A time to give thanks

 A time to give thanks

“Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, 

and we are his; we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good 

and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues 

through all generations.” 

                                        Psalm 100:2-5

Both in Canada and the united states we celebrate a day of thanksgiving in October and November respectively. That being said we should I believe set more time during not only the year but each week, to thank God for all He has done for us.

As a Christian I praise God for all He has done for me. My life has not been a constant high. Even the American Evangelist Billy Graham said,

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham.

Still in Good times and in bad times God has always been there for me. Helping me thorough the bad times. Giving me peace knowing that no matter what I am going thorough He is with me.

I as a Christian can honestly say with the Psalmist,

“The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness 

for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” 

                                                                               Psalm 23

Can you?

Please think about it.

I will exalt you

  I will exalt you

The Psalmist writes,

“You are my God, and I will give you thanks; 

you are my God, and I will exalt you. 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; 

his love endures forever.” 

                                                     Psalm 118:28,29

Here is something all Christians are called to do, give thanks and exalt God for His everlasting Love. 

That praise should in my mind not be incumbent on what God has done for us. We should do it simply because He is God Almighty Creator of heaven and earth.

 So do you do this?

Please think about it.

It is good to praise the Lord

  It’s good to praise the Lord

The Psalmist writes,

“It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.” Psalm 92:1-3.

Do you praise the Lord? Do you take time out of your day and praise the Lord?

I firmly believe if we believe in Christ Jesus. If we believe in God, we need to take time out of each day and praise the Lord. Be that singing along with recorded worship music or just by raising our own voice to praise Him.

Consider taking time several times a day to praise God, either audibly or silently. 

Please think about it.

From Psalms

  From the Psalms

The Psalmist writes,

“How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By living according to your word. 

I seek you with all my heart; 

do not let me stray from your commands. 

I have hidden your word in my heart 

that I might not sin against you. 

Praise be to you, O LORD; 

teach me your decrees. 

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

I delight in your decrees; 

I will not neglect your word.” 

                                                      Psalm 119:9-16.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. Why not make these words from Psalms a reality in your life today?

Please think about it.

Day and Night

 Day and night

The Psalmist writes,

“I say to the Lord,

You are my Lord; 

apart from you I have no good thing.

                                                      Psalm 16:2

If you consider yourself a Christian do you believe this? 

Do you truly believe this?

Can you say apart from God there is no good thing?

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus. God must be woven into the fabric of our being. 

We must as the Psalmist states,

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked 

or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on his law he meditates day and night.”

                                                                    Psalm 1:1,2 

So if you consider yourself a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus. Do you meditate on the word of God day and night?

Please think about it.

Shout to the Lord all the earth

  Shout to the Lord all the earth

The Psalmist writes,

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. 

It is he who made us, 

and we are his; we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

                                                                              Psalm 100.

If we truly believe in God. We are His. To be called a child of God. To be accepted by God as one of His own is a tremendous privilege. A privilege we should not take lightly. 

I firmly believe that throughout the day we should take time to shout for joy. We should take time to simply praise and thank God for all he has done for us.

 Please take time right now to thank God for all you have.

Please don’t just think about it do it.

Extolling the LORD

  Extolling the LORD

The Psalmist writes,

"I will extol the LORD at all times; 

his praise will always be on my lips. 

My soul will boast in the LORD;

 let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the LORD with me;

 let us exalt his name together." 

                                             Psalm 34:1-3.

If you consider yourself a Christian do you extol the LORD at all times? Do you praise God enough during the day, during the week? Do you even praise the Lord during the day?

Why don’t you take just a few moments now and give praise to the Lord?

Please think about it.

Worship the Lord with Gladness

 Worship the Lord with Gladness

The Psalmist writes,

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100.

Here’s a call to all who believe in God. To all who believe in Christ Jesus. Shout praises to Him. Worship God with gladness.

Why should we do this? For the simple fact it is God who made us. We are his people.

Also, God’s love toward us endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Question, do you worship God each day? 

Do you enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise?

Please think about it.

Taking time

  Taking time

The Psalmist writes,

"Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: 

"His love endures forever." 

                                                  Psalm 118:1-4.

This is something all who believe in God should be doing. Praising God. 

All to often as we go through our daily routines we forget to praise the Lord. We forget to thank him for all that he as done for us.

God at times seems to be in the background of our lives. Someone we praise at night before bed. When we should be taking time throughout our day to at least praise Him.

How about you do you do take time throughout your day to praise God?

Please think about it.

Sing, Praise, Declaire

   Sing, Praise, Declare

The Psalmist writes,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations,

 his marvellous deeds among all peoples."

                                                               Psalm 96:1-3.

This is the duty of all who believe in Christ Jesus. To declare Gods glory among the nations. Jesus said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.

This is the duty of the Christian. The duty of all those who believe in Christ Jesus.

We are not to force our faith on someone or judge people. We are simply to present the gospel message to all mankind to those in our life. Be it in our neighbourhood, our country or around the world.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

In the good and the bad

  In the good and the bad

The Psalmist writes,

"I will extol the LORD at all times; 

his praise will always be on my lips. 

My soul will boast in the LORD; 

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the LORD with me; 

let us exalt his name together." 

                                        Psalm 34:1-3.

If nothing else the New Testament shows Jesus and his apostles experienced all that it is to be human. They attended weddings. The followed the rules set down in the Torah. They interacted with people of all walks of life.

They were also beaten, thrown in prison all but one dying for their faith. Yet through all of this they praised God. They praised him not only in the good times, but after they’d been beaten and while they were in prison.

They praised God because they knew that even in their darkest hour God was with them. 

How about you; do you praise God in the good times and in the bad?

Please think about it.

Take some time

 Take some time.

The Psalmist writes,

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to [God] and praise his name.” 

                                                                         Psalm 100:4.

I found this cartoon on the internet and I think it possibly sums up how it can be with people at times.  As Christians we ask God for many things while at the same time forgetting to thank Him.

     It's not a unique situation.  We see this also in Luke 17:11-19. Where Jesus healed ten men of Leprosy and only one returned to thank him.

Is this you? Whether this is true of you or not, why not take some time to praise God now.

The Psalmist writing,

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

                                                                           Psalm 150

Please think about it.

Give Praise to the Lord

  Give Praise to the Lord

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” Isaiah 12:4.

This is the job of the Christian. Not judging people. Not arguing with people. Simply telling the world about God and what he has done. 

Jesus said

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

If you claim to be a Christian are you telling the world around you about Jesus and all he has done for you?

Please think about it.

Giving thanks

 Giving thanks

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4,5.

Today in Canada is thanksgiving. A national holiday. A day to gather with friends around a table full of food. While for some it may simply be a day off work or school. For others especially Christians, it’s a time to think how blessed we are. And in Canada we are truly blessed.

Please, wherever you are in the world today take a moment to thank God for all you have. Do what the Psalmist commands,

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."

                                                                                          Psalm 118:1-4.

Please think about it.

Do you remember

 Do you remember?

The Psalmist states,

"On my bed I remember you; 

I think of you through the watches of the night. 

Because you are my help, 

I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

My soul clings to you; 

your right hand upholds me." 

                                                   Psalm 63:6-8.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus, do you do what the psalmist is saying here?

Do you think of God night and day?

Is God your helper?

Do you sing to God?

Does your soul truly cling to God?

Do you remember God in good times and bad?

Please think about it.

If you are a Christian

  If you are a Christian

In the book of Chronicles we read,

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. 

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. 

Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced,...” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12.

If you claim to be a Christian

Do you do what the writer of Chronicles is saying to do?

Do you sing praises to The Lord? 

Do you tell those around you what God has done?

Do you rejoice in knowing The Lord and all He has done for you?

Do you remember wonders, miracles and judgements He has pronounced? 

Please think about it.

Consider Psalm 52:8,9

 Consider Psalm 52:8,9

The Psalmist writes,

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; 

I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. 

I will praise you forever for what you have done; 

in your name I will hope, 

for your name is good. 

I will praise you in the presence of your saints.”

                                                                        Psalm 52:8,9.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Can you do as the Psalmist says in Psalm 52:8,9?

Please think about it.

The apostle Paul's advice to believers

 The apostle Paul’s advice to believers

The apostle Paul writes,

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Colossians 3:15-17.

• Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart

• Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

• Admonish one another with all wisdom

• Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God 

• Sing with gratitude in your heart to God.

• What ever you do in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

• Give thanks to God the Father through Christ.

Simple advice to all believers in Christ Jesus. Something to follow in our daily lives.

If you consider yourself a Christian do you follow this advice?

Please think about it.

His Praise

  His Praise

The Psalmist writes,

"I will extol the LORD at all times; 

his praise will always be on my lips. 

My soul will boast in the LORD; 

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the LORD with me; 

let us exalt his name together." 

                                        Psalm 34:1-3.

If nothing else the New Testament shows Jesus and his apostles experienced all that it is to be human. They attended weddings. The followed the rules set down in the Torah. They interacted with people of all walks of life.

They were also beaten, thrown in prison all but one dying for their faith. Yet through all of this they praised God. They praised him not only in the good times, but after they’d been beaten and while they were in prison.

They praised God because they knew that even in their darkest hour God was with them. 

How about you; do you praise God in the good times and in the bad?

Please think about it.

Sing, Praise, Proclaim, Declare,

 Sing, Praise, Proclaim, Declare

The Psalmist states,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name;

 proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvellous deeds among all peoples." 

                                                           Psalm 96:1-3

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ do you do as the psalmist says?

Do you...

Sing to the Lord?

Praise Gods name?

Proclaim Gods salvation?

Declare Gods glory?

Proclaim Gods marvellous deeds?

Please think about it.