Giving Thanks

How do you value Thanksgiving?  Is this the day you spend with family and friends, a day of thanking the Lord for all of the continued blessings, or a day taken to wait in line at the stores with black Friday sales?  Ponder on this thought…Thanksgiving is another day to celebrate and rejoice in the Lord for all of the blessings he has placed in our lives. 

Give yourself the opportunity to cherish those moments; don’t rush through them because you ‘want’ a new TV, laptop, etc...  “You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified” (1 Corinthians 14:17). These things all are materialistic and will not give you the special memories that Thanksgiving should hold.  Take the time to spend it with your loved ones whether they are family or friends.  Enjoy the smell of turkey in the air, the pure and natural taste of stuffing and cranberry sauce; savor your taste buds in the mashed/sweet potatoes.  Have a family dinner and share the exciting moments that have happened during the year.  Enjoy the fullness of life and don’t cut it short for the wants.  “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 3:17).

Faith In Action

There was a blind man called Bartimaeus who sat by the road begging.  When he heard Jesus was walking by, he began to cry out to him.  When he came to Jesus, the Lord asked what he wanted.  Now Jesus knew that he was blind but he wanted evidence of Bartimaeus’ faith.  The blind man asked to be healed and Jesus said “Go your way; your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52).

 

 

There was a woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years.  She had spent all her money on doctors and couldn’t be healed.  However, she worked herself through a crowd to reach Jesus.  When she touched the border of his garment, she immediately got healed.  Jesus felt power go out of him and asked who touched him.  She declared to him the reason she had touched him and he responded “Daughter be of good cheer; your faith has made you well” (Luke 8:48).

In both of these examples, these individuals were healed because of their faith and by taking action. “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). Bartimaeus didn’t only have faith, but he had to take action by walking over to Jesus and making his request.  The woman, had faith for healing, but she had to take action and work herself through the crowd to touch Jesus’ garment. 

Maybe your situation is going to require fasting on your part to get an answer.  Perhaps, you’ll have to sow a seed to receive the increase you’ve been wanting.  Maybe you’ll have to be a blessing to someone before you can receive your blessing.  Whatever your situation, act in faith “for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).

What are you battling in your life that requires faith in action?