Category Archives: Gratitude Is Timeless

Grateful Hearts/Generous Hands??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 10

22 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Attitude of Gratitude, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Giving Or Taking?, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Only Jesus, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 10 Grateful Hearts/Generous Hands???

 

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man

according as he purposeth

in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able

to make all grace abound

toward you;

that ye,

always having all sufficiency

in all things,

may abound

to every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Contrary to popular belief, the bounty that God gives is not for selfish consumption, but that we may “abound to every good work”— good works that God has called us to do when we become HIS children by grace through faith.  It’s not a contest, that like the world says, “The one who dies with the most toys, wins!”; but rather it’s a gift that is to be shared with those whom God calls us to bless!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For

we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

As Paul goes on to say, we are to be a people of gratitude, because we only have that which we have received—and if we have received it ourselves, how can we withhold it from those in need, or from those whom God has placed in our path to bless?  When we are truly grateful it should produce hearts and hands of generosity.  We will be willing to share as we have opportunity, thanking God for the privilege of being a blessing!  Are you thankful for what God has done for you?  For what HE is doing for, in and through you?  For the glory that is to come with HIM. (Note ‘received’ in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly,

not as fools,

but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time,

because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise,

but understanding

what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk

with wine,

wherein is excess;

but be filled

with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing

and making melody

in your heart

to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always

for all things

unto God and the Father

in the name of our Lord

Jesus Christ;”  Ephesians 5:15-20

Let’s take this apart for consideration, are you/I:

Walking circumspectly—with righteous character?

Being foolish or wise in our behavior?

Redeeming “our” time for God’s purposes?

Doing right regardless of the evil around us?

Understanding God’s will by knowing HIS Word?

Maintaining a sober mind (set on God not substances)?

Being filled with HIS Holy Spirit over fleshly desires?

Speaking godly words to ourselves and others?

Having and sharing God’s joyful song from our heart?

GIVING THANKS—

ALWAYS—

FOR ALL THINGS—

UNTO GOD (not self!)—

BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR US?

These are questions that each of must answer continually; yet as we listen and heed the voice of God’s Spirit within us, we will find ourselves gaining the victory over self and abounding in the generous, grateful heart that God calls and equips us to express before a lost and dying world!

What have you shared today?  Yesterday?  Do you plan on sharing tomorrow?  I’d simply like to leave us with a few words of encouragement from The Word; and I pray that you have a most blessed and Holy season of Thanks–giving!  Not just a day—but a lifestyle with an “attitude of gratitude” (especially in these perilous times!)!

“I exhort therefore, that,

first of all,

supplications,

prayers,

intercessions,

and giving of thanks,

be made for all men;

 2 For kings,

and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet

and peaceable life

in all godliness

and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable

in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto the knowledge

of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1-4

And as the author of the Proverbs reminds us:

“Withhold not good

from them

to whom it is due,

when it is in the power

of thine hand

to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour,

Go,

and come again,

and to morrow I will give;

when thou hast it by thee.”  Proverbs 3:27-28

I pray that your Thanksgiving is blessed and peaceful, and I’ll see ya’ll next time!   Amen and Amen!

Really Thankful Or What??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #693

20 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Ingratitude, SIN

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #693  Really Thankful Or What???

 

“And be not drunk with wine,

wherein is excess;

but be filled

with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody

in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always

for all things unto God and the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another

in the fear of God.”  Ephesians 5:18-20

Paul reminds us, along with the Ephesian believers, that our lives matter—not just our words, and feelings, but our lives—our living.  We live in a day when outside substances are the rage—sipping wine, taking drugs—of all sorts–pursuing sexual lusts, or just getting a little relief from any or every source but Jesus!  Yet Paul calls us to be “filled with the Spirit”—not by various outside substances.  Would you/I rather be controlled by the world’s elements or by the Spirit of God, who will direct our steps in God’s ways—yielding a heart full of gratitude?  What a testament to a world pursuing “self”!

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD

he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”   Psalm 100:1-5

While gratitude is often overlooked, God reminds us of its importance!  In Paul’s warning to the Romans about the consequences of sin—where it leads, what it does to those who pursue it, and how our ‘ingratitude’ can be a sign of danger to our souls —a warning sign that is totally apropos in today’s culture.

“For the invisible things of him

from the creation of the world

are clearly seen,

being understood

by the things that are made,

even his eternal power

and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God,

they glorified him not

as God,

neither were thankful;

but became vain

in their imaginations,

and their foolish heart

was darkened.”  Romans 1:20-21

So, as we consider the “or what” in contrast to gratitude, where do you and I stand?  Have we bowed the knee before The Lord Jesus Christ, or do we continue to go our own way—with no regard for the God who gives us breath, or His Son who came that we might have life—eternal life in glory as well as abundant life with Jesus here and now—life to be grateful for; life that can be used by our Lord to make a difference in a world of greed and selfish attention to “me” first in all things!  God’s life within us—a new life for which we can be eternally grateful.  So, how is your “attitude of gratitude”?  Do you have one?  May we shout with the Psalmist and praise our God as we express our gratitude toward HIM before a world desperately needing to see it in us?

“Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name”

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

Control Or Gratitude??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #673

05 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in All About Jesus!, Amazing Grace, Follow Jesus, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Praise God Today!, Testify, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #673       Control Or Gratitude???

 

“I will praise thee

with my whole heart:

before the gods

will I sing praise unto thee.

2 I will worship

toward thy holy temple,

and praise thy name

for thy lovingkindness

and for thy truth:

for thou hast magnified thy word

above all thy name.”   Psalms 138:1-2

I love the Psalms!  They are an amazing mixture of praise, distress, confusion, hope, joy and sorrow; and more than we can list here this morning.  I want us to look at this particular Psalm today, for we often need reminding that we are to be a people of praise and gratitude.  We all fail to recognize the import of gratitude—we want to control God—in fact we want to control almost everything much of the time—in our lives, and that as believers in and followers of Jesus Christ The Lord, we should ever be overflowing with praise and gratitude.

This is on my heart this morning for it has been a most difficult week for me, not only dealing with the continuing grief over the loss of my only daughter, but I also had a dear friend who was struggling with a very serious illness, and was alarmingly ill with, at times, what seemed like a hopeless situation.  Well, my friends, I tell you that the tears have flowed for days in prayers, in fear of the loss of my dear friend, in hope and faith in my God to heal—all these emotions, mixed with faith, hope and fear.  I know that many talk about fear being the antithesis of faith, but I think that sometimes (even though we don’t like to admit it) we can have both at the same time.  Much like the father of the demon-possessed child who came to Jesus for Him to heal the child—he believed that Jesus could heal his son, but he was afraid of another lost effort.  We are no different for if we are truly praying in faith, we are praying that “Thy Will Be Done”, and that is walking by faith through my fear.  Knowing that I serve the God Who Knows!

I have often prayed that same “Lord, help thou my unbelief”!  How about you?  Yet, God knows our frailty and humanity and when we come to HIM, we can trust to His care, His love, and His Word.  Even as the Psalmist said above, God honors HIS own Word.  He IS His Word! (See John 1:1-5).  As we continue on with the Psalm, let us consider Paul’s admonition for our need of gratitude.

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

“Continue in prayer,

and watch in the same

with thanksgiving;”   Colossians 4:2

Oh, if we could simply realize the power of gratitude!  Even as the Psalmist said in verse one, “I will praise thee with my whole heart”!  Let’s peruse the rest of this Psalm—it’s so full of encouraging truth!  I pray that you and I will ponder these words and their import!

“In the day when I cried

thou answeredst me,

and strengthenedst me

with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth

shall praise thee, O LORD,

when they hear the words of thy mouth.

5 Yea, they shall sing

in the ways of the LORD:

for great is the glory of the LORD.

6 Though the LORD be high,

yet hath he respect unto the lowly:

but the proud

he knoweth afar off.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

thou wilt revive me:

thou shalt stretch forth thine hand

against the wrath of mine enemies,

and thy right hand

shall save me.

8 The LORD will perfect that

which concerneth me:

thy mercy, O LORD,

endureth for ever:

forsake not the works

of thine own hands.”  Psalm 138:3-8

And as my own eyes flowed with tears this week (and I might add, healing and comforting tears, as well as tears of earnest love and concern!) I know that God heard and answered our prayers, for many things, but especially for my friend who is doing much better.  And for that I will gladly praise and thank my LORD for hearing and answering my heart’s desire!  So, my question for us today is simply this, “Will you pursue gratitude or control?”  It’s your choice but choose wisely; there is a test!

Amen and Amen!

Thank YOU For Caring!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #622

31 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Giving Or Taking?, Grace, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Thankful

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #622      Thank YOU For Caring!!!

 

I’d like to revisit a topic that is near and dear to my heart—gratitude!  I personally want to thank all of you for your prayers for our family in the recent tragic death of my daughter.  So many have reached out to us in more ways than I can mention, and we want to thank you for your kindness toward us.  I also want to take just a few moments to encourage you to reach out to others—to be sure you’re listening when God prompts you to remember someone special in your life; don’t take it as ‘co-incidence’ but rather know that it’s a “God-incidence” and He is asking you to ‘do’ something!  Don’t wait, pray, make that phone call to thank one: who befriended you, who reached out to you in a time of need, was a Sunday School teacher who touched your life, a special friend who is always there, a cousin who helped you be the person you are today!  Send that card, make that call, walk across the street to make that visit, whatever God is speaking to your heart–Don’t miss the opportunity of being a blessing to someone today; or miss receiving the blessing of touching another life with God’s love, mercy and compassion.

“A friend loveth

at all times,

and a brother

is born for adversity.”  Proverbs 17:17

Always remember that words are powerful, and the old children’s adage is far from true, for “sticks and stones may break my bones”….but “words will….” oft times hurt more than bruises!  As I’ve often heard and said, “Watch your words, and keep them sweet, you never know, which ones you’ll eat”!  So, in closing a timely reminder to us all to be diligent encouragers rather than those who bring discouragement and disregard to others.  Today!

May these passages speak to your heart today and may it be said of us as it was of our Lord Jesus, “He went about doing good!”

“A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold

in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold,

and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover

upon an obedient ear.”  Proverbs 25:11-12

And one last reminder, real love is action not just empty ‘words’!  Take some time today to read all of 1 Corinthians 13!  (And FYI ‘charity’ is also translated ‘love’!)

“Charity suffereth long,

and is kind;

charity envieth not;

charity vaunteth not itself,

is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth:

but whether there be prophecies,

they shall fail;

whether there be tongues,

they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge,

it shall vanish away…

…13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity,

these three;

but the greatest of these

is charity.”   Portions of 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. Amen!

A Month Of Gratitude?? #11. Bible Ballistics: BBs #606

27 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Amazing Grace, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #606  A Month Of Gratitude??? #11

 

I am so thankful for the privilege of gratitude!  Thank you, Lord, for the “image” of yourself that you have imparted to us—I am so glad that we can express gratitude back to you.  I’d simply like to call each of us to spend some time this weekend considering the blessings that we have to be thankful for.  For I have found this simple adage to be true: “Are you humbly grateful, or grumbly hateful?”  Gratitude is a choice, and I pray that we will pursue and maintain our “attitude of gratitude”!

May we work on our list of thankfulness!

Thank you LORD for:__________________(You fill in the blank!)

“I will praise thee with my whole heart:

before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

2 I will worship toward thy holy temple,

and praise thy name

for thy lovingkindness

and for thy truth:

for thou hast magnified thy word

above all thy name.

3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me,

and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth

shall praise thee,

O LORD,

when they hear the words of thy mouth.

5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD:

for great is the glory of the LORD.

6 Though the LORD be high,

yet hath he respect unto the lowly:

but the proud he knoweth afar off.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

thou wilt revive me:

thou shalt stretch forth thine hand

against the wrath of mine enemies,

and thy right hand

shall save me.

8 The LORD will perfect that

which concerneth me:

thy mercy, O LORD,

endureth for ever:

forsake not the works

of thine own hands.”   Psalm 138:1-8

Thank You Lord!

Amen and Amen!

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours!