The 5W’s of Thanksgiving

As the month of November comes to a close I wanted to share my 5W’s of Thanksgiving. Enjoy and remember to be thankful each and every day for all your blessings.

Who should be thankful?

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Psalm 18:49

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.  Psalm 30:12

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalm 95:2

What should we be thankful for?

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. II Corinthians 9:15

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; I Thessalonians 1:2

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psalm 30:4

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalm 26:7

When should I be thankful?

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18

And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; I Chronicles 23:30

Where should we be thankful?

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Psalm 18:49

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. I Chronicles 16:8

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. Psalm 35:18

Why should I be thankful?

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. I Chronicles 16:34

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

Have a blessed day,
Donna

To thank and praise

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: I Chronicles 16:4

Every time I read this verse I smile. Imagine being appointed to a job where you thank and praise God. All day, every day thanking and praising God.

Well that is our job, how are you doing at it? I know I fail miserably but the God of many chances gently reminds me.

Each day is an opportunity to thank God. Thank Him for all He has done.

Here are just a few verses to get you started:

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:20

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. II Corinthians 9:15

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. Psalm 35:28

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Psalm 68:19

Get the point? Let’s praise and thank God.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Two mites

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. [42] And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. [43] And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: [44] For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Mark 12:41-44

During Holy Week Jesus was at the temple observing the people. He watched as people placed money into the treasury. The rich men contributed large sums.

I always chuckle when I hear of some big name music or movie star donating $100,000 to a foundation. Everyone ooohs and aaahs because of the amount, but if you look at what they make per movie or song it is just a “drop in the bucket”. It would be like a common man making $50,000 a year and giving $5.00 to a worthy cause and making sure everyone knew about it.

Basically this is what the rich men were doing. Giving of their abundance or their discretionary income (the left over money after all necessities were paid for). They made sure they had plenty left over for themselves.

Following the men was a poor widow. Widows in Bible times had nothing. There were no government programs to help poor people. Whatever she had was from working a job, which was not common in those times, or someone in her family gave her some money for the bare necessities. Wherever she got her money does not matter. What matters is how she used it.

Two mites, is all she had. A mite was the smallest of all Jewish coins. It was not only small in size but also in worth. Two mites were all the widow had. She probably did not know where her next meal was coming from, but she knew what she had to do and she did it. This poor widow’s priorities were right. God was first in her heart and she showed it by being a willing giver.

Time and money are usually the items that most of us waste. The poor widow was using her time and money to give glory to God.

What are our priorities? How do we spend our money? Where do we spend our time?

Meditate and pray asking God to show you what He would have you to do with your time and money.

I will leave you with a few verses from God’s word to ponder:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:21

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16

Have a blessed day,
Donna

What should we give thanks for?

Unspeakable gift
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. - II Corinthians 9:15

Victory in Christ
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - I Corinthians 15:57

Our inheritance
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: - Colossians 1:12

God’s Peace
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. - Colossians 3:15

Others
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, - Philippians 1:3

Everything
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18


Be thankful,
Donna