‘Thanksgiving’
(NLT) Psalm 100:1-5
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! [2] Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. [3] Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. [5] For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
A man comes to dinner at a new friend’s house. While they eat, the new friend’s small son keeps staring at the guest. Finally, the guest says, “Why are you staring at me like that, young fellow?” The kid says, “Daddy told me you were a self-made man.”"I am.”"Well, why did you make yourself like that?”
Verse 3 above tells us that God made us. Some translations go on to say, “not we ourselves,” instead of “we are His.” Either way, He made us and we are His. Any good that comes from our lives is due to His grace in our lives.
Today, acknowledge that He, the Lord is God and surrender yourself to His ownership. Do so by giving Him thanks and praise.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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(NLT) Psalm 100:1-5
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! [2] Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. [3] Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. [5] For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Oh Lord God, Truly You are worthy of all praise and thanks. Fill our mouths with praise this day. Open our eyes to your many merciful blessings. May we be such grateful people that the next generation sees, hears and joins in our praises of You, the most high God and King.
In Jesus Name, Amen!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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Ephesians 5:18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. 15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
What kind of place would your city be if every where you went there were believers singing, praising and giving thanks to God?
Someone might say, “Preacher you are dreaming. There is too much pain and suffering in this world. Even believers are overwhelmed by the troubles in this life.” John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
I’ll just keep on dreaming. You are welcome to join in the dream, or you can go on in your misery denying that God our Father is Who He says He is. As for me, I’m choosing to walk in His peace.
Today, be part of that dream for your city. Praise Him, He is worthy! Be a light for Christ right where you are.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Col 1:3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. 6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. 7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. 8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
As a pastor I’m always blessed when I hear a positive report about one of our church members. And I am blessed that this happens often. Someone goes out of their way to help a brother. Someone makes a visit or a phone call that encourages a sister. A saint offers a kind word or a helpnig hand. And then on top of that, people are giving praise for those in their lives who have ministered to them.
In Colossians 1 Paul is giving thanks for what He has heard about the Christians in Colosse. He has heard of their faith and love.
Today, think about the people in your life that have shown you love and faith. Think about those you’ve seen blessing others. Give praise to God for them, and if you must talk about people talk about these.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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2 Corinthians 1:18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. 21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
Here is vs 22 in the NKJV 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Think about this. We are identified as His. “I’m a child of the king”. Say that about three times slowly. Now find someone to share that with. You are a child of the King, a child of God almighty. That’s what the seal is about in the NKJV. It also means that we are sealed.
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
And the Holy Spirit is the Guarantee that all God’s promises will come to pass.
Signed, Sealed and delivery is on the way. HALELLUJAH!!!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Everlasting Father: For those who did not have a good dad those words could bring terror to mind. “I’m going to spend eternity with someone like my earthly father?”
Malachi 4:5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
I am blessed to have a wonderful father and mother. I assure you that our Heavenly Father is indeed wonderful as well. Think about it; He left His throne in Glory and died a horrible death to pay the penalty for our sin. We are safe in His care.
Everlasting (Good) Father.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Rom 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
Gao Zhisheng is a Christian Lawyer in China. He has been imprisoned and tortured at least three different times for defending believers. He has now been in prison since last February. He is tortured daily for his beliefs.
And yet, all he has endured is not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed to us on that day. If we truly believe it:
Today let us rejoice in the promise of His return, and in the promise of our amazing eternal home.
And let us remember to pray for our syblings in Christ who truly suffer for their faith.
And let us cover our mouths in shame when we start to complain about our circumstances.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
I’M A CHILD OF THE KING
My Father is rich in houses and lands; He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands! Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold, His coffers are full-He has riches untold.
My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men, Once wandered o’er earth as the poorest of them; But now He is reigning forever on high, And will give me a home in heav’n by and by.
I once was an outcast stranger on earth, A sinner by choice and an alien by birth; But I’ve been adopted; my name’s written down- An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown.
A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there! Though exiled from home, yet still I may sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.
Chorus: I’m a child of the King, a child of the King! With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King!
-Harriett E. Buell (1834-1910)
Nough said!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Why is praise and thanksgiving considered a sacrifice? In the midst of praise services I find my heart made lighter. I enter to bless the Lord and I am the one who is blessed.
I believe the answer to my question is this. Sometimes we do not feel like praising or giving thanks. Life gets tough, money is scarce, health fails, loved ones die, and in those moments we believe we lack what it takes to give anything, let alone thanks or praise.
It is in those moments that praise and thanksgiving become a sacrifice. We cease looking at our problems and focus on our Great and Awesome God Who is the same yesterday, today and forever. We lay down ourselves and lift Him up. We take every thought captive and make it obey the command to give thanks always. In that moment we choose to believe that God, Who is Faithful is with us and knows what is best for us and His Golry.
So give the sacrifice of praise today. Force your lips to speak thanks to Him.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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