let them know your thinking of them. I just did. Live well, laugh often, and always LOVE with all of your heart! But most of all, take the time to recognize your blessings instead of complaining about them. Just because something looks bad at the moment does not mean that it really is! Not all of God's blessings are in the obvious, many are hidden! So, I challenge you here and now to start taking the time to recognize what God has truly given you, but don't stop there, start Giving God the honor, glory, and praise for them that He so deserves, AMEN! • • • •

“For what I have received may the Lord make me truly thankful. And more truly for what I have not received.” --Storm Jameson “Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.” --Anonymous “Now thank we all our God, With hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom his world rejoices...” --Johann Cruger “Thou has given me so much... Give me one thing more, a grateful heart.” --George Herbert

Also please see: http://www.cryofthespirit.com/riches.html .

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