November 26, 2012

Thanks-Givingmas!

  

As we say goodbye to Thanksgiving and greet the Christmas season, I have been reminded of a common thread that ties the two together ... generosity. You see a heart of gratitude produces a spirit of generosity, and the season celebrating our Savior's birth is all about giving. That being said, generosity is at the heart of both of these holiday seasons. How clever of God to providentially cause America to celebrate Thanksgiving just a month prior to Christmas. The Lord knows that a grateful heart produces a generous one!

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 

I particularly love verse 8 which says, and God is able to make all grace abound to you ... so that having all sufficiency in all things ...

      

The word for grace in that verse is charis which means good will, loving-kindness, favor, of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

In this instance, I believe Paul is saying that God is able to influence our souls to the extent that as we pour out ourselves to others (as a result of His influence in our lives), we will desire to give graciously and He will be faithful to provide sufficiency for us in all things.

The word for sufficiency in verse 8 is autarkeiawhich means a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed, sufficiency of the necessities of life, contentment.

  

WOW! Isn't that amazing? The more we give, the more content we will be!! That's why I love the fact that Thanksgiving is before Christmas. God prepares our hearts to be grateful so we can be prepared to give generously during the season of "giving," and in turn He gives us all the provisions we need. And as if that isn't enough, He puts a big red bow called contentment on the very top of it! I love that!

I was reading a friend's blog recently and she gave testimony to this very idea. Read my sweet friend, Lorie's Blog and be encouraged by her story. (By the way, Lorie will be our keynote speaker at our Women's Retreat in Feb.)
You see it's true, even in the most difficult of times God wants us to give. Why? Because He gave His most magnificent gift to us in the most difficult of times - when we weren't loving Him or caring about Him or giving back to Him - He gave us His Son, Jesus!

Ask yourself the following questions ...

• Am I a "cheerful and generous" giver?
• What can I give this Christmas season that will cause me to trust God more fully to be my provider?
• Who has God placed on my heart to bless today?

So as you begin this wonderful season of Christmas, give! Give a smile, a hug, some cookies, a visit, a present, whatever! Just give! Give with a generous and grateful heart seasoned with God's grace and wrapped in His perfect love.

Blessings to you my sisters!

Jacqueline Heider

Women's Ministry 

November 19, 2012

A Thanksgiving Tree

As I've walked through the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge, I've found it easy to make my list of the things for which I am thankful - my husband, children, family, health, employment etc ... But what about those things that I don't like in my life? Those circumstances or people that bring about discontentment, disappointment or discouragement in my heart and attitude. How easy is it to be thankful for those?

Read Philippians 4:4-13

In Philippians 4, Paul speaks to this very thing when he exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord always and to pray with thanksgiving in everything. Paul also speaks of learning to be content whatever the circumstance. The word in the original Greek for learning in this verse is manthano, which means to learn by practicing.

Reflecting on these verses, I began a new list or rather "a tree".   Let me explain the tree. I recently ran across a blog post on creating a tree at Thanksgiving as a way to record and express thanks. (You can read about how to create this tree and download a template here!) 

So I created my tree. 

At first glance my tree doesn't look like much. It's almost colorless, dead, and bare of foliage or fruit. And often, that is how life can seem. But just as the colorful tags and ribbon transform the look of my tree, a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord changes my heart and attitude. Considering Paul's instructions I am to rejoice always, pray with thanksgiving and practice this over and over. What if every time I am tempted to be discontent, dissatisfied or discouraged, I turned that into a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord? How would this change my attitude and my demeanor? I decided to use my tree for this purpose. When something comes to mind that causes discontentment, discouragement or disappointment, I turn it into an opportunity to offer thanks. It changes my attitude and gives me new perspective and I experience the peace and joy that only God can provide.

Psalm 69:30 says we magnify God with our thanksgiving.

Psalm 50:23 says the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies God.

My sacrifice of thanksgiving not only changes my heart and attitude, but it brings glory to the Father!

What about you, are you discontent, disappointed or discouraged about something in your life right now? Why not turn it into a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord?

Rejoicing in Him!

Susan Cady

Women's Ministry Bible study Team

November 12, 2012

A Thankful Heart ... Great is Thy Faithfulness 

Last week we looked at Jesus as our redeemer -

the one who alone is able to pay the price for our sins. As we continue to declare our thankfulness to God this month for who He is, I was particularly struck this week by His attribute of Faithfulness. 

Read the verses below that speak of God as the faithful one and make a list of what you learn from these passages.

• Deuteronomy 7:9
• Revelation 19:11
• Lamentations 3:21-24
• 2 Timothy 2:13

Being faithful is to be absolutely firm in one's adherence to promises and commitments to another. 

In the above verses we see that God first declares Himself to be faithful. In Revelation we see that Jesus' name is "Faithful and True." In Lamentations we see that the Lord's faithfulness is great, it is never-ending and that because of His faithfulness we have hope. Finally, we see in Timothy that even we were are not faithful, God is!

The Hebrew word aman is the word used in the above Old Testament verses for the word faithful. It means to establish, uphold, confirm or support.

The Greek word for faithful in the above verses ispistos. It means worthy of trust, truth, fidelity, firmness in faith, worthy of belief, trust or confidence, worthy of credit, sure.

It is difficult to comprehend God's faithfulness in a world filled with unfaithfulness. We see promises broken in all areas of our lives. Often the promises we make or others make to us are not sure, stable, fixed and firm. But God's promises are sure! So when you do not see the faithfulness of others, remember there is one (The One) that can and will complete and fulfill all of His promises - His name is Jesus!

Now read the following verses and note some of the things God specifically promises He will be faithful to do for you.

• 1 Corinthians 1:9
• 1 Corinthians 10:13
• 1 Thessalonians 5:24
• 2 Thessalonians 3:3
• 1 John 1:9
• Philippians 1:6

Do you believe God to be faithful?

How have you seen God's faithfulness in your life this week?

If you are struggling with a situation right now, how can remembering that God is faithful bring you comfort or encouragement as you walk out the path He has chosen for you at this time?

One of  my favorite hymns is Great Is Thy Faithfulness. The words are a beautiful reminder of who God is!

Pause right now and thank God for the blessing of His faithfulness to you. Then focus your thoughts this week on the assurance of God's firm and steadfast promises.

Blessings,

Jacqueline Heider

Women's Ministry 

P.S.  I hope you are enjoying the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge

November 5, 2012

A Thankful Heart ... God our Redeemer 

November is traditionally known as a time for gratitude.  A time when we pause and thank God for the wonderful things He has done for us, and the many things He has so graciously given us. So, I thought for the next few weeks our WOW Weekly Moments could focus on thanking God for who He is and for all He has done.

I encourage you to take the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  You will be blessed!

I've been taking the challenge, and on day three Nancy suggests writing out your personal testimony of God's saving grace following the progression found in Psalm 107.  

The progression in Psalm 107 is:

• Distress
• Desperate cry for help 
• Deliverance

I thought I'd share my story with you today, and I encourage you to journal your story as doing so caused me to remember in a fresh way the depth of love and gratitude I have for Jesus.

Read Psalm 107:1-32.

Read my story of redemption 

So you know my story, now what about yours?

Do you have a story?  If so, I encourage you to write it down and share it.  

If you don't have a story ask yourself these questions:

• Have I accepted the free gift Jesus offers for eternal life?
• Perhaps you are like I was - a church-girl who new all the right answers but had never surrendered to her Lord?  Do it, my friend! ( Click here if you would like to know Jesus.)

Take time today to thank Jesus for His wonderful gift of salvation.  Praise Him for who He is - the One who redeemed you from the pit of sin and enabled you to walk forever with Him in peace and fullness of joy.  Psalm 16:11

Blessings,

Jacqueline Heider

Warren Baptist Church Women's Ministry