Thoughts on Giving Thanks

I know Thanksgiving is past, but the following letter is a great reminder for any and every day of the year. It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Holidays that we forget what the true meaning is of our celebrating. Thanksgiving is a time for fellowship, turkey and pumpkin pie, but it is also a day to thank the Lord for all He has blessed us with. However, our thanks should not only be limited to one day out of the whole year, but everyday!  "We all need to analyze our hearts that we do not only limit our thanks for the good things or only give thanks at certain times. Instead, we need to get in the habit of giving thanks all the time and faithfully thank God for the not so good things." 

What are some ways you can remind yourself each day that God has been good to you?

"Once again we are enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday.

Most of us spend time with family and friends, take time off work, decorate the house, and eat a feast. We often reflect on our rich heritage of the pilgrims—their faith, perseverance, and trust in God.

As a family we traditionally write notes of things we are thankful on little slips of paper cut out in the shape of leaves, place them in a basket and read them aloud around the Thanksgiving table after dinner. It is a beautiful warm time of meditating on God’s bountiful blessings.

We many times will thank God for our family, friends, house, food, freedom and God’s great love for us. It is so important that we recognize God’s incredible goodness to us. In fact, we all know we should, and many of us do give thanks to God all year long.

Are we thankful for the not-so-good things?

What about the economic recession? What about the change in the political climate and the loss of freedom we are now facing? What about friends that have moved, sickness, troubles with our teens or other relationships, loss of our job, and other not so good things?

We all need to analyze our hearts that we do not only limit our thanks for the GOOD THINGS or only give thanks at certain times. Instead, we need to get in the habit of giving thanks all the time and faithfully thank God for the NOT SO GOOD THINGS.

God makes it very clear in I Thess. 5:18, “In EVERYTHING give thanks for this is God’s will for you through Christ Jesus.” Does this really mean we should thank God for everything? Must I even thank God for my gradually deteriorating body due to multiple sclerosis—losing my legs little by little and even my right hand?

Yes, I must because this is God’s will for me at this time. I must “keep my eyes fixed on Jesus” and look with spiritual eyes as to how He is working through these negative circumstances. I must still be thankful and show Him and the world that my faith is REAL. I must really believe in His promise in Romans 8:28 that, “ALL THINGS work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”

Although my flesh is hurting so much, I cannot deny how I have seen God work through the MS to change many people’s lives. He has simultaneously been doing a continual and awesome work in my heart to conform me to the image of His Son—a work on my soul that, in heaven, will be revealed in all its splendor!

Nor has my MS been in vain for my children, as they learn that the Christian life isn’t always a smooth road, but Jesus will sustain them—and they are learning to be true servants in the process.

God is blessing me with “power that is perfected in weakness.” II Cor. 12:9 In fact, Paul says that he would rather boast about his weakness that Christ may be seen in Him. II Cor. 12:10 I have seen God’s promises come true in my life as I daily discover that His “grace is sufficient” for me. He is and will enable me to fulfill His calling to me to be a father to my six children still at home, husband, homeschool lawyer, author, and speaker through His Holy Spirit’s power. It is not my power that will enable me to carry on. It is all Him!

Therefore, through the tears, I can say I am thankful for MS; thankful to be counted worthy.

Disciples Persecuted

Remember when the disciples joyfully celebrated being persecuted like their master Jesus had been persecuted?

They were thankful to be counted worthy.

Yes, we are to give thanks for everything, even the not-so-good things.

I heard Pastor Tony Evans on the radio one day, and he explained that there are three types of thanksgiving and praise; the “cum laude” praise, the “magna cum laude” praise, and the “summa cum laude” praise. He said the cum laude praise and thanksgiving is when we thank God for our marriage, our children, our job, our home, clothes, etc. –for the good things in life. Certainly it is important that we live thankful lives. I know that if we have a thankful heart every day we’re going to have a better attitude no matter the circumstances and be an over comer of obstacles in our way. Jesus will shine brighter through us too.

Then, Tony Evans said the magma cum laude thanksgiving and praise is when we’re delivered from some bad situation, much like when the ten lepers were healed by Jesus. The one leper came back and was blessed because he thanked God for delivering him from leprosy. How often do we expect eh healing when we take the medicine or expect our next paycheck to take care of the problem and don’t lean on Jesus and thank Him for His deliverance?

Finally, Tony Evans said there is the summa cum laude praise and thanksgiving. He believes that type of thanksgiving and praise is the most blest of all. God loves to hear us give Him praise and thanksgiving even in the midst of suffering. When Paul and Silas were in prison, chained up, tortured and beaten, and facing a death sentence, the Bible says that they gave praises to God in the “midnight hour.” It must have been some testimony to the other prisoners and the guards in the prison, to hear them praising and thanking God. Did they feel like doing it? Not on your life. Yet they did it, because God deserved the thanks and praise.

The Bible says that we are to glory in our tribulation and count it all joy when we experience diverse suffering. Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4 Are we being thankful in our midnight hour?

This Thanksgiving, let us be truly and wholly thankful, because we are saved by the blood of Jesus, the Son, and are going to heaven, and nothing can change that. Scripture says that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:28-29 Let us be thankful this holiday season because ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

If we have Jesus, we have everything!

When visiting Ghana to bring wheelchairs to handicapped people there, Joni Eareckson Tada tells the story in her book, When God Weeps of a polio victim she met who crawled around on her belly, using her arms and hands to drag her body around because she didn’t have a wheelchair. Joni was amazed that she always had a smile on her face. When Joni asked her how she could be so happy when she had nothing, her health was so bad, and she didn’t even have a wheelchair, the poor lady got a puzzled look on her face wondering why Joni would ask her such a question. She responded emphatically, “I have Jesus!”

I do not have the faith yet of that poor girl in Ghana—but God will complete His good work He has begun in me!

If home schooling is rough this year, the finances are tight, your health is shaky, or your family or friends are forsaking you, you still need to be thankful. God is using each and every circumstance to bring us closer to Him and make us more like Jesus. That is what we want; we can be thankful for this.

Most of all we can be thankful that we have a God who gives Himself to us—His comfort, never-ending love, sustaining strength, wisdom, guidance, and overcoming power! He is there with us and will never leave us or forsake us—Amen!

May God bless you this Thanksgiving and always!"

By Chris Klicka, October 26, 2008

What are things you can be thankful for today? 

All text © 2013 From the Ashes| All Images © 2013  From the Ashes

We Shall Bless Him for Who He is - Psalm 103

In my devotions I am presently studying the book of Psalms. I am currently reading roughly a chapter everyday and today was Psalm 103. Many of you may be familiar with it, however I encourage you to take a moment and reread it; really take in who God is and what he has does for His children. He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, He satisfies us with good things, He does not punish us according to the mistakes we make, He won't always chide, He shows compassion to us. He is our Father, our Daddy our All in All. 

How can we not bless Him for all He is and Has done for us?

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and all that is within me,

    bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all His benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

    who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord works righteousness

    and justice for all who are oppressed.

 He made known His ways to Moses,

    His acts to the people of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious;

    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always chide,

    nor will he keep His anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;

as far as the east is from the west,

    so far does He remove our transgressions from us.

As a father shows compassion to his children,

    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame;

    He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;

    he flourishes like a flower of the field;

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

    and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting

 to everlasting on those who fear Him,

    and His righteousness to children's children,

to those who keep his covenant

    and remember to do his commandments.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,

    and His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

    you mighty ones who do his word,

    obeying the voice of His word!

 Bless the Lord, all His hosts,

    His ministers, who do His will!

Bless the Lord, all His works,

    in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

-Psalm 103:1-22

“We will praise Jehovah, the Self-Existent. We will praise El, the mighty God whose power is on our side. We will praise Him who gives Himself the Covenant name of Elohim and reveals therein the Trinity of His sacred unity. We will praise the Shaddai, the All-Sufficient God and magnify Him because out of His fullness have we all received. And whatever other name there is in Scripture, or combination of names, every one shall be exceedingly delightful to our hearts and we will bless the sacred name.”

-AN EXCERPT FROM A SERMON DELIVERED ON LORD’S-DAY MORNING, OCTOBER 20, 1872, BY C. H. SPURGEON

All text © 2013 From the Ashes| All Images © 2013  From the Ashes

NMUN - DC 2013

I attended the National Model United Nations this past October in Washington, DC and thoroughly enjoyed it! Although, my partner and I were completely unprepared for the conference, we both took pleasure in getting to know each other and also learning how things work within the United Nations Security Counsel! We not only learned the steps to passing a resolution, but also about the country we were representing. 

All text © 2013 From the Ashes| All Images © 2013  From the Ashes

If Life Gives You Lemons

While reading through one of the many books I'm trying to tackle before the new year, a specific passage in Reshaping it All by Candace Cameron Bure really stuck with me. I have always struggled with anxiety and worry; even over the littlest things. In chapter 9 Candace talks about "not feeding the lions," what she means by that is taking our thoughts captive and pursuing what is right and positive instead of dwelling on the negative. In closing the chapter she states:

"Our job starts by being alert. We need to interpret our thoughts wisely, dividing the good from the bad, and with a little self control (okay, maybe a lot) converse our thoughts in a positive way. In other words, stop feeding the lions! 

If life gives you lemons, you don't have to settle for lemonade. Did you know that one lemon could power a light? When attached to the right source, it can also power a motor. Imagine just for a moment what the lemons in your life could produce when God powers them! Poverty, sickness, addictions, and discouragement...the list is endless, but God's grace is not! Start turning those negative thoughts into powerful statements of faith by submitting your heart to your spirit today." -Candace

After reading this chapter it hit me; my worry starts with my thoughts. I need to "take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)" and think on the things that are good in my life. What has God blessed me with? And how can I better serve God with what he has given me? By asking those questions daily and with God's help I can eliminate every discouraging and worrisome thought!

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith." (1 Peter 5:7-9) 

All text © 2013 From the Ashes| All Images © 2013  naturalnews.com 

Footprints in the Sand Book Challenge -- Week 3

Below is the post from my sisters blog (charityklicka.blogspot.com) for her third week of her book challenge! Even if you're not joining in on the challenge, feel free to enter in to win some goodies!

Hello dear readers! I hope you've enjoyed, and were able to participate, in both Week 1 and Week 2 of my Book Challenge and Giveaway. Please continue to spread the word about my giveaways and my book challenge, as well as comment on any one of my Challenge posts about your favorite books, quotes, and other bookish fun! 

Also, I'd also love to meet you who are new to my blog, so please leave a little comment on my guestbook (and you can be sure I will return the gesture)!

::NOTE:: My reading list (all 12 books I am reading from now until the New Year) can be found on the right side of my blog or here: Book List - Book Challenge & Giveaway 2013.

The BOOK I am reading this week is:

 Wild Scots: Four Hundred Years of Highland History | by Michael Fry

As you all should know by now, I absolutely LOVE Scotland: the history, people, culture, language (Scottish-Gaelic), the land, the food, the smells, even the air! It is an absolutely beautiful and vibrant country, and it is my dream travel there someday. 

This book captures, essentially, the heart of Scotland. It is a captivating and controversial history of the Highlands that focuses mainly on the people of Scotland. 

What others are saying:

"Formidable...superb...spectacularly audacious" -The Times

"Outstanding...closely argued, cleverly constructed, and best of all, deliciously written." -Literary Review

"Attacks and defends the personalities of the past with ferocious and infectious pleasure...excellent." -Glasgow Herald

"Sparkles with gripping details...first-class narrative." -Scotland on Sunday

Well there you go you adventurous reader, you! Go and explore the vibrant, formidable (if at times), fantastic world of Scotland. Join me!

Follow my progress on Goodreads!

The book for the GIVEAWAY this week is:

Redwall by Brian Jacques

The other goodies I am giving away this week are:

-2 bookmarks from Infinity Designs
-a pack* of  Hot Chocolate

- Other bookish oddities (to be a surprise!)

ENTER down below for a chance to win! The GIVEAWAY ends November 11 at midnight.

All text © 2013 Footprints in the Sand | All Images © 2013 Hislight Photography

*pack of Hot Chocolate includes 2-4 individual packs, enough to make 2-4 cups of Cocoa

All text © 2013 From the Ashes| All Images © 2013  From the Ashes