Thank You, Around the World! – Emily's Snippets

No matter what language we speak, the intent is the same when we tell someone, “Thank You!” An authentic use of that phrase contains an intent of love and the facial expression is a smile.

When we didn’t even know what the words meant, my Dad taught us a prayer my two brothers and I repeated at mealtimes.

For all we eat,

For all we wear,

For all, we have everywhere,

I thank You, Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now I realize that in this brief prayer we learned everything comes from our Father God. And the response is to acknowledge the gift with ‘thank you’. We learned that Jesus IS!

It takes a lifetime to learn the value and joy of all contained in these two words around the world, in so many languages. ‘Thank you!’ builds bridges between enemies and strengthens friendships while teaching God is Love!

The one day, set aside annually, to give Thanks cannot give thanks to our Lord for all He gives us each moment from the beginning.

God’s gifts begin with the six days of Creation and continue on. For God is the Beginning and the End. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8.

Time is another factor in saying thank you. Or writing a thank you note or praising God. Recently a young man shared how God sustained him during a recent surgery. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness, you restore him to full health. Psalm 41:3.

The Scriptures are filled with encouragement and warnings. Why do we have God’s Word? All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

This Book is a gift from God. Have we considered Praising God for His insight, wisdom, and truth in His Word? Have we considered Praising God for the stories of faith lived out in the lives of countless men and women?

When we have the attitude of love, it includes gratitude in the heart that lives to love others, even as we are commanded to do. We love with a forgiving heart. When the disciples of Jesus saw Him pray to God, they asked Jesus to teach them to pray as John did. In Matthew 6:9-13.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

Phrase by phrase, we understand God is our King, and we are not. He tells us our daily bread comes from Him, and our debts are not forgiven unless we forgive others. God does not tolerate evil. God has spoken, the earth will become His Kingdom.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:3-5.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Psalm 19:1-5.

Each flower, each tree praise God and the mountains rise to give praise, and I pray, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14.

As the years roll by, we remember giving our hearts to our Lord; we see the path our Lord guided us so that we could serve Him. We remember how we learned little by little and began to desire to sing praise to our Lord God for His Love.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name, For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:4-5.

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Psalm 57:8-10.

The lyrics of My Tribute, by Andraé Crouch, expresses my joy in the Lord:

How can I say thanks, for the things You have done for me.

Things so undeserved, Yet You gave to prove Your love for me.

The voices of a million angels, Could not express my gratitude,

All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee.

To God be the glory, For the things He has done.

Is the way we live a part of God’s story of faithfulness? Each day becomes a new chapter. From the tiny prayer we first prayed to the song, “Jesus Loves Me”, we write our story each day in Love and Praise to the One Who is Love.

Another chorus that expresses our joy in the Lord:

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.

Comments? eacombs@att.net