thankfulness

Being thankful is an offering we present before God.  It's a decision to come to God in gratitude for what He gives.  For WHAT He gives ... all of it.

If you did not take my advice and rush out to buy One Thousand Gifts then you are still missing out.  Just sayin'.  I love the correlations she draws between giving thanks and what we now refer to as the Lord's Supper.  She said some things that reminded me of the big picture I had forgotten.  Mt. 26:26-27 says:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

Here are some points to ponder:
1. First of all, they were having dinner, a very ordinary, very normal dinner.  They would eat bread and they would drink wine.  Every day.  Remembering Christ is not a quarterly affair.  He very purposefully tied something with divine meaning to something very ordinary and commonplace.  Do we look for and remember HIM in the normal, mundane parts of life?  Do we give Him those parts of our lives?  Are we willing to let them be sacred places??

2. Secondly ... I don't think I've ever considered this part.  It says he took the bread/wine and GAVE THANKS.  Pretty sure my whole growing up we were taught that we take the element and we think about our unworthiness and our sin.  Not disputing that we need to be careful not to take the elements in an unworthy manner ... but let's face it, we are unworthy.  We need to confess our sins, YES!  Always.  But in this moment, that's not what Jesus was doing.  He wasn't preaching sermons or offering forgiveness.  He was giving thanks.  His sacrifice should drive us to GIVE THANKS.

We've so underestimated the power, the need of giving thanks. 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Col. 2:6-7

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Col. 3:15

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col. 4:2

The Lord is my strength and shield.I trust him with all my heart.He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Ps. 28:7 (NLT)

Then I will praise God’s name with singing,and I will honor him with thanksgiving. Ps. 69:30 (NLT)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 (NLT)

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

26. warm blankets
27. the hum of the heater
28. the smell of a fire in the fireplace
29. hot cocoa melting marshmallows into its middle
30. running (did I really say that?)
31. the howl of the wind
32. the drum of rain on the window
33. the gentle fall of snowflakes onto the ground
34. umbrellas and rainboots
35. the smell of fresh bread
36. singing along with the radio
37. warm soaking baths
38. the smell of bubble bath
39. the flicker of candles
40. the sweet, genuine prayers of college students