Every Day is Thanksgiving

By Mark McCrary

Gratitude often seems in short supply in a culture saturated with discontent. Our lives are filled with distractions, from consumerism to the 24-hour news cycle, all feeding a sense of dissatisfaction. 

Yet, Scripture calls us to rise above this discontent, urging a posture of thanksgiving as a transformative discipline. Philippians 4:6 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Similarly, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Gratitude is not just a suggestion but central to a life lived in trust and relationship with God.

Imagine living in a world where thankfulness is the norm, not the exception—a world where gratitude transforms every day into Thanksgiving.

 The Thankful Leper

Luke’s account of Jesus and the ten lepers (Lk. 17:11-19) offers profound insight into the nature of gratitude. These ten men, ostracized by society due to their disease, cried out to Jesus for mercy. Their condition was desperate, marked by physical suffering, isolation, and hopelessness. In response, Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests according to the law (Leviticus 14:2-32).

The lepers obeyed Jesus before experiencing healing. As they went, they were cleansed. Yet only one—a Samaritan, doubly an outcast as a leper and foreigner—returned to thank Jesus. Falling at His feet, he praised God in gratitude. Jesus marveled, noting that only this one— the least expected— had returned to give thanks. 

 Four Truths About Thankfulness

From this story, first notice that thankfulness is an expression of faith—these men turned to Christ for healing. Faith is trust in God. Gratitude reflects a heart that acknowledges and honors God for His goodness (1 Peter 1:7). Recognizing our blessings motivates us to walk faithfully. Conversely, a complaining spirit often reveals a lack of trust in God’s provision.

Thankfulness also reminds us of God’s goodness—the man healed appreciated what was done for him. Gratitude shifts our focus from scarcity to abundance, highlighting God’s provision (James 1:17).  By choosing to reflect on God’s blessings, we cultivate a heart that is attuned to His faithfulness.

Importantly, thankfulness provides perspective in trials. When healed, the leper clearly saw the difference in his life. Life’s challenges often tempt us to despair, but thankfulness offers a different lens. Even when life is hard, all people can hold to the fact God loves them (John 3:16), and his children can have joy in the fact that Jesus is with them in all struggles, working what is ultimately good for them (Romans 8:28-39).

Finally, thankfulness brings peace. Anxiety often stems from focusing on what we cannot control. Philippians 4:6-7 offers the antidote: be thankful. As we present our concerns to God with thanksgiving, His peace guards our hearts and minds, grounding us in His provision.

All these being true, how can we start living as if every day were Thanksgiving?

 Four Ways to Cultivate Thankfulness

Let’s start with this: take time to embrace your blessings. Many of us grew up with the song, “Count Your Blessings.” What a message for us all! Thankfulness requires intentional reflection on the good God has done, does and will do in our lives (James 1:17). How often do we overlook these gifts? Slow down and consider God’s kindness, as encouraged in passages like Psalm 103:2, which urges us to “forget not all His benefits.”

Then, let’s embrace joy. A thankful heart is a joyful heart, anchored not in outward circumstances but in eternal truths. Paul’s words in Philippians 4:8 call us to focus on whatever is true, honorable, and praiseworthy. Similarly, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 reminds us to fix our eyes on what is unseen, finding hope even in affliction. Yes, there are hardships, Paul reminds us, but something better is waiting for us! Hold on to that every day!

This brings us to a needed practice— embrace humility. One of the number one phrases I hear (and have muttered myself…) when trials hit is, “Why me?” Do we think so highly of ourselves that we think we are immune to problems? That all must be well in our lives? The greats in scripture always dealt with struggles, yet so often expressed thanks! So must we! Pride and self-centeredness are enemies of gratitude. Philippians 2:5-8 reminds us, we are called to emulate Christ’s humility, focusing on serving others rather than ourselves.

Let’s wrap this up with one more: Embrace service. Gratitude is magnified when we turn outward, serving others in love. Galatians 6:10 exhorts us to “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” When we meet the needs of others, we are reminded of God’s generosity toward us, shifting our focus from our problems to His purposes.

 Conclusion

The story of the ten lepers challenges us to consider whether we, like the Samaritan, will return to thank Jesus for His blessings. Let’s move thankfulness from momentary expression to daily practice.  As we do so, we will find peace, joy, and a deeper awareness of God’s blessings in every circumstance.

Born to Stand Out - Part 1

By Tom Rose

In many churches today, we hear a message that fits our modern sensibilities. God loves people unconditionally and wants them to be all they want to be. Personal ambition, personal fulfillment, personal gratification – these have all become part of the lexicon of evangelical Christianity – and the essence of what it means to have a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Christians in the first century were different. Truth be known, the gospel is not simply an invitation to become Christ’s friend, associate in battle, or companion on the journey. The Bible includes an unmistakable mandate to become His righteous servant. To gain some insight and understanding of how God portrays such a person, take a moment to read Psalm 1:1-6. Some scholars refer to its mere 128 words as the wisdom psalm – effectively introducing the entire Book of Psalms. Its theme is as big as the whole Bible because it tells of people, paths, and ultimate destinations. Using two elements of contrast, this psalm separates all people into their respective spiritual categories – the Godly and the Ungodly. This psalm is wholly about man – with every verse making reference to him and his ways. By observing the conduct of men, God pictures the Godly (vs. 1-3) and the Ungodly (v. 4), then from the fruits of their lifestyles they are judged either to prosper or perish (vs. 5-6).

In the beginning verses it seems a righteous life is composed of both doing and not doing. Given three negative examples (v. 1), the righteous: walks not, stands not, and sits not in the way of the ungodly. Rather, the righteous delight in God’s law and meditate on it, centering their life on God’s Word and His will (v. 2). Verses 3 and 4 describe the consequences of taking two different paths in life. The godly are illustrated as a tree living in harmony with nature, producing seasonal fruits, and remaining hearty and ever prospering regardless of conditions. The writer contrasts this scene using only five, powerful words exclaiming, “The ungodly are not so!” The unrighteous are pictured as unprofitable chaff. Verse 5 announces that the ungodly are found guilty by God and cast out.

Upon closer examination one finds this psalm explains what it means to be “blessed” by God. [It should be noted that this word in the Hebrew language really means “blessednesses,” and is always plural. There never was a singular form of the word because there was no such thing as a single blessing from God!] Verse 3 shows the righteous defy the wind (a metaphor for adversity) because their “leaf shall not wither,” while verse 4 shows the unrighteous are driven away by the same wind. Additionally, the righteous know God (v. 2) and are known by Him (v. 6). This suggests the life of the Christian is regulated by the Lord through a knowledge of His Law. The child of God also takes comfort in that the Lord knows the way of the righteous. Hence, the faithful believers have a complete sense of who they are and who God is.

(Next week: The condition of being Godly will be illustrated by the example of an early Christian, and some conclusions will be drawn for everyone to consider.)

The Hope of Spring

By Mark McCrary

Spring is a time of renewal.  After a dark and cold winter, life begins to emerge once more.  Warmth returns, trees blossom, and flowers bloom.  Along the journey of our lives, there are moments that echo the vibrant glories of spring.  Just as the earth emerges from its winter rest, so we also encounter similar moments of awakening and potential for lasting transformation.

Spring is a time of renewed life.  Similarly, this moment in one’s life holds the potential for newfound hope and possibilities.  It may follow a period of uncertainty, when faith has been tested … but resilience forged.  Like the arrival of spring, there is a stirring within the soul – a gentle whisper of hope speaking of brighter days ahead.

Biblically, hope is not merely wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in the promises of God (Romans 15:13).  As the psalmist declares, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).  So too we trust that God’s faithfulness will usher in a season of renewal.

As spring unfolds its petals, so too can our faith unfold as well.  Just as seeds planted eventually emerge as vibrant flowers, our faith matures and flourishes through seasons of growth and cultivation.  It is a time to nurture our relationship with God, to deepen our trust in His providence, and to surrender to His will.  As we lean into our faith, we are reminded that God can breathe life into the most barren of landscapes, bringing beauty and abundance beyond our wildest imagination.

Finally, spring is a time when the earth is invigorated with fresh energy and purpose.  Similarly, this moment in life holds the potential for renewed purpose.  New opportunities and dreams beckon before us. God’s servant, Paul, stated confidently, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).  As we align our hearts with God, we align ourselves to His divine plan – a plan that is marked by hope, abundance, and fulfillment.

Look around as your drive about and pay attention to the new life springing out around you.  So too God can draw new life out of you.  You can experience the blessings that spring forth from a life nourished by God’s loving care.

Former Days

By Larry Coffey

We read in Ecclesiastes 7:10, “Say not, why were the former days better than these? For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” Yet, we often speak of the good old days as though life was much better in past years. While there will be things we remember with great fondness, we tend to overlook how much our lives have improved. Of course, older folks may think about their former health and strength, but are living conditions really not as good as former days?

Christians will remember that more people seemed to be interested in spiritual matters, and the number of people who attend church services has been declining over the last 50 years. We have also seen a decline in morals. Abortion and homosexual marriage would have never become law in the 1950’s.

In Christianity Magazine’s September/October, 1996 issue, Ed Harrell said this: “The past was never as good as we remember it being. There is bad and good in every time. The present is probably better than we are able to admit. I see more fine young people in the universities today than ever before in my career as a teacher.”

Going way back to the days of Noah, we read in Gen. 6:5, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The Lord allowed life to continue until only eight people in the whole world were faithful. Move forward several hundred years, and the Lord told Abraham he would not destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if he could find 10 faithful people there, but Abraham couldn’t even find 10.

Today we have many more than eight or 10 people serving the Lord at the Douglass Hills church alone. And just think of the thousands and thousands of churches in this country and around the world with people serving God. I hear members of the church say times are getting so bad the Lord may return soon to end life here. Of course, neither I or anyone else knows when Christ may return, but based on history, it is going to be a long time before that happens.

According to my notes from a Wednesday night talk I gave at DH in 1998, I made these comments: “I want to praise the young people we have here at DH. In my opinion, we now have as good a group of young people as we have ever had. They are involved in our worship, and they are involved in visiting and helping others outside our assemblies.” And I believe today, 25 years later, we have a great group of young people. They are involved in our work and their interest was further demonstrated by their participation in our recent Youth Forum.

So, former days are not always better than present days. And I believe there is a lot to look forward to in our future days.

The Desperate Need for Love

By Mark McCrary

The world is in desperate need of love. A lack of love and compassion is at the very heart of most of the problems plaguing us today—war, racism, mass shootings… the list goes on and on. In a time where there seems to be so much division, hatred, and fear, it is more important than ever to embrace love as the answer to our problems. The Bible tells us that love is not only important, but it is also essential to our well-being as individuals, as a church, and as a society.

In 1 John 4:8, the Bible tells us that "God is love." Love is not just something God does; it is who He is. It is the very essence of His nature. The Bible also tells us we are made in His image (Genesis 1:26). That entails many things, but certainly that we need to reflect Him to the world around us.  Therefore, if He is love, we must be love as well; we need to love as He loves. Jesus reminds us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). In John 13:34-35, He tells us, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love has the power to overcome hate, to heal wounds, and to bring people together. When we love others, we are showing them the same grace and mercy that God has shown us. We are breaking down the barriers that divide us and building bridges of understanding and compassion. Love allows us to see people for who they are, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or background.

In 1 Corinthians 13, often referred to as the "love chapter," the Bible describes what love looks like in action. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

This kind of love is what we need more of in our world today.  And beloved, it is our duty as Christians to model it.  Our families, friends, and coworkers need to see this love alive in us.

Am I showing this kind of love? To people who make me angry? To sinners? Let’s ask God to help us accept the words of the apostle John while examining our hearts: “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

The world needs love right now because love has the power to transform lives and bring about positive change. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to love others as He loves us. We need to be agents of love, showing kindness, compassion, and understanding to those around us. If we all choose to love one another, we can make a difference in our world and bring hope to those who need it most.