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Things to be thankful for

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Extol:
In one of his teachings, Ray talked briefly about food. Paraphrasing, since I don't remember which audio: "We really should be thankful that we don't have to go hungry. I'm very aware of food. It's a really nice thing to have food to eat. I've been without it before and it's really something to be thankful for."

I can easily identify with this. I'm also VERY AWARE of how nice it is to be able to eat (and eat a lot). I'm thanking God many times every day for this blessing. Even though it's just a physical thing to satisfy the flesh, eating is one of the great joys of my life (sorry if that sounds pathetic.)  ;D

Besides food, here are a few of my other favorite things to do, and the things for which I'm most thankful:

Sight. Ray spoke about the wonder of the human eye (he had dreams of writing a 50-page paper on it.)  8) It's a marvelous thing to be able to see.

Hands/wrists. Like most people, I use my hands a lot as part of my job (I draw). With my hands, God has given me a successful, adventurous career. It would be a crushing blow to not have them.

Breathing. Breathing is awesome! I don't mean to sound New Age, but sometimes I just sit and breathe and think of nothing else but the breath I am taking, and God's goodness in giving it to me. It's a wonderful gift indeed; I couldn't live without it.  ;D

You may notice that all four of these things have something in common: they're things that are so ordinary that they're easy to take for granted. I meditate on these, I think about them every day and thank God constantly for them. I know there are people who cannot enjoy these things as much (and some who can't enjoy them at all), so I'm very, very thankful and make an effort to not take them for granted. God is so good to me. This attitude of giving thanks always for all things (Eph. 5:20) is a good way to live, and it can positively effect other areas of your life. For example, today I was out doing errands, and something happened which was going to add 30 minutes of driving time for. For a very short time I was a bit annoyed, until I realized how insignificant, how petty, it was to fuss about that. I can SEE, I am ALIVE, driving another 30 minutes is nothing at all. In fact I couldn't drive at all if I didn't have my eyes and hands.  :-X

stello:
Hi Extol,

total agreement with all that you are thankful for, i feel the same. I want to add that i am thankful that we will all be saved and there will be righteousness!! Before God opened my eyes to the truth i was in such distress about going to "heaven or hell" and my friends and family and just about anyone going there. But now there are times i just get a little emotional and thank God that we will all be part of his family.

I can't remember the audio you are referring to but i do remember Ray talking about some things he was thankful for. I use what he said as an example and i try to be thankful for just about everything. My job, clothes, the car , the bed , the television, the computer, my wife!!! friends and family, bible-truths.com!!!!! Everyone here!!!

Stello

acomplishedartis:

Ey Jesse, what a good reflection.   Food, eyes, breath, and hands. I still have them all : )   I would add:

for this day that God have designed in great detail for me, and the not-extreme weather were I find my self.

my friends .

and everybody else!



I am trying to get better to truly thank God for my weaknesses and present trials... I really want to be thankful from the deep of my heart, not just to say it over and over again.

Porter:
Great timing Jesse. Been thinking a lot lately about what Ray said about being thankful, and was inspired to ask God to teach me how to be more thankful toward Him. Not only for the good things in life (food, clothes and shelter), but for the bad ones too, knowing what they were designed to accomplish. Being content with where God has placed us can be so challenging sometimes.

jingle52:
Yes Jess,
we as individuals all have a lot (for our different situations) to be thankful for. I constantly thank God too for the mercies and blessings He has bestowed upon me and my family (my daughters having jobs in these trying times). I thank him for being able to get up and go to work, I need to walk a lot, so my legs are very important, my eys, hands, my faculties are all important to me as well...
We should meditate on what blessings and how good our Creator is. And yes, it only comes from studying and fellowshipping here, otherwise as you mentioned, we tend to take things for granted most of the time (especially when we are young).
Eccl 12:1 speaks of seeking God while we are still young...
Thanks Stello and Moises...

Jingle

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