2020 - Looking Back
In Thankfulness
1. Give God Thanks
The year 2014 was a hard year for me. I had two hospital visits because of breathing problems and pneumonia. After viewing my lung x-ray the doctor told me that there were problems in my lungs which should heal over time. I wanted to take my focus off all the bad times of the year so I made a photo book to highlight all the good times. As we look back on 2020 we will most likely remember all the bad times, but I want to spend the next two weeks in thankfulness. Between now and Thanksgiving let's take our eyes off all the negative things about this year and thank our blessed Lord and Savior for the good things!
2. I Thank The Lord For The Great Physician
It has been over a year now since I stopped taking the asthma medications, and although I still have a few problems when the weather changes, I am thankful to the Lord for healing. This year has been a time of rest and healing for me. When Jesus walked on the earth He healed the sick. "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them." (Luke 4:40) He is the Great Physician and His power is not limited. We don't know why some recover from sickness and others pass on, but we can trust the Lord to do what is best because He is omniscient, all-knowing. Right now the world is hurting and the nations need healing. Jesus has this in His power also. "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 22:2) "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4) I am thankful that He is the Great Physician.
3. I Am Thankful That God Is The King Of Kings
I just finished reading the book of Revelation. I don't know how this month will end, or this year, but I do know how time will end. God has given us a glimpse in His Word. And I do know that the God I serve is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." This year has been a time of unrest and trouble across the world and it doesn't seem to be over yet. But we know the Ruler of it all and no matter who is elected to office, our God is still in control. I am thankful for this assurance. I put my trust in Jesus and I know I will live with Him for eternity, so I don't have to worry about what is going to happen between now and then.
4. I Am Thankful For The Alpha And Omega
I believe the Bible, from the first to the last. Genesis begins, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Four times in the last book of the Bible the Lord tells us He is the Alpha and Omega. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8) Today I am thankful that my God is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end! If we know God was in the beginning and created all things, which we do... and we know that He will be there until the end to take care of all things... which we know... why should we worry about the middle? I want to share John 13:1-5, just before Jesus gave His life on the cross.
"1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."
Verse 3 tells us that Jesus knew "that he was come from God, and went to God;" so He was willing to be a servant to the disciples. In knowing that He came from God and went to God, Jesus was willing to leave His heavenly home to come to earth as a man, and suffer, and die so that we might live. I am thankful that God is the beginning and the end, and everything in between. We don't have to worry about how this year will end, or how the virus will end, or how the election will end. I like how Paul put it in Romans 14:8. "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." Also in Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Jesus is our beginning and our end, so let's serve Him in the middle, until He calls us home.
5. I Am Thankful That All Things Work Together...
Pastor Tripp had a very encouraging sermon on Sunday on "Don't Lose Heart." His opening text was II Corinthians 4:8-18. He began with verse 16, "we faint not." "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (II Corinthians 4:8, 9 & 16) During these times of trouble I am thankful that God gives us the strength to rise above our troubles, as we are "renewed day by day." Every morning we are given new strength to make it through the new day., "... as thy days, so shall thy strength be." (Deut 33:25) He closed the message with the familiar scripture from Romans 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Everything we face in life has a meaning and purpose. God is working all these things together for our good. Let's keep trusting in Him.
6. I Am Thankful That God Supplies All My Needs
Right after the first of the year our lives changed. Michael would go to the grocery store early in the morning, and as he brought the bags into the house, I would wipe everything down. There were several things that he could not find at the store. Toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and even soap were hard to find. There were some foods that were not available. And though we came close, we never ran out of any necessary items. And through it all, we had food on our table. I made a trip to the grocery store this week and there are still a few empty shelves throughout the store. I was happy to buy my turkey and cranberry sauce, and I am ready to celebrate next week in giving Him thanks! I am thankful that God supplies all my needs. He has been so good to me and has never let me down. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
7. I Am Thankful For Handfuls Of Purpose
The book of Ruth is a beautiful story. Ruth goes back to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law after their husbands die in the land of Moab. She wants to take care of Naomi and goes to glean, gather up the left-overs left behind, in the fields to get them food. The owner of the field, Boaz, told his workers to drop "handfuls of purpose" for her. "And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley." (Ruth 2:16-17) I want to share one of my own "handfuls of purpose" that God blessed me with. Last winter a man at church told me that his daughter used to knit scarves, but she was sorting out her craft room and wanted to know if I wanted some of the yarn she had. In a week or so he brought me bags and bags of yarn in beautiful colors and textures. Then the "stay-home" orders came regarding Covid-19 and I started learning to knit scarves and hats. I worked on them while watching television and it kept me busy for several months. There are so many I decided to give them away for Christmas, and I let the children and young people I know make snowmen to display them. (You can see a few of them in the photo.) I can see three "handfuls of purpose" in my story. Tammy shared the yarn that she no longer needed and was able to use that space for something else. Knitting kept me from going stir-crazy during a time when there wasn't much else to do. And last of all, I have many scarves to pass on to the ladies at church and hats for my grandchildren. Can you look back over your life for times when God blessed you with "handfuls of purpose"? Don't forget to thank Him, and use the blessings to pass on to others. Look around and see if there is anything you no longer need that you can pass along to others to share a blessing.
8. I Am Thankful For The Gift Of God
Gift giving has been different this year. When Madison turned four we stood in the cold, on the lawn while she opened her birthday presents in the doorway. The grandchildren missed having birthday parties, but we did what we could to give them their gifts. Today I am thankful for the gift of God. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (II Corinthians 9:15) Jesus went to great lengths to give us the greatest gift ever given. He left His heavenly home and came to be born in a stable, to live, and die for me and you. He gave the ultimate sacrifice to pay for my sin, so that I could be free from sin and receive salvation. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) We may not be able to give the gifts of love to others or be there for our loved ones as we have in past years, but the gift of God's love is always available to whosoever will confess their sin and believe on Him. There is not a virus or any other thing that can keep you away from the love of Christ.
"35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)
9. I Am Thankful For Prayer
Late Friday night my son, Joshua, sent me a message that his Covid test came back positive. My first thought was, "What can I do for him and Michelle?" When I talked with him on the phone he assured me that he was okay and asked that we pray that Michelle doesn't get it. So many problems arise in our lives that make us feel helpless. But, even in situations like this, we can pray. We can talk to the One who can do something. And when the tears get in the way and we don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26) There are many scriptures that assure us the Lord hears and answers our prayers. "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." (Pslam 34:17) And with our prayer, we need to always be thankful. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6) "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;" (Colossians 4:2) I am thankful that the Lord hears and answers our prayers and I am thankful for each person who is praying for our family during this trying time.
10. I Am Thankful For Church
My Mom and Dad started taking me to church right after I was born, and they continued, every Sunday and every Wednesday evening. I was married in church, and Michael and I continued, taking our five children with us. There have been times when I didn't really feel like going, but I went anyway and I felt better after the service, better spiritually, mentally, and physically, as my burdens were lifted by God's grace. I have heard some great preaching and teaching over the years from many of the Lord's faithful servants. The songs call us to worship, and the prayers invite the Lord to hear and answer our needs. I have so many friends that I go to church with now, and have so many more friends in my life, that I went to church with down through the years. Pastor Jack Tripp has been preaching some encouraging sermons during this trying year and I am thankful. Thankful that the Lord has given us this means of growing in His Word. I am thankful for the fellowship we have and how we love one another and lift up each other in prayer. I share with you today this prayer of the Apostle Paul for the church.
"14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21)
11. I Am Thankful For All The Workers
To keep things going in our world we need all types of workers. When I thought about what I was thankful for today, I thought of all the workers who have kept going during this long hard year. I am thankful for the medical professionals who put their lives and their families at risk. I am thankful for the truck drivers who have continued to drive across the country even though they couldn't find food places open to them at times. I am thankful for the teachers who have learned new ways to teach their students from a distance. I am thankful for the hair dressers and other professionals who had their businesses closed for a large portion of the year. I am thankful for the delivery drivers who are stepping up to keep up with these troublesome times. I am thankful for the Pastors who have had to make some hard decisions and weigh the safety of their members. I am thankful for the first responders who put their lives on the line day after day. I could go on and on and never get it all said, or include all the important people across our land. God gives us all different talents and wisdom for the job He calls us to do, and I have often admired those who follow that calling from the Lord. Thank you!
King David gave Solomon a charge to build the temple, and he told him that he had prepared all the supplies, and then he told him there were workers in abundance. Let's accept his challenge, "be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed... Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee."
"11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.
15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee." (I Chronicles 22:11-16)
12. I Am Thankful That Nobody Can Take Away Our Thanksgiving
Try as they may, nobody can take away our Thanksgiving. Even if Michael and I have to eat the whole turkey by ourselves, we are going to have Thanksgiving. If the shelves had been empty and we didn't have a turkey, we would still be thankful. Even though 2020 has been a difficult year, we still have much to be thankful for! On Sunday Pastor Tripp spoke on three people in the book of Luke and how they showed their thanks to the Lord. The first example was the one, who was cleansed with ten lepers, and he alone went back to give thanks to Jesus. He gave thanks by his worship.
"15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" (Luke 17:15-17)
Our next example gave thanks by his walk. He once was blind, but Jesus healed him and he followed Jesus.
"And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God." (Luke 18:42-43) Our last example gave thanks in witnessing to others. "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him." (Luke 8:39) These are all ways that we can express our thanks to the Lord. We can worship the Lord, walk with the Lord, and be witnesses for the Lord.
13. I Am Thankful That Nobody Can Take Away Our Joy
Happy Thanksgiving! Have you said that to someone today? Has anyone told you to have a Happy Thanksgiving? You may not be as happy today as you have in the years before. There are many empty chairs at our home this year, and there may be empty chairs around your table. You may have lost some close family members or friends and they will be missed, not only today, but for months and years to come. You may be suffering through a time of need, physically, financially, even mentally, and it is hard to smile through it all. But, when the Lord Jesus saved us, He gave us the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, and nobody can take away the joy we have deep inside. We may shed tears today, as we miss those who can't be with us, but the Lord can restore our joy. "... in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5) You may be weak, but God's Word tells us in Nehemiah 8:10, "the joy of the LORD is your strength." My Thanksgiving prayer for you today is Romans 15:13, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
14. I Am Thankful That Nobody Can Take Away Christmas
When we read recently that some politicians were saying that we will not have Christmas this year, Michael told me that three had tried to take away Christmas. Satan and Herod failed to stop Christ from coming. And Dr. Seuss spun a tall tale, "How The Grinch Stole Christmas", in 1957 about the Grinch who had tried to stop Christmas from coming by taking away all the gifts, food, and decorations.
"Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!...
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”
I am thankful that nobody can take away Christmas. We will celebrate Christmas, just as we celebrated Thanksgiving. Nobody can take away our celebration of our Savior!
"8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:8-14)
15. I Am Thankful That I Know God And That He Knows Me
When I tried to think of the most important thing I am thankful for, to finish these devotionals, it was not a hard decision. I am thankful that I know God, and more importantly, that He knows me. I could have all the wealth that the world has to offer but if I didn't know Jesus as my Savior I would leave it all behind when I die. If I were famous and everyone recognized me, that would mean nothing if I didn't know the Lord. If I were so smart I could invent wonderful inventions, or run large corporations, but didn't have the wisdom of God, it would not lead me in the right way that I should go. I am thankful that as a child, God spoke to my heart and showed me I was lost, and I told Him I was sorry and asked Jesus to save me. That was the most important day of my life, and it changed the direction I would take in life. It means even more to me that Jesus knows me. "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." (Nahum 1:7) "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19) We have this promise from Jesus, our Good Shepherd. "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." (John 10:14)
