Sunday, November 30, 2014

Thanksgiving Reloaded (2014)

 
 
 
Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! (2 Corinthians 9:15)


Thanksgiving to me is giving thanks to God through giving. This post is the follow up to “Thanksgiving.” I want you to think about that—thankfulness and giving go hand-in-hand. How would you show thankfulness to God for all He has done and furthermore, how could others experience and witness this thankfulness? With that said, I now invite you Into My HEART...




There has been a verse that has spoken to me and continues to speak to me and draw me towards God, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV).

This verse more than ever seems appropriate for thanksgiving. Its essence and underlining truth is immersed in thanksgiving. A man who came to know Christ to be his all, responded in the only manner one can respond. He gave himself to Christ to live for Him. This mans’ complete sacrificial living was his thanksgiving offering. Through his thankfulness to the Son of God and what he did for him, he gave.
 I remember in 2009 when Jesus became everything to me. He was quite literally the most amazing thing to happen to me. God’s Word was absolutely captivating, and I was captivated by Him! As I steeped myself into His living Word one day unable to tear myself away from it, I began crying and I looked up to heaven and said, “Lord, am I to be Paul?” He answered me and said, “Yes.” I rejoiced in this and although this man Paul, lived a life that was marred by beatings, imprisonments, ship wrecks, poisoning, abandonment, ridicule, mockery, trials and near death experiences and ultimately his gruesome death, I was amazed at what God said. He said, Yes.

Surely, I am not worthy of such a life or to know the Lord in such intimate ways. Nevertheless, I look to the Lord Jesus, who is the Son of God, to lead me and build me up by His Spirit, into this man I must become—A man who was zealous for the Lord Jesus, and in awe of the Lord Jesus, and completely in love with His God, and his life proved it and was proof of it!

The greatest thanksgiving I can attest to as a thanksgiving offering, is to live a life that is evidence of my thankfulness to the Lord Jesus, who is the Christ, the Son of God, that I too can confidently say, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Amen.


I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. (Psalms 9:1)

1 comment:

  1. It’s been a whole year since I’ve posted this, and I rejoice, as it is true today as it was a year ago. What I desire most is to live for Jesus, and I know with a certainty, that while in this flesh although the Spirit of Christ is in me, I will battle at times and struggle other times. However, though I will strive against my flesh to know the Spirit more, when all is said and done, I will thrive in Christ forevermore. Amen.

    I love you Lord. You are my all.

    —Flavio.
    11/30/15

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