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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Thanksgiving (04/18/05)
Once a year people celebrate Thanksgiving Day. They even hold parades to honor it. Special foods are sold and eaten. One spring day, a long time before that day, a group of people starting discussing a “giving thanks” day. Each was challenged to write down 50 things they were thankful for. They were told not to forget to include things they were thankful for which they did not have or experience. Here are some of the things people shared.

Jim – I’m thankful for Jesus dying on the cross and forgiving me of my sins to
allow me to gain eternal life.
Sue – I’m thankful I have a job that helps pay the bills, works with good people,
and gives me a strong self-esteem.
Dan – I’m thankful for a loving family and caring friends.
Mel – I’m thankful for food to eat, a place to sleep, and many other blessings.
Bob – Being a foot doctor, I’m very thankful for healthy feet and toes that allow
me to balance as I stand, walk or run. It often gets taken for granted.

Barb – I thank God for having good health and being able to help others.
Jack – I thank God for epilepsy that gives me an opportunity to witness to others
having it, for His sake. It has strengthened my faith, despite difficult
times.
Mary - I thank God for healing me of cancer and using me to comfort others.
Rory - I thank God for being with me even when I take Him for granted due to
busyness or hurry-sickness.
Greg – I thank God for helping me to be content with what I do have and being
willing to not complain for what I don’t have. It could be worse.

May – I’m thankful for sight so I can enjoy the beauty of His Creation.
Roy – I’m thankful for Him watching out for me as I sleep, as I go through the
day, as well as every breath he blesses me with that I take for granted.
Meg – I’m thankful for His answering prayer and direction from His Word.
Ken - I’m thankful for His love, grace and mercy despite myself.

You – Giving thanks should be a 365 day/year, 24/7 experience and not just
happen 1 day of the year because they calendar says so. Are you
thankful for the time He has given you? If so, why not discipline
yourself to make a list with time He gave you and realize how much
that really is? Start with a prayer asking Him to open your eyes to
them. Then give Him THANKSGIVING. Review it daily and watch
yourself grow spiritually.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10, NIV)

“Give thanks in all circumstances.” (l Thessalonians 5:18, NIV)
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This article has been read 926 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Carol Dee Meeks
04/26/05
For sure all good reasons to give thanks. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, for with life in such a hurry, we forget to be thankful for these many things.
Paulette Johnson
04/26/05
Great article.
donna robinson
04/28/05
The last verse mentioned here is truly the one most of us struggle with. It's hard to be thankful you are in pain! But maybe if we do as this article says, practice daily to be thankful for even the small things, when the big things come, we will be prepared to deal with a thankful heart we have God to help us through it.
Val Clark
04/30/05
A great list to remind us what to be thankful for and presented in an interesting way. I felt you could have been gentler with the reader at the end. The 'you' is very abrupt and 'You – Giving thanks should be a 365 day/year, 24/7 experience and not just happen 1 day of the year because they calendar says so' gives me the impression that you are assuming everybody who reads this article is ungrateful. Typo there as well. Baby steps, huh? Keep walking and writing.