Thanks Living: Actively Expressing Gratitude

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 1 Thessalonians 1:2

Give thanks: actively to express gratitude

Always: at all times, evermore

For you: consideration where "all the bases are covered"

Making mention: as often as I remember you; literally, 'on all my remembrance'

Prayers: earnest prayer

People—World.

The world is full of people. Some we see on a regular basis. Some we know. Some we pass by. And others we interact with in varying degrees. Family. Friends. Acquaintances. Neighbors. 

People—Introduction.

Introduction based on commonality.

Back: Lately I've meet people because I wear a back brace. Several people have stopped me to ask about my back and what has helped, or what I had done as they are seeking answers for their own back issues.

Faith: I have the privilege of attending a great church. It's been exciting over the past year to meet various people and become engaged in some of their lives. 

Problems: Due to a fence that needs to be replaced, I've had the opportunity to get to know my neighbor more and meet some contractors. Often problems introduce us to people as we work for a common solution. 

Serving: Often we neglect this aspect of people. We are often so busy on what others can do for us, we neglect that we are to be serving others. Helping and encouraging others usually ends up being a blessing for the "server" as well as the recipient. 

I keep thinking about "actively to express gratitude"—to God for people. As I think about the people in my life, WOW, am I ever blessed! Thanks Living is recognizing the people that are in my life and actively expressing my gratitude to God for them—and making sure I say "thanks" to those individuals who are part of my life.

We give thanks to God always for you all. 

Actively expressing gratitude, making sure all bases are covered—not leaving out who and/or what was done. Actively expressing gratitude to God for people.

As there is much that we ought to be thankful for on the behalf of ourselves and our friends, so there is much occasion of constant prayer for further supplies of good. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

Thanks Living is recognizing who God brings into our lives, and taking time to "actively to express gratitude"—to God for them. 

Thanks Living: Act of Worship

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4

Thanksgiving: in songs of public worship

Praise: the act of general, public, praise

Thankful: literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, especially to revere or worship (with extended hands—the open one—indicating power, means, direction, etc.)

Bless: adore with bended knees

Thanksgiving is an act of worshiping God. We are to make a point to ENTER His presence with an mind-set and heart-set of worship and adoration with gratitude. 

And not only are we to have a mind-set and heart-set, we are to actually BE thankful to God. A humble attitude of worship and joy as we express our outpouring of thankfulness to Almighty God. 

Act of Worship. 

Not just saying "thanks", but spending time in the presence of God worshiping Him with gratitude for Who He is and all He has done for me. 

Who is God? 

Thanks Living must include an act of worship of God Almighty. 

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For another post on Psalm 100:4, read Expressing Gratitude: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2013/05/expressing-gratitude.html

Thanks Living: If I am mindful...

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Colossians 3:17

Whatever: everything (anything) whatsoever

Word: the act of speaking

Deed: the idea of working; doing

Do all: whatsoever

Name: relying or resting on the name of Christ, rooted (so to speak) in his name, i. e. mindful of Christ

Give thanks: to be grateful, i.e. (actively) to express gratitude 

Father: one who imparts life and is committed to it; a progenitor, bringing into being to pass on the potential for likeness

Through: of one who is the author of the action as well as its instrument, or of the efficient cause (because the possibility both of glorifying God and of giving thanks to him is due to the kindness of Christ)

If I am mindful of Christ, then my attitude and action will be done in accordance with His will. And my heart-set and mind-set will be filled and overflowing with gratitude to God, the Father. 

If I am mindful...... 

There are times, when being mindful of Christ is easy, and then other times, not so much. During those "other times", my focus changes from Christ, to ME—and that is a dangerous occurrence. For when "Me, myself, and I" take the lead, I not only am telling God He doesn't know what He's doing, I am setting myself up for disappointment, discouragement and heartbreak. 

If I am mindful......

Creating a habit of relying and being mindful of Christ—how exactly is that done? First and foremost, I must acknowledge that God is real, and that He sets the standard. I must accept God as Lord and Savior. Then as I begin to know God, learn who God is, learn His ways, learn His characteristics, then that solid unwavering trust is developed and then the desire to obey Him impacts my actions and attitudes. 

If I am mindful—

That means, when I get frustrated with someone, I stop and pray—that creates a change in attitude. Then I must act on that change in attitude! 

That means, when I don't want to do something, I stop and pray —that creates a change in my attitude with then will translate into action. 

That means, when "Me, myself, and I" want to make the decisions, I stop and pray—that creates a spirit of humility allowing God to once again become "number 1" and my attitude and actions will change in accordance with His will. 

If I am mindful—

That means, each and every actions and attitude must first be "approved" by Christ. If Christ disapproves—there must be a change on my part. 

If I am mindful—

I will not only have the desire, but the determination to act and respond Christ-like in each and every situation. 

If I am mindful—then I'll want to express my gratitude to God by having the right actions and attitude. That means that Thanks Living is to be evident in each chore, in each interaction, in each and every thought. 

If  I am mindful........ 

Another post on Colossians 3:17: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/06/do-all.html

Knowledge and Experience!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 62. Here is what I learned.

With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God! Psalm 62:7 (AMP)

My salvation and my significance depend ultimately on God; the core of my strength, my shelter, is in the True God. Psalm 62:7 (VOICE)

My help and glory are in God—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God— Psalm 62:7 (MSG)

In God is my salvation and my glory. Wherein should we glory but in him who saves us? Our honour may well be left with him who secures our souls. To find all in God, and to glory that it is so, is one of the sure, marks of an enlightened soul. "The rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God." He multiplies titles, for he would render much honour to the Lord, whom he had tried, and proved to be a faithful God under so many aspects; Ignorance needs but few words, but when experience brings a wealth of knowledge, we need varied expressions to serve as coffers for our treasure. God who is our rock when we flee for shelter, is also our strong rock when we stand firm and defy the foe; he is to be praised under both characters. 

Observe how the Psalmist brands his own initials upon every name which he rejoicingly gives to his God - my expectation, my rock, my salvation, my glory, my strength, my refuge; he is not content to know that the Lord is all these things; he acts faith towards him, and lays claim to him under every character.  

If our experience has not yet enabled us to realize the Lord under any of these consoling titles, we must seek grace that we may yet be partakers of their sweetness. The bees in some way or other penetrate the flowers and collect their juices; it must be hard for them to enter the closed cups and mouthless bags of some of the favorites of the garden, yet the honey-gatherers find or make a passage; and in this they are our instructors, for into each delightful name, character, and office of our covenant God our persevering faith must find an entrance, and from each it must draw delight. The Treasury of David

There is a difference between knowledge and experience. Knowing a fact is a good place to start, but there is something said for experiencing something. Knowing that God CAN do something is a great assurance, but EXPERIENCING God DOING something on your behalf is a blessing that exceeds explanation. 

To create a positive day, I start with getting to KNOW God, then enjoy the experiences of God working in my life. When I have both the knowledge and experience, my life is filled with gratitude. 

Expressing Gratitude

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 100. Here is what I learned.

Enter his gates with a song of thanksgiving. Come into his courtyards with a song of praise. Give thanks to him; praise his name. Psalm 100:4 (GW)

Go through His gates, giving thanks; walk through His courts, giving praise. Offer Him your gratitude and praise His holy name. Psalm 100:4 (VOICE)

"Be thankful unto him." Let the praise be in your heart as well as on your tongue, and let it all be for him to whom it all belongs. "And bless his name." He blessed you, bless him in return; bless his name, his character, his person. Whatever he does, be sure that you bless him for it: bless him when he takes away as well as when he gives; bless him as long as you live, under all circumstances; bless him in all his attributes, from whatever point of view you consider him. The Treasury of David

Thankful: feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative.

How do I express my thanks to Almighty God? 

1. In prayer. Tell God thank you. 
2. In my conversations. Let others know that I’m thankful for Who God is, and what He is doing.
3. In my life. Live a life pleasing to God. If I’m truly thankful to God, I’ll want my life to be honoring to Him. 
4. In my thoughts. What do I think of God? Remembering that my thoughts are words to God! 

Expressing gratitude to Almighty God will make each and every day a positive one!