Happy Happy Happy Thanksgiving! Friday Morning Prayer:)… Joy! November 24, 2016
November 24, 2016 - 6 minutes readSome thank the Lord for friends and home,
For mercies sure and sweet;
But I would praise Him for His grace –
In prayer I would repeat:
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.[1]
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”[2]
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Beloved,
Overflowing thanksgiving to the Glory of God! For me, and you too in Christ, a thankful heart for God’s mercy and grace that initiated regeneration, darkness to light! Thankful for a new life of ongoing transformation through the power of God indwelling! Joy! Outwardly fading, yet inwardly renewed day by day. Even our struggles, “…our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”[3] Therefore, prayerfully, grace through the gospel must be shared and realized by the many without Christ and cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God!
I’m thankful for our church fellowship, there the body of Christ is allocated time week after week to prayerfully express our thanks to our gracious God. To him be all glory! Indeed! “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”[4] Moreover, you, me, we as family in Christ, “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”[5]
Most of the Apostle Paul’s letters open with thanksgiving and prayer. To the church at Rome, “First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” Corinth, “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” Ephesus, “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Church at Philippi, I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…” Colosse, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints…”
As we follow the lead of Paul, we give thanks to God for his grace manifest through transformed lives. I am thankful for brothers and sisters who love me, pray, and encourage. Indeed a supernatural love is ever growing for all the saints when Jesus is indwelling. I pray for grace to love more, to daily put on the love that reflects Jesus in every context.
Moreover, how cool is our God who not only compels us to be thankful, but to pray with joy. It is a joy to know our gracious God and to rejoice over brothers and sisters who share, even partner in the gospel. Exciting! To hear about sisters and brothers persevering in Jesus is most rewarding to me! In fact, week after week I am thankful, excited, encouraged, and joyful when brothers and sisters meet together to pray! You too! May the joy of our Lord overflow as you fellowship on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays and always!
Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow,
Some for the stars that shine;
My heart is filled with joy and praise
Because I know He’s mine.
I trust in Him from day to day,
I prove His saving grace;
I’ll sing this song of praise to Him
Until I see His face.
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.
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Sisters are meeting to pray. First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
If you are in town and family demands are light, take an hour and join our sisters in Christ for a sweet hour of prayer. A time to be encouraged and enjoy fellowship with precious saints. Invite a friend and check it out! :)…
Brothers are meet too! Bethel Assembly. 1929 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0730.
A necessary post-Thanksgiving prayer time! If you are in town and can make it… join us for a time of encouragement and humble prayer. We pray for abundant grace to pray effectively before our Holy God. May we rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us and empower us to confidently ask, seek, and knock with many prayers and requests. You are invited!
Thankful for you in Christ,
Randall:)…
[1] http://hymnal.calvarybaptistsv.org/328.html
[2] 2 Corinthians 4:15
[3] Ibid. 4:16-17
[4] Psalm 7:17
[5] Ibid. 95:2
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