Thanksgiving Message: Grateful Today, Blessed Tomorrow

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

Psalm 107: 1 NKJV

“Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.”

Psalm 107: 43 NKJV

The story we’ve been told about the first Thanksgiving Day is that the Pilgrims held a celebratory communal meal out of gratitude to God for deliverance from religious persecution. They celebrated freedom in the new land. It’s fair to say that those prayers of thanksgiving rendered hundreds of years ago continue to bless us today.

King David wrote, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” No truer words were ever spoken in light of the first thanksgiving celebration to the one we will celebrate this year. God’s mercy is eternal and an irrevocable promise that we should delight in receiving. 

In giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day and on any day of the year, we are essentially insuring blessings that will come in the future or tomorrow. A spirit of praise and gratitude is a blessing in and of itself. Think of it as a gift that keeps on giving: infectious, inspiring and insightful.

The end of Psalm 107, verse forty-three, states “Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.” Mind you there are 41 verses between the first and the last, each filled with wise instruction and insight into the character of God. Yet, it is the first and last verses that should give the most assurance about the fruit of thanksgiving, and understanding a loving, kind God who longs to bless us always.

Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving Day. Please know that I am grateful for you.

7 Attributes of God That You Should Desire in a Mate

A general focus on being a godly mate tends to look at specific marital roles. Women focus on what they can learn about being a godly wife and men focus on being a godly husband.  Most of us will say we want someone who loves God, but how often will we say that we want someone whose character matches the attributes of our Creator?

Review these attributes of God and consider how important they are in an earthly relationship.

1. God is not a liar or a flake. (Numbers 23:19)
2. God is patient. (Nehemiah 9:17)
3. God is joyful and has a sense of humor. (Genesis 21:6)
4.  God is the best provider. (Philippians 4:19)
5. God does not break His vows or commitments. (Psalm 89:24)
6.  God is good. (1 John 1:5)
7.  God is faithful. (Ps. 89:8)

There are many more attributes of God, but the seven above are the ones that make for a sustaining relationship of any kind – with a mate or family or even friends. Would a precious pearl want less for herself than what God wants for her?

God’s Gifts That Keep on Giving

Do you need to know if that potential mate or that business opportunity is from God? On the surface, that man or that new project appeals to your senses. That man is saying all of the right things and does a few good things. That business proposition offers a few answers to your prayers, mainly provision. However, is the man or the offer truly a gift from God? 

Below are some Bible verses that lend insight into God’s character through His giving. 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Meditation: God does not give a good and perfect gift that comes from God will never be a lesser version of what you desire and need. His gift will always be better than what you’ve requested. 

James 4:2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

 

Meditation: God does not require us to go out and get what we desire by any means necessary. You will not have to do anything wrong or think anything wrong to have the desires of your heart. Moreover, His gifts will not require you do anything that compromises your faith. 

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Meditation: God will never promise you anything and change His mind. He is perfectly incapable of lying to you or being flaky; why would He give you a gift that is a partial truth or that He intends on taking back? He wouldn’t. 

Psalm 85:12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase.

Meditation: God is the Perfect Giver. He gives gifts that will add to our lives and not take away.

God is sovereign, just and loving. He is above all, a magnificent Giver, who would not give you something that is imperfect to His plan for your life. If He believes you to be a precious pearl, then why would He give you anything unworthy of your stature in Him? He would not though we sometimes choose people and opportunities with the belief that He approves of those choices. Meditate on His Word to increase your discernment and your faith.

Call Her “Blessed”

Her children rise up and call her blessed … ~ Proverbs 31:28 NKJV

It is the rare woman who doesn’t appreciate a sincere compliment. There is something affirming about hearing that we are kind, smart, loving or even generous.

According to the Bible, the Proverbs 31 women’s children “rise up and call her blessed.” It’s pretty safe to say that there is something they see being modeled by their mother that demonstrates the life of a blessed woman. Could it be their gratitude for all that she does for their household? Maybe she is called blessed because of her attitude. Like those children we “rise up” and call or compliment people based on something we see in them and about them that we find delightful and inspiring.

What would make you call someone “blessed”? 

Do they always offer an encouraging and uplifting word? Do they treat others well and receive good treatment from the people who surround them? Do they model humility as in apologize when wrong as well as offer forgiveness when necessary?

A truly blessed woman will exude joy, kindness and patience – the fruit of the Spirit – and she will exude a security based on what she is being given by her God.  Moreover, if you call her ‘blessed,’ then you will affirm her and inspire her as well.

Are You Holding it All Together?

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. ~ Proverbs 31:19 NKJV

There is something admirable about the women who weave yarns, textiles and fabrics to take care of their families. They take an age old practice in some communities and countries and teach it to their daughters or the younger women in their families. Weaving can meet household needs as well as an income.

Interestingly, another definition of distaff is “of, relating to, or being a woman.” It applies to being the fiber or thread that holds it all together:  A woman.

So, are you holding it all together? Do you provide for your own well-being as you provide for the well-being of others? Are you taking care of you so that your daily stresses and obligations don’t wear you down?

The hope is that you answered ‘yes’ to every one of those questions. Some of you will answer ‘no.’

We can come become so caught up in managing the lives of those we love that we forget that we need to manage ourselves. The best way to turn a ‘no’ to those questions to a ‘yes’ is by making your well-being a priority. Exercise, eat well, sleep and rest and above all, nourish your spirit by spending time alone in God’s presence by reading and meditating on His word. 

Sisters, the best way to hold it all together for others is by insuring that you are holding it all together for you. 

God Bless,
Wynter