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The Ultimate Thank You!

         Thank You, Thank You!  How many times have we heard or uttered those words?  The tone of the spoken words varies according to the attitude of the heart.  I remember the Mom-motivated thank you note to my Great-Grandmother for a gift she sent me.  It was the most painful hour I ever endured.  If only there was a Google to help guide me in the 1930’s.  I would have learned from the Hallmark Card King, the steps that make up the acceptable ‘thank you’ note.  1. Greeting, 2. Express thanks, 3. Specific details. 4. Look ahead for next meeting. 5. Restate thanks and last, 6. End with regards.
         A genuine ‘Thank You’ comes from the heart.  It is a mutual investment – like a hug.  Whether the gift was purchased or made or simply your presence or time – it is a gift.
         Now that the annual gift-giving season is over, it is time to give thanks to someone now.  One thing I have noted as my husband drops ever more deep into dementia is his Thank You’s.  This is his gently spoken, “Thank You.” A glass of water elicits a thank you from him.  He has forgotten many things, but “Thank You” is not one of them.
         No matter how small or large the gift is, a ‘thank you’ is always appreciated.  It can come through an email, a written note, a spoken word, or a facebook post.  Just today I received a ‘thank you’ from a student 30 years ago.  Sharing a part of our hearts with others is a blessing…a thank you…with love.  Last night Facetime was the mode of delivery with a sweet ‘thank you’ from a beloved family.
         There is an Ultimate Gift Giver!  One who gives gifts to us each day, often without recognition or a token ‘thank you’ from us.  Instead, this Gift Giver often is pushed away.
         Have we ever counted the gifts God has given us through Jesus Christ? In uncountable ways, God gives and continues to give with patience. Each gift shows us His deep Love. 
         The first gift  – we were chosen before the creation to love God. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 4:1
         God created the earth and heavens. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
         He gave us our first breath of life with eternity planted in our hearts. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

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         God provides the rain and the sunshine with harvests plentiful.  When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. Hebrews 6:7
         God gives us our daily and spiritual bread.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh. John 6:51
         Our cup runs over with the blessings from God. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5
         He sent His Son Jesus to give us eternal life. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
         He has a purpose for our lives. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8: 28-29
         Through Jesus Christ, He gives us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
         Jesus promises to come again and take us home.  Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.  I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. Revelation 3:10-11
         The Gifts of the Holy Spirit leads to maturity in faithful love.  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  Galatians 5:22-23. 
         With joy, you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!  In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world.  Isaiah 12:3-5
         How can we but thank our Lord for giving us so much?
     We can thank Jesus by living for and with Him.
     We can thank Him by having his same attitude of love,
     We can thank the One who died to give us life evermore.
     Some days, all I have to say is, Thank You, Thank You, Lord.
     You give me hope, joy, and peace with your faithfulness and care.
     My heart is filled and running over with the blessings You give.
     You clothe me with joy and thankfulness without end.
            “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”  Philippians 2:4-5
         We give our Ultimate Thank You, to our Savior Jesus Christ, Who is coming again!


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