January 12, 2014

This is the lesson based on David Jeremiah's book Growing in the Grace of Gratitude.

 

Gratitude

From the book Growing in the Grace of Gratitude

by David Jeremiah

Gratitude is the manifestation of the presence of God himself in a person, an appreciation for every season and situation as having a purpose in God’s plan. -- David Jeremiah

We all want more for less and often forget to be grateful for what we have. We live in an entitlement culture, thinking that we are entitled to everything we need and most of what we want. And it’s possible for Christians to be affected with this disease of ungratefulness. (page 10)

Any thoughts on that?

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- Ephesians 5:20

  

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening, -- Psalm 92:1-2 (NLT)

At midnight I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws -- Psalm 119:62

  

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

　

Our circumstances in life have nothing to do with the gratitude we express. If we are going to give thanks in all things, then we are to give thanks in difficult circumstances as well as in pleasant ones. (page 11) Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

* We should be grateful for the people in our lives.

* We should be grateful for our Salvation and for the Salvation of those around us.

* We should be grateful for Christian conviction that tells us the truth even when it isn’t what we want to hear.

* We should be grateful for Christian compassion and the love we have for one another.

* We should be grateful for problems.

* We should be grateful for problems that aren’t worse than they are.

* We should be grateful that problems are God’s way of teaching us.

* We should be grateful that problems make God’s love real to us.

As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? -- Luke 17:12-17

There is a difference between being grateful in general and being grateful to God specifically. Any thoughts on that? (page 20) Think about it this way: If a friend gives you a gift, you’re going to thank him. But do you thank God?

Often gratitude is all about perspective. I’m going to read something to you. (page 23-24) Jeremiah included it in this study book but the writer is anonymous.

"Lord, thank You for this sink of dirty dishes. We do have good food to eat. Thank You for this pile of dirty laundry. We do have nice clothes to wear. I'd like to thank You for these unmade beds. They sure were comfortable last night. My thanks for this bathroom, complete with spattered mirrors, soggy towels, and grimy lavatory. It's still very convenient. Thank You for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly. It has served us faithfully for a long ti...me. And inside are cool drinks and enough leftovers for another meal. Thank You for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today. It has baked us many good things over the years. O God, our whole family is thankful for the tall grass that needs mowing. We all enjoy our private yard. Thank You for the slamming screen door. The children are healthy and able to run and play. Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says that You have richly blessed this family. I do them all cheerfully and gratefully." -- author unknown

If we look closely we will usually find that behind ever difficulty is a blessing from God, Jeremiah writes. Do you agree? Disagree?

Jeremiah tells a story about Thomas Edison. In December 1914, Edison’s great laboratories in West Orange, New Jersey, were almost completely destroyed in a fire. In one night Edison lost two million dollars worth of equipment and the record of much of his life’s work. . . . The next morning, walking around among the charred embers of so many of his hopes and dreams, the sixty-seven year old Thomas Edison said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up, and we get to start over again.” (page 30)

In the Bible, we only have to look to the Apostle Paul for an example of living with gratitude. The letters of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are called “the prison epistles” because Paul write them while incarcerated by the Romans.

　

　

　

　

　

In those letters Paul wrote such things as Ephesians 5:18:21 which says:
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. -- Colossians 3:15

Are you thankful when you pray? Or are your prayers filled with worship and gratitude to God?

Jeremiah says that many prayers are disguised statements of discontent, of ingratitude. (page 41)

That may be so. Maybe we really don’t take time to consider all that God does for us. So I put up a Gratitude Tree. Let’s fill it with things that we are grateful to God for.

January 6, 2014

This is another wonderful devotional from David Jeremiah.

A New Year to Embrace Change

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:8

Recommended Reading Jeremiah 29:11

A lot of us need a change of pace this year; but what we're really having trouble with is the pace of change. All change -- even the good -- is hard. It involves adjustment, moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from the settled past into the unknown future. As Anatole France said, "All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another."

We can embrace change by knowing we serve an unchanging God. At the beginning of this new year, we confess with Joshua: "We have never been this way before." But our faithful, changeless Lord will show us the way to go, guide us at every juncture, bless us at every step, and provide goodness and mercy every day of our lives.

Let's not dig in our heels and cling to the past. Heed the words God gave to Joshua: "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you .... As I was with Moses, so I will be with you" (Joshua 3:5, 7).

Everyone is in favor of progress; it's change they don't like.
In The Mentor

December 30, 2013

The following is the David Jeremiah post from today. If you haven't already signed up to get his e-mail devotionals sent to you each day, I surely recommend it.

The Detour Is the Route

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret....
Psalm 37:7

Recommended Reading Psalm 37:1-8

If life is a highway, most of us are racing down the interstate, hitting the breaks in the congestion, overheating our engines, and running out of gas. Well, take a detour for a moment and read Psalm 37:7. Think of this verse as a winding mountain road with relaxed speeds, glorious overlooks, and scant traffic. Now consider: This detour is the quickest way to the destination. We can accomplish so much more when we're relaxed as we trust the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

Resting in the Lord means recognizing He's in control. Your problems are His concern, and His promises are your inheritance. You may have reasons to worry, but you have better reasons not to. The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms, and the Lord knows your needs before you even ask. He will take care of you.

Resting in the Lord is the exact opposite of the spirit of our age. But who wants the spirit of this age anyway? Let the Spirit of God fill you with all joy and peace as you rest in the Lord.

November 11, 2013

This comes from David Jeremiah's daily devotionals.

 

Knowing the God We Worship
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: ... "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him."
Exodus 15:1-2

Recommended Reading Ezra 3:10-13

Many people come to know Christ personally after having attended church for many years. And they often give testimony to experiencing a different kind of worship after becoming a Christian. Before being saved, they were singing worship songs about God; after being saved, they were singing to God. It boils down to the difference between knowing about God and knowing God Himself.
After Moses led the Hebrew slaves across the floor of the Red Sea, out of the reach of the Egyptian army, he led them in a song of worship to the God who had just delivered them from death. For understandable reasons, their song was sung in personal terms: "The LORD is my strength ... my salvation; He is my God" (Exodus 15:2, italics added). Up until this point, they had learned about God through the plagues on Egypt. But their knowledge had suddenly become personal!

People who know the works of God in their own lives are the ones who worship with the most meaning. The next time you are involved in worship, consider what God has done for you personally.

If worship does not change us it has not been worship.
Richard J. Foster

Saturday, September 21, 2013

This is from David Jeremiah this morning. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Fall Favorites: Fellowship

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8

Recommended Reading Romans 13:8-11

Sam Rayburn served nearly a half-century in the U.S. House of Representatives and became one of the most powerful men in the world, but he never outgrew his friends. One night, a friend's daughter passed away. Early the next morning the man heard a knock on his door, and when he opened it, Mr. Rayburn stood outside. "I just came by to see what I could do to help," said Rayburn. The man said nothing could be done.

"Well," Mr. Rayburn said, "have you had your coffee this morning?" While Rayburn was working in the kitchen, the man came in and said, "Mr. Speaker, I thought you were supposed to be having breakfast at the White House this morning."

"Well, I was," Rayburn said, "but I called the President and told him I had a friend who was in trouble, and I couldn't come."

Sometime during this fall season someone will need your support and fellowship. A friend in trouble is the most important person in the world; and fellowship is the funnel through which our love flows to others. Do you have a friend in need today?

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
John Fawcett

Friday, May 10, 2013

This devotional is from David Jeremiah. I read it yesterday and thought it was just so powerful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

 

The Eternal Kingdom Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Hebrews 12:28

Recommended Reading Psalm 46

The world and the people around us change every day. Just as Christ foretold, we are hearing about wars and rumors of wars; but we do not need to be afraid.
God has promised that His kingdom will never be shaken. His words are true. It's hard to imagine a world without conflict and change. Only God can promise us an unshakeable kingdom because He is unshakeable. No one can stand in the way of God. His divine kingdom is unique because it will never be conquered or divided.

Embrace this promise and trust in the One making the promise. He is our refuge and strength. We are secure in Him and will not be moved.

God doesn't make suggestions. He speaks with the full determination to see that what He has said will come to fruition.
Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby

Monday, September 3, 2012

Let God Encourage You

But David found strength in the LORD his God.

-- 1 Samuel 30:6b

David understood what it was like to be alone, without support, without anyone in his corner. What he did in that moment is a lesson to us all. David turned to God and so should we.

Let’s take a look at David’s life so we can truly understand what he faced. King Saul was trying to kill David so David had fled for his life. He had a band of 400 ragtag warriors. They’d gone to offer their services to the Philistines and had returned to Ziklag only to find that the town had been destroyed by the Amalekites, who also had taken all their wives and children.

As is usually the case when things go wrong, somebody was going to get blamed. And that person was David. In fact, his warriors were talking about stoning him to death. This is the point where David turned to God for strength. Can you relate? Do you know how it feels to have the world turn on you, whether it’s justified or not?

“Life had reduced his options to one,” David Jeremiah writes in his book The Joy of Encouragement. “Sooner or later, life does that to all of us.”

Yes, it does. How you handle that moment will determine whether you continue to follow God or whether you give Satan a foothold in your life.

Jeremiah gives some pretty basic advice on what to do when you’re all alone and need encouragement. First, spend time alone with God. Turn off the television, get the earplugs out of your ears and power off your computer. Close the door. Go for a walk. Get somewhere by yourself so that in the stillness you can hear God’s voice.

Second, turn to the Bible. It’s the best life manual you’ll ever own. Make sure that you get a translation you can easily understand and then read it. Jeremiah notes that sometimes it seems we’re more interested in reading a book about the Bible than we are in actually reading the Bible. So start reading.

Where do you look in the Bible for encouragement? Look to the psalms of David. Try Psalm 27:1. Or Psalm 34:4. Consider Psalm 46:1-3. And, again, listen to God. He will lead you to what you need, when you need it.

Lastly, Jeremiah suggests music. It’s such a simple suggestion. And one I’ve used numerous times without ever really thinking about it. When I’m hurting or discouraged, I seek out music that will inspire me and remind me of God’s love.

We can remember that God is with us, walking beside us, or we can blindly lose hope. We can hold on to what we know or we can believe the naysayers all around us. We can build ourselves up or allow Satan -- by using our minds and other people -- to tear us down. Our lives are full of choices. Which choice will you make?

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Encourage Those Around You

Therefore, encourage each other with these words.

-- 1 Thessalonians 4:18

Everyone needs encouragement sometimes. Everyone. The Bible tells us to provide it. To build people up, not tear them down. To encourage and inspire and renew those who are feeling lost, alone, discouraged, without hope.

In his book The Joy of Encouragement, David Jeremiah refers to this as friend therapy. Your words of encouragement could make a person’s day -- or his life. Sometimes all it takes is one word, one touch, and suddenly everything seems right again.

So how do you encourage people? Jeremiah offers four tips that simply make sense. Encouragement doesn’t have to be the grand gesture. In fact, true encouragement happens in the small moments of a day.

First, give someone your focused attention. Don’t answer your cell phone. Don’t respond to a text. Don’t look around at everything and everyone but the person who needs you. Give them your undivided attention and let them know that they’re worth your time. And if you can’t do that, well, where are your priorities?

Second, encourage people through words. But only, as Jeremiah pointed out, after you’ve let them know you care. “Sometimes we open our mouths before we open our hearts, and people can tell the difference,” he says. Probably we’ve all had someone tell us exactly what we need to do, or respond, or behave, without that person ever taking the time to hear us or even try to understand our pain and despair.

Third, encourage people through notes and letters. I’m old-fashioned enough (and a writer!) to think it’s great to actually send a card in the mail. Write a sentence or two of encouragement, put a stamp of it, and send it in the mail. It‘s something physical for the other person to hold and cherish. E-mail is fine for those of you who only use your computer. Just choose your words carefully. So often we’re in a hurry and we really don’t think before we hit “enter.“ Your words will likely have a lasting impact on the other person, whether you ever know it or not.

Fourth, use the power of touch to encourage people. Now let me stress that we have to be careful and sensitive to inappropriate touch. Jeremiah’s not talking about that and neither am I. But there’s something special about a warm hug when you’re feeling all alone or a gentle arm squeeze when life has just kicked you down. It’s a human connection that we all so desperately need.

“When we see people who are discouraged, saddened by the hardships of life, or simply tired of the Christian path of obedience, we need to come alongside and give them a spiritual jump start,” Jeremiah says. True words. True words.