“What if you woke up this morning and found the only things you had left were the things you thanked God for yesterday?” ~ Terry Shock
I am afraid I would lose many of the treasures I take for granted. What about you? In celebration of Thanksgiving I’m bringing back an old post. I hope it challenges and encourages you as much as it did me.
Photo by: Maria
Did you thank God yesterday for your ability to see, hear, touch, taste, and speak? What about for your sense of balance, ability to sleep and to digest your food? Did you thank God for clean water, hot water, and indoor plumbing?
What people would you miss if you hadn’t taken time to thank God for them? Not just the ones in your family, but the ones who grow your food, repair your car, treat your illness, and serve your coffee.
Are you more likely to notice what’s broken or what works? Our local newspaper quoted a former soldier who said many of his buddies have lost feet and knees from roadside bombs. Now when his hurt, he’s thankful he still has them.
Photo by: Aaron Burden
Listen to Paul’s words:
- “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)
- “Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Ephesians 5:20 NASB).
Thankfully God doesn’t take away our gifts because we forget to thank Him. But giving thanks opens our eyes to how rich we are.
What if we only got to keep what we thanked God for? #thankful Click To TweetPausing to thank God for all I wouldn’t want to lose showed me how wealthy I truly am. And guess what. You’re on my list of thanksgivings! May God grant you a wonderful Thanksgiving and us all grateful hearts.
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Happy Thanksgiving,
Debbie W. Wilson
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Hi Debbie,
I am thankful for you and Larry so faithfully executing over the years the ministry the Lord has given you. I will be praying for your presentation at the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women ths Saturday.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Earle Finley
Debbie,
I am so thankful for you and Larry and Lighthouse Ministries. Thank you for your faithful dedicated service for all these years. There have been so many lives touched by your ministry. Thanks also for these devotional thoughts – they are awesome and very encouraging.
Happy Thanksgiving and let us all be thankful for His overflowing blessings!
Thankful for your devtionals! They so help me when I am called to witness!
Debbie you are always so insightful. Thank you for your faithfulness to share with us. I plan on sharing your thoughts with my family over thanksgiving dinner..
What a beautiful way to approach gratitude, especially this week as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. You’re absolutely right – we have SO much to be thankful for and putting our focus on all we have rather than what we don’t can make a huge difference. I love your challenge to imagine we will only have tomorrow what we thank God for today. It’s a very good reminder and habit to develop. Wishing you and your family a truly blessed Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for your wonderful posts!
Thank you, Ann. It was a good reminder for me too. If I spent time thinking about what I’m thankful for everyday, it would fill up my heart and my day. May you enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving too!
Wow, what a great message! We do tend to thank God for certain things and forget to thank Him for ALL His blessings. Thank you for this reminder. Happy Thanksgiving!
Guilty, Melissa. I want to do better. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Thankful that His mercies are new every morning!
Thankful, too, Debbie, for you & Larry & your willingness
to communicate & share our Father’s Heart.
Amen! So thankful for you and Doug, Marilyn!
Happy Thanksgiving Debbie to you and your family 🙂
Thank you, Kathy. I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
This is so insightful. I often become consumed in what I do not have instead of truly focusing on all that I do have. Excellent piece.!
Brittany, it certainly is a discipline on some days to choose our focus. But God enables us to do so. And what a difference it makes to be grateful!
I am grateful for you too my friend! What a lovely reminder that we are to be thankful each and every day – not just once a year!
Well said, Ann. Being thankful is a much happier way to live too! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
This is a great reminder and so true its the little things that we look over! The memory to learn and recall, to be in right mind to even know to pray. I have seen what mental illness can do through a close friend and that is one of first utterances of prayer for knowing to brush my teeth and not my shoes, Lord I thank you! You have know idea what God has sheltered you from with dangers unseen.
My God bless you and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!
Wow, to know to brush my teeth and not my shoes. Mrs. Thomas, we do overlook so much. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thanks! so true!!
Thank you, Arthur.
Wonderful question Debbie! Sure made me stop and ponder!
Terry Shock’s quote really got my attention. Blessings, Lisa!
Debbie, I am so thankful for you and the encouragement you share. I’ve seen Terry Shock’s quote before; it really does make you think. We have so much to be thankful for and many of those things we take for granted – every day. Thank you for sharing this reminder with Thankful Thursdays.
Thank you, Lori. You and your ministry are so special.
What a great question to reflect upon, Deborah. We really so have so much to be thankful for. Thanks for linking up with Grace and Truth.
Aimee, thanks for hosting!