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By oglester, November 30, 2009 10:17 pm

What is it to be thankful?

Mr Webster says:
Main Entry: thank·ful
Pronunciation: \ˈthaŋk-fəl\
Function: adjective
Date: before 12th century
1 : conscious of benefit received
2 : expressive of thanks 3 : well pleased : glad

So, when we are thankful, how do we show it? How many things do we indeed take for granted, as if it were our birthright to have what it is we have? To whom are we thankful?

The way I typically show thankfulness is by telling the giver ‘thank you’. A secondary and perhaps for impressive method is to return favor. And, perhaps another is to show love toward the giver, honoring them for having the goodness to give it.

From day to day, we, most people in the US,  have a plenty of food and shelter. We just expect it. We go beyond our desire for necessity, and often desire the better version of what we already so graciously have been given.

Who do we thank? I thank other people for their graciousness, sharing, for going beyond the call of duty, or just for doing what they probably should do anyway. I am thankful to the people in my life who have done something for my benefit or the benefit of those around me.  Yes, it is right to be thankful to others, but ultimately we should not forget the One from whom all blessings come. Yes, that would be God, Jehovah is his name.

All other things are in vain, without that salvation from sin, death, and hell that has been given in the man Jesus who is the Christ, and who is now my Lord, and ultimately will be everyone’s Lord.

Thanks be to God for all things.

Comments (1)

By oglester, October 24, 2009 10:57 pm

Philippians 1 ²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I love how Paul puts things in perspective.  A summary of his life is useful to understand the uniqueness of his stories.

Paul was a Pharisee, which was a Jewish lawmaker, known for their zeal for the Law.  They were really good people in a lot of ways, but they had little tolerance for other’s faults, and did not see their own faults, which as with all people were plenty.  Paul was an extraordinarily zealous Pharisee whom was actually a leader of persecutions to extinguish the gospel message that stemmed from Jesus saving work on the cross.  While leading one of these movements, Paul had a miraculous experience.  He lost his sight and Jesus, through a vision, dream, or the Spirit, spoke to him.  This event led to Paul’s 180 degree conversion.  After this conversion, Paul had just as much zeal for spreading the gospel as he had had for extinguishing it.

In all  of the zeal for Christ and His church, Paul endured much of that same persecution he had previously dished out.  He was beaten and imprisoned.  He understood what it was like to be a in a bad way, yet he never lost site of the work God had for him.

Lord, help us to follow after you, accomplishing the goal you have for us.

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By oglester, October 19, 2009 9:37 pm

Well, the hard things in life are hard; I just thought you should know. Too bad the best things in life are often the hardest. How ironic is that.

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By oglester, October 12, 2009 9:03 pm

for a Klondike bar? not too much, they’re not awesome enough to take that many calories.

For love? I’m not sure. Certainly willing to love in order to be loved. Willing to work at it. Lord, help me love.

For an employer? Work hard as unto the Lord.

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By oglester, October 10, 2009 2:36 pm

Drywall is a pain to put up if you don’t have an real experience doing so.

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By oglester, October 6, 2009 8:56 pm

My friend Ben thinks writing a novel will be a good idea. November is National Novel month, and there is some kind of prize for writing a 50k word novel. It sounds pretty ominous considering I’m not a very good writer and that is a whole bunch of words. I will give it some thought, a subject that is. Perhaps I can be creative.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

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By oglester, September 25, 2009 6:20 am

I recently went target shooting.  Is it not funny how we have such fun killing paper.  What did it do to us?  I for one don’t really think paper tastes good, and it is already dead.

Ha ha…

The real reason of course is that I like the challenge of doing something well, the power of a gun, and knowing that under dire circumstances, I could defend myself or my loved ones.

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By oglester, September 22, 2009 7:46 pm

Have you had more than one hygienist? If not, you should try a couple out. My hygienist, bless her soul, has a knack for inflicting pain. My normal cleaning schedule got messed up a couple times to where I got the other hygienist, and she was SOOO much more gentle. I only tolerate the pain because I think she does a really good job.

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By oglester, September 21, 2009 8:15 pm

Reading a bit from Mr. Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes, I found a bit of wisdom, so in my words here is a small piece of it.

Not all that makes you happy will end up making you joyful. Not all that is unpleasant will end in making you sad.

Just like taking nasty tasting medicine, we sometimes need to endure a little trial in order to obtain the greater good.

So often, those things that make us happy, or satisfy, like eating a candy bar, only satisfy for a little while and then, in the end, leave a reminder that is difficult to shed.

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By oglester, September 21, 2009 6:24 pm

I’m not so sure I like having it rain every day for 10 straight days. It is not exactly depressing, but it is certainly not invigorating. Don’t get me wrong, the rain this year has been great, making everything so wonderfully green, and I don’t want to complain because the opposite is far worse. It will all work out though because I know whose hand are in control.