Tag Archives: Gratitude

A Thankful Heart??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #291

22 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving, The Word

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A Thankful Heart???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #291

Today I want to share a message of gratitude; gratitude to each of you that have been a part of Bible Ballistics, you make my heart smile!  So I just want to share some words of gratitude from God’s Word!

“Grace be unto you,

and peace,

from God our Father,

and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God

upon every remembrance of you,” Philippians 1:2-3

God is so gracious and kind to give us friends, acquaintances and loved ones to share our lives with, and I thank each of you for helping to make this blog beneficial, to those I haven’t yet met, as well as those I have known and loved for years.  May we continue to bless and encourage one another.

“I thank my God always on your behalf,

for the grace of God

which is given you by Jesus Christ;”  1 Corinthians 1:4

And more from Paul, and like many of you whom I have never met, Paul hadn’t been to Colossae either, yet because he had heard of their faith in Jesus, he prayed for them and sent an amazing letter to encourage them. (Read it today!)

“We give thanks to God

and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

praying always for you,

4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,

and of the love which ye have

 to all the saints,” Colossians 1:3-4 

This theme of gratitude and praying for one another is found throughout scripture, and it is there to remind us that we are to care for one another as we have opportunity and pray for our fellow believers continually.  God hears and answers prayer—not always in our way or in our in our time, but I serve a prayer-answering God, I hope you do to!  I pray that you know Him as well.  As we develop and grow in our attitude of gratitude, it is amazing to see the blessings of God; for we are all blessed, we all aren’t always paying attention.  Look up my friends, Jesus loves you and so do I.

“Rejoice evermore.     

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

 for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Of course we couldn’t end a post on gratitude without a word from the Psalms; oh how replete are they with the joy of the Lord, comfort for the sorrowful, hope for the downtrodden, and the eternal message that our “God reigneth”!

“O give thanks unto the God of heaven:

for his mercy endureth for ever.”  Psalm 136:26

May your day be full of peace “that passeth all understanding” as you thank God in all things.  Remember, we win!

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice,

and give honour to him…”. Revelation 19:6-7a

Amen and Amen!!!

Gratitude Isn’t Seasonal??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #271

11 Friday Oct 2024

Posted by in Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Smile if you love Jesus!, SMILE!!! Jesus loves YOU!!, Smiling is contagious, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving

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Gratitude Isn’t Seasonal???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #271

“In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Paul’s instruction to give “thanks” wasn’t a suggestion but an instruction to be a thankful people in all things.  Corrie Ten Boom told many accounts of being thankful in the midst of a hell on earth, and the platform that God gave her when she came out of that situation is immeasurable, and still bears fruit!  God always knows where we are and what is going on beyond our comprehension of His working in our lives, through our trials, by our faithful perseverance with a grateful and obedient heart!

The Psalms are replete with expressions of gratitude—which is often difficult to maintain in the materialistic and selfish world we live in (not to count the evil that seems to be multiplying exponentially)!  May we take some time today to remind ourselves that a grateful heart is an honor to our God, and a blessing to those around us.  Gratitude is contagious!  Spread a little around today.

“It is a good thing to give thanks

unto the LORD,

and to sing praises

unto thy name, O most High:

2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness

in the morning,

and thy faithfulness

every night,” Psalm 92:1-2

“Rejoice in the LORD,

ye righteous;

and give thanks

at the remembrance of his holiness.”  Psalm 97:12

What a wonderful God we serve, and I pray that you will find hope, encouragement, delight and a renewed heart full of gratitude in our time together today.  Let’s peruse a few more reminders from the scriptures to encourage our hearts together.  Watch the repeated directions from the Psalms.

“Praise ye the LORD.

O give thanks unto the LORD;

for he is good:

for his mercy endureth for ever.”  Psalm 107:1

“O give thanks unto the LORD;

for he is good:

because his mercy

endureth for ever.”  Psalm 118:1

“Thou art my God,

and I will praise thee:

thou art my God,

I will exalt thee.

29 O give thanks unto the LORD;

for he is good:

for his mercy endureth for ever.”  Psalm 118:28-29

And one of my favorite passages from Paul, it encourages my heart often and I encourage you to memorize it for it is a great word to help us press on to victory!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

A Grateful Life??? Really??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #153

10 Friday Nov 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Consider Your ways, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Thankful, Thanksgiving, That They May Know

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A Grateful Life??? Really???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #153

 

Gratitude is an attitude, but it’s so much more and I just want to share a few thoughts in this regard.

“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 100:2-5

The Psalmist paints an amazing picture here of our relationship to God—and that is the root of gratitude; so let’s peruse the things that make for a grateful heart, and a productive life lived for God’s glory and our ultimate good.

We are to:

       Serve God—with gladness not grudgingly—

       Seek HIS presence—with singing not selfish squawking-

       Remember—God IS GOD, HE made us—we didn’t do it–

       BE HIS people/HIS sheep—Stop butting heads—

       Come before HIM—with grateful praise—

       Show our gratitude with words of blessing—not vain ones!

When we practice being in HIS presence and spending time with our LORD, we can learn so much about gratitude, grace, love, and humility!  Our God is a good, good God, but how will the world come to know that when we won’t live like it!  We moan and complain; we let the glitter of the world blind us to HIS truth; we choose the world over our God, which breed the worst kind of discontent!  All this when we serve the most amazing, loving, merciful and truthful God—HE loves us so much that HE sent JESUS to be our Savior and Redeemer.  Just spend some time thinking about the price that Jesus paid for us and coming into God’s presence “with thanksgiving”!  I truly believe that gratitude breeds confident faith in the God we claim to follow.  May James’ words help us understand that our God IS totally trustworthy, and we can thank HIM in all things—knowing that we can ask questions, and God won’t get mad, but HE will lead us into HIS truth, if we can but wait on the Lord! (See Psalm 37:3-8)

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect (complete/mature)

and entire,

wanting nothing. (lacking nothing)

5 If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.”  James 1:2-5

May we live ‘gratefully’ before a world of greed!  They need to see JESUS IN US!

Amen and Amen!!!

That Attitude Of Gratitude??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #150

02 Thursday Nov 2023

Posted by in A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Attitude of Gratitude, Glory To God, God's Presence Not Presents, Good Neighbor, Good News, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity

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That Attitude Of Gratitude???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #150

November has arrived—the month of cool temperatures (although we ended October here in Oklahoma with a week-long time of night freezes, not just frosts as we usually do, but freezes and seasonably early cool days), colorful leaves, pumpkins, hayrides, and bonfires!  I do love November, not only for the fall colors and temperatures but also for the season of gratitude.  We enjoy the 4th Thursday in November as ‘Thanksgiving Day’ here in the US, but gratitude is an attitude that we all need to cultivate every day, especially those who believe in and follow Jesus.  So rather than the popular “Thanksgiving Train”, or “Days of Thanks”, I simply want us to share a focus on gratitude for most of this month, for it seems to me that we now live in a culture of ‘entitlements’ with no idea of gratitude. Let’s be the change!

The Psalmist has a lot to say about an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ so let’s take a look at Psalm 100 and ask God to mold our hearts into hearts of extreme gratitude—thankful to our God, The Creator of all things; and that we ask HIM to create in us a grateful heart that will spill over on all around us.

“1 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

Oh to be the people of gratitude that will put a smile on the face of our Lord Jesus, Father God, and The Holy Spirit; that we can spread the smile of gratitude here on earth, for we will be shouting it in heaven.  Let’s practice our ‘attitude of gratitude’ today—and then again tomorrow!  Then repeat!!!

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude,

which no man could number,

of all nations, and kindreds,

 and people, and tongues,

stood before the throne,

and before the Lamb,

clothed with white robes,

and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying,

Salvation to our God

which sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne,

and about the elders

and the four beasts,

and fell before the throne on their faces,

and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,

and thanksgiving, and honour, and power,

and might,

be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”  Revelation 7:9-12

Amen and Amen!!!

Christ And HIM Crucified??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 21

21 Monday Nov 2022

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 21 Christ And HIM Crucified???

I have a simple and hopefully encouraging word for today–it’s all about Jesus from one of the most profound scriptures in all of The Word (to me!)!  I pray that it will lift your heart this week, as we here in the U.S. celebrate a day of Thanksgiving; while knowing that “Thanks–Giving” is a heart attitude not just a ‘day’ of family, food, and football; not just a ‘day’ for turkey, treats, and too much dessert; not just a day of sharing our blessings, but truly a day to remember and praise God for HIS amazing gifts of love, mercy, and sustenance!  All because we are loved by the Creator of the universe!!

“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.”  John 3:16

And what did God give His Son to do?  To take on flesh, live among sinful men and give HIS life on the cross for our sin!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

And for your consideration as we go through this week, hopefully focusing on our “attitude of gratitude”, remembering the beauty of the gift that Jesus became!

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:5-11

May God bless you with eyes to see and ears to hear.  May we each respond in gratitude for the greatest gift ever given!

Oh, that we will truly be found to be a grateful people, believing in this “only begotten son”, and I pray that you will receive HIS gift of “everlasting life” which JESUS bought and paid for at Calvary with HIS own blood! Thank YOU, JESUS!  (See Revelation 1:5)

Blessings on you and yours, my friends.  And may you enjoy a most love-filled HAPPY THANKS-GIVING!!!

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.”  Psalm 100:4

Amen and Amen!!!