Category Archives: Attitude of Gratitude

Forgetting Our Manners??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #532

15 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by in Attitude of Gratitude, Gratitude, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #532   Forgetting Our Manners???

 

I hope you had a pleasant Valentine’s Day—that you got to spend time with the people in your life, whether by phone, or text or in person.  Time with the people we love is a gift from God, and yet we often forget to thank God for our life, our blessings, for the greatest Valentine (testament to love), Jesus, as well as others!!!

I pray that we will never forget our debt of gratitude to others, especially our Lord! He has given so much, not only ‘to’ us, but ‘for’ us!

“And you hath he quickened,

who were deadin trespasses and sins;”    Ephesians 2:1

He has given us life, His life—new life IN Jesus.

“Jesus answered and said unto her,

If thou knewest the gift of God,

and who it is that saith to thee,

Give me to drink;

thou wouldest have asked of him,

and he would have given thee

living water……

13 Jesus answered and said unto her,

Whosoever drinketh of this water

shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water

that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water

that I shall give him

shall be in him a well of water

springing up

into everlasting life.”    John 4:10, 13-14

I love this picture of ever-springing water that wells up, imparting everlasting life through Jesus!  I’m so grateful for “life”—the life that Jesus gives us—born anew from the deadness of sin.  His life springing up like an artesian well in us! I love the sweet taste of water springing from an artesian well, and in the mountains, you can often see water springing out of the mountain, and people will come and get water from that bubbling spring!  What a treat. But God has given us the greater gift—a living spring —His Son who took on human flesh and blood, who walked among sinners, who revealed God to us, and even more importantly, HE died for our sin on Calvary!  All because HE. loves us!!!  Have you invited Him in!  Have you received that wonderful gift of eternally springing life within you? If you have, won’t you take some time today (every day) to thank Him for this unparalleled gift? Thank YOU, Jesus!!!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.”  John 3:16-17

Jesus gave His life a sacrifice for sin, that we might live! Will you heed His call and thank Him for the love and grace HE poured out at Calvary?

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20. Amen!!!

Doing HIS Work HIS Way!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #522

11 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Attitude of Gratitude, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Encouragement, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Growing in Jesus!, I Can Do All Things?, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Look UP, Roaring Lion, The Love of God, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #522   Doing HIS Work HIS Way!!!

 

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

Just a bit of encouragement this morning to finish out our week looking up—and not around. As I often tell people, we need to be like Daniel and look to the Lord, not at the “lions”; and we all have lions roaming around in our lives! But it is keeping our eyes on Jesus that keeps those lions at bay! God is ever at work conforming us into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ—by Him, for Him and through Him!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth

for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom

he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us

unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered

a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.” 1 Peter 5:6-10

God is ever at work to help us resist that “roaring lion”, for as I heard a preacher say many years ago, “God’s children are really facing a ‘toothless’ foe!” for the blood of Jesus has loosed us from the power of sin, death and hell!

So remember this morning that you “can do all things” that God has called you to do!!! Yes you can! All by the power of The One who has called us and saved us not by our own “works of righteousness”, but by the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

“Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly

through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Titus 3:5-6

So in closing, praises to the One who has defeated that lion—so that we can truly have “Victory In Jesus”! (A Gospel song written by Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sr.) As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 28:7:

“The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;

and with my song will I praise him.”

Amen and Amen!!!

In Everything Give Thanks??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #463

25 Friday May 2018

Posted by in Attitude of Gratitude, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #463   In Everything Give Thanks???

 

“In every thing

give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We have been talking about God’s faithful care of and provision for us, so I thought we’d spend some time today considering whether our ‘attitude of gratitude’ needs some adjustment. So often we call on God to come to our aid, and that is what He has told us to do, but when He meets that need, do we remember to stop and thank HIM?

My mother taught us to say “please and thank you” as simple courtesy to others we interact with, yet we so often forget to be thankful toward God for all of HIS abundant blessings, which HE pours out on us continually! Often times those blessings aren’t even recognized as HIS blessings in our lives. As I sit here this morning, I can’t help but smile and say ‘Thank You Lord’ for the beauty of your awesome creation—as I watch the sun rise in the sky, as I see the lovely flowers that God has painted so beautifully for our pleasure, for a home that keeps us warm or cool from the elements, and the list could go on.

So I simply want to share some scriptures to help us tune up our “attitude of gratitude” today. Especially as we in the US are celebrating Memorial Day—a time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom—what better time to thank the ONE who made the ultimate sacrifice for our sin on Calvary—Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen!

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;”  Ephesians 1:15-16

“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

praying always for you,” Colossians 1:3

“Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalm 30:4

“So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.” Psalm 79:13

“O give thanks unto the LORD,

for he is good:

for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,

whom he hath redeemed

from the hand of the enemy;” Psalm 107:1-2

May we each spend some time today thanking God for His goodness, His mercy and His love—that HE IS who HE IS and that He has “redeemed” us from our sin and is preparing us for HIS kingdom, and equipping us to spread HIS Gospel to those we encounter. Have a blessed day sharing your ‘attitude of gratitude’! Amen and Amen!

Friday Blessings!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #447

23 Friday Mar 2018

Posted by in Attitude of Gratitude, Choose You This Day!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #447 Friday Blessings!!!

 

Just a brief word of encouragement for this Friday!!! It seems that we often miss the other 6 days of the week waiting for Friday—or any thing that is in the future—and don’t live in the moment–today.

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

This: “to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., referring to the one nearer in place, time or thought..”! The Psalmist reminds us that ‘today’ is “this” day, and we are to live in it; to “rejoice and be glad in it”; the “day which the LORD hath made”, and given to us to live. For:

“….in him

we live,

and move,

and have our being;…..”   Acts 17:28a

Today is a gift from God, yet we get so busy worrying about yesterday and grasping mindlessly for tomorrow, that we often miss the opportunities that today presents; the opportunities to love God, to serve Him, to minister His grace, love and joy to those around me/us. I know that I often get so distracted that I seemingly wake up in the middle of something and ask myself, “Where have you been?” For I’ve certainly been in “this” place but totally somewhere else in mind and spirit.

May God help me/us to see “today” as the wonderful gift that it is—for today is all we have!!! As an old song says, “yesterday’s gone…..and tomorrow may never be mine” (One Day At A Time, by Damon Albarn, Robert Delnaja), and we ought to treasure the gift that God has given us–today!

Jesus Himself reminds us that we are to focus on God’s provision for today, as well as His direction and work for us.

“Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.” Matthew 6:10-11

While scripture also calls us to be prepared for life and eventualities, we are to focus on God’s face today—whether we have a little or a lot—it’s His gift to us, and we can only use it “today”! Seeking HIs will, His purposes and His kingdom singlemindedly —

“Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done”

So, what is your focus for today? Is it just “Friday”? Or are you ready to “rejoice and be glad in” today, not missing any opportunity that God may place in your/my path on this Friday? May we ever pursue the mind and heart of Jesus as we walk the dusty roads of life—today—every day?

“In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them,

I have meat to eat

that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them,

My meat

is to do the will of him

that sent me,

and to finish his work.

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:31-35 Amen!

Jesus Loves Even ME!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #433

02 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Attitude of Gratitude, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Holy Spirit, I Will Never Leave You, Praise God Today!, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #433    Jesus Loves Even ME!!!

 

Praise God, He loves you and me—He loves us so much that HE gave us Jesus—and that is worthy of our praise and gratitude. I’d just like to share a little joy and praise for your day!

“Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down

from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:” James 1:16-19

Slow to get angry (a seemingly foreign concept in our culture), but quick to listen and praise God—by the power of His Holy Spirit, we can live lives that please and praise our God! For “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above”, and Jesus is the greatest gift of all—as Fernando Ortega sings, “Just Give Me Jesus”! Oh, to ever live with that on my mind, in my heart and coming from my lips!!! May it ever be–because God saved me/you at the cost of His “only begotten Son”!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.” John 3:16-17

Amen and Amen!!! All because HE loves us!

“This I recall to my mind,

therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

24 The LORD is my portion,

saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

25 The LORD is good unto them

that wait for him,

to the soul that seeketh him.”   Jeremiah 3:21-25

What a faithful God we love and serve!!! Truly we can praise Him and rejoice in HIS great faithfulness. Here’s some more food for thought for your day.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”    1 John 4:19

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3

Amen and Amen!!!