Friday, November 1, 2019

Days of Thanks

Thomas Kinkade 4 Season Puzzle
In the cooler parts of North America, fall is really settling in and the colors are revealing their beauty just like they do in upstate New York. 

It is with our last teaching series in mind (Waiting for Favor), that reminded me of how blessed we are to be able to enjoy the fruit of God’s labor of love through Creation no matter what part of the world we choose to call home.

Recently I was chatting with a social media friend from Nigeria where he described the dry, extremely hot season in which they are entering.  I know that the natural seasons are continually changing everywhere, but I am so thankful to live where we can experience all four of them. 

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Thankful for You

No matter how I have come to know all of you over the years, I am so appreciative and feel blessed that you have carved out of your schedules a bit of time to spend with me throughout the week.  Hubby and I have compassion on your needs, desires and aspirations, mentioning you with thanksgiving to God in prayer.

“My prayers for you are full of praise to God as I give Him thanks for you with great joy!  I’m so grateful for our union.” (Philippians 1:3 TPT)

“Whenever you cross my mind, I thank my God for you and for the gift of knowing you.” (Philippians 1:3 VOICE)

I am extremely thankful for each person that visits, and want to include every one of you in our “Days of Thanks” challenge during the month of November.  For this I will be posting on my Facebook page.  My regular posts will continue here on Daily Favor teaching site.

Getting to Know You

It was also in some internet exchanges I learned that many of you didn’t realize I post on a regular basis on Facebook (that’s when it’s working properly). 

Throughout the day and week, I post all sorts of things that could help you get to know me a little better and vice versa.

Sometimes it’s personal (a lot of times it includes hubby stuff), movies, photos, what I’m doing, my food choices, gardening, pets … just about every topic that I’m experiencing at the time. 

That’s why I’d really like it if you would join my Facebook friends as we venture out on this Days of Thanks challenge.  It wouldn’t be the same without all of you!

How the Challenge Works

You’ll probably be online anyway, so why not take part in giving thanks?  Globally we could be giving praise and thanks to God round the clock! 

Here’s how it works.

Each day we (hubby or myself) will be posting two things we are thankful for, working our way through the alphabet A-Z.  I know that there are only 26 letters in the English alphabet and 30 days in the month, but that just adds to the challenge doesn’t it?  Sometimes I feel doubly blessed, so perhaps those will be tucked in somewhere as well.

With each post I would like you (and your friends after you share the post) to add your days of thanks to the list.  The more people post the more we are open to what God is doing throughout the world in the hearts of those who love Him.

For example, if we are on the letter “C” I might list “cheesecake” or “clothes” as a material/natural side of thankfulness.  Who am I kidding, you all know it probably would be chocolate first! 

You might be thankful for children, that’s cool too, but be “creative” (that’s a C word). Don’t be shy in giving thanks for things that make your life better or easier.  God has allowed them so let us know how grateful you are.  By the end of the month we’ll know at least thirty more things about one another.

This step is going to be more challenging. (You might want to start thinking of something for X about now; it may take a month!)  For the spiritual part of thanksgiving, I might write “Christ” or “covenant”.  The idea is pretty straightforward.  Each day you would list a comment under the recent post for the two things beginning with the letter C that you are thankful for daily.

After you have commented on my Facebook page (photos on topic are welcome), it is vital that the posts get shared if this testimony and message about “Days of Thanks” is to reach the most people possible.  So many times, we forget about what people value and we need an awakening to what is happening in the lives of others.

There Is No Secret

Every day I receive messages from people around the world where they tell me some of the most personal things they are experiencing.  It’s heartbreaking, but each one receives encouragement when we pray, praise God and give thanks for the things we do have. 

In prayer ... “Grace and peace be with you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed One.

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God.  Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart.

I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message (of salvation and grace), from the day you heard it right up to the present.  There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” (Philippians 1:2-6 MSG)

I am humbled immediately with each request for prayer knowing that God has good things for those who seek Him with their whole heart.  There is no doubt in my mind that those who give praise and thanks to the Most High God, will find His favor. 

“For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me (wisdom), and this is the secret of growing in the delight and the favor of the Lord.” (Proverbs 8:35 TPT)

There’s a chorus to an old song we sing that sums up the fullness of God’s loving favor on those who will believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.

                    It is no secret, what God can do,
                    What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.
                    With arms wide open, He’ll pardon you.
                    It is no secret, what God can do.

What is the secret?  Wisdom.  That is, wisdom in receiving God’s grace … His unmerited favor to forgive sin, any and all confessed sin.  Admitting sin to God for things you have committed against Him, and asking for His forgiveness releases the gift of favor on a person’s life.  Only those who have done this receive God’s favor, grace and blessings. 
In reality, there isn’t a secret to receiving God’s favor.  He has made it clear in His Word, we just have to do it.

“If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just (true to His own word, nature and promises), and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness (things we do wrong, everything that does not conform to His will and Divine purpose).” (1 John 1:9 AMP emphasis mine)

I have obeyed Christ and not kept my salvation secret. As a result, the Tell Me About Jesus page is one of the most visited on this site.  It was after one of those visits I received a message.

This is a question someone from Twitter recently asked, “What has He (referring to Jesus) done for others including me?”  A reasonable inquiry I thought.

God has forgiven me of my sins because I admitted (to Him) I was in need of a Savior.  Jesus forgave me of all my wrong doing setting me free from the sins, guilt and unrighteous behavior of my past or any that I may commit in the future. 

Plus, with the saving grace of salvation came the gift of eternal life and loving Daily Favor from the Lord.  

Every day we get to start over, or as Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables said, “Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it”.

Although that was a line from a story, it’s true because His mercy and favor are freshly replenished to me every morning.  For this I can never give enough thanks to God,

“But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation:  It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His (tender) compassion fails not.  They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23 AMPC)

Christ is willing to forgive us of sin, isn’t that something to be thankful for and not keep secret?  If He is willing to do it for me, He will forgive you too if you ask Him.  Learn how on the Tell Me page like so many others have. 

This Week’s Challenge:
Sharing Days of Thanks

With the holiday we celebrate called Thanksgiving, we often get caught up in the meals or gatherings.  

This year I don’t want us to forget that each day we are alive, God's grace allows us to partake in His Daily Favor through so many resources that are made available.  We are to use them for His glory.

Sharing thirty Days of Thanks is hardly a tip in the gratitude bucket, but I feel we have to start somewhere together.  Please join me each day in November on my Facebook page for this challenge. 

Let’s publicly take part in proclaiming the message of thanksgiving to God for His unmerited Daily Favor.  The Days of Thanks start now!

Go to my Facebook page to begin the challenge!

Honoring and giving thanks for a godly mother 
from a favorite recording artist of hers.


If this article has encouraged or helped you, share it by using the social media icons provided at the end of this post.  

Until next time, give thanks for God's wisdom and favor. 

“A thankful heart receives favor.”
- Jesus Christ
  
*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy.

Note: When used, the words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no place in our lives.  

Disclaimer:  Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.

What’s New This Week: Click on link.

Seasonal Prayer Books (set of 12) 

Twelve seasonal booklets for every month of the year include blessings and promises to encourage.  Uniquely designed with a different scripture verse on the front cover along with seasonal illustrations.

January: "For I know the plans I have for you." Jeremiah 29:11.
February: "Love one another." John 13:34.
March: "This is the day which the Lord hath made." Psalm 118:24.
April: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart." Proverbs 3:5.
May: "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." Isaiah 66:13.
June: "To every thing there is a season." Ecclesiastes 3:1.
July: "I can do all the things through Christ." Philippians 4:13.
August: "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." Psalm 33:5.
September: "Encourage one another and build each other up." 1 Thess. 5:11.
October: "He hath made everything beautiful in His time." Ecclesiastes 3:11.
November: "In every thing give thanks." 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
December: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." James 1:17.

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Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also.  Click on the above tab “Tell Me About Jesus” for more information on becoming a child of the Savior.

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Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway.

Image credit: Google Images Creative Common License if not specified.

Labels: Daily Favor Blog, Favored1, Wisdom, Unmerited Favor, Thanksgiving, Weekly Challenge, Days of Thanks, Salvation, Forgiveness, Sin, Holidays, Seasons, Grace, Obedience