Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart!

Today I want to share with you a little something from my heart about "Thankfulness!!"
Take a look in your Bible at Luke 17:11-19

"Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

This passage of scripture leaps out at me every time I read it.
Those ten lepers had so much to be thankful for and yet, only one came back to thank Him! How sad is that!! What happened to the other nine that were healed of this dreaded disease??
In Bible times, there was no cure for leprosy. It was a disease that disfigured and disabled. Those who had it would have to stay outside the city without any interaction with their loved ones. They were in complete isolation.
I can't even imagine not being able to interact with my family or friends! Everyone knows that I couldn't survive not talking to someone!!

These ten men were set free from an incurable disease and only one came back to thank Jesus!

God is so good period!!!! He has blessed us with so much and how many times have we forgotten to "thank Him??" I know for me I have many times. Every morning when we wake up and our feet hit the floor we should be thanking our Father!! For the air we breathe! For Creation! Our family and friends! Most importantly, the gift of Salvation!! What would life be without God in it??!!
We were like the leper before we met the Savior. We were sin-sick, wretched, and hopeless until we were touched by the Master's Hand!! Just typing that makes me want to shout "Thank You Jesus!!"

Today let us stop whatever we are doing and thank God for all His blessings He has poured out on us! Thank Him for your Salvation!! We have a home in Heaven where we will live for eternity!! Praise the Lord!!
No matter how bad you think you might have it, and no matter what the circumstances you may be going through, Thank Him!! Even in very difficult circumstances, Thank Him!

Many will gather around the table on Thursday to "Thank God" for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. I pray that we not just thank Him during this time, but everyday! We are truly a very blessed people and a blessed nation. We still have the freedom to gather, pray, and give thanks. Many countries today are not allowed to do the very things we have a freedom to do!
I love the song "Count Your Blessings" Have you ever tried counting your blessings and naming them one by one?? Try it and see just what the Lord has done for you today!!

Below are some wonderful scriptures on "Thankfulness" that I want to share with you! May the Lord richly bless you this Thanksgiving and everyday, and may we never forget to give Him all the praise and thanksgiving He deserves!!!

"Encouraged in Heart. . . United in Love"
Jenny
II Timothy 1:12



Colossians 2:6-7 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.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Colossians 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Psalms 95:2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.