What it Means to Be Thankful

“The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” Henry Ward Beecher

It was a man named Jack Carter who helped teach me what it means to be thankful.

When Jack was a little boy, he used to hide from his daddy. His daddy drank.

When Jack was a young man, he married the love of his life, Nancy. They had several beautiful children, including a handsome son named David and a beautiful little girl named Criss. While Criss was still a small child, she developed polio.

After the children were grown and Jack looked forward to quality years with his beloved wife, Nancy developed a very painful and very deadly cancer. After a long period of suffering, Nancy finally succumbed to that terrible disease.

Jack was an artist with extraordinary talent, and he began a business selling his paintings after Nancy died… and then his business failed.

A few years later, Jack went on a highly anticipated fishing trip to Yellowstone, with his son Dave and his two grandsons. A sudden storm came up, swamping the boat… Jack lost his only son and his two grandsons to the icy waters that day.

About twenty-five years ago, I had the privilege of hearing Jack talk about how he started his day with prayer. He said that on some mornings all he could think to pray was this:

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Father, thank you. Thank you for all you have done for me… thank you.”

How could Jack say that? How, after a lifetime that was filled with heartaches and sorrows, could he be so thankful? Was he crazy? Was he insincere? No! Jack was a Christian – that rare type of Christian, who actually lived his faith.

You see, Jack’s daddy became a Christian, and it changed their lives. Jack’s daughter Criss has lived with, but overcome, the ravages of polio. Jack’s wife and son were Christians, and his young grandsons were what Jesus described as “such is the kingdom of Heaven”.

And Jack longed for the great reunion that our Father has promised to His faithful. And Jack was faithful, right up to the time that God took him to come Home…after a multi-year struggle with cancer.

Some days I am not thankful because I have a bigger heating bill than I expected… or because I have a headache… or because my government doesn’t suit me.

But I’m working on being more thankful, and I try to begin each day with my Father in prayer, thanking Him for the innumerable blessings that He has showered on the life of a most unworthy servant.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15, NIV

Day 5: Commitment

It's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success that you seek. Mario Andretti

If we want something as noble as a life devoted to God, it will take a level of commitment beyond the ordinary. The renewal of life that we seek is neither ordinary nor casual - it is a goal that will take extraordinary effort. If you want a realistic comparison, becoming a servant of God is more akin to the devotion needed to become an Olympic athlete, as opposed, say, to the casual commitment of a weekend softball player. But, for those seeking an existence of genuine significance, Christianity is the only life that will fulfill that quest.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3, NIV

The Character Test

“The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” John Wooden

The other day, I listened to the concerns of a number of people at the possibility of cheating having taken place at an athletic event. The results were that one team went to the State tournament, while another team – the team that may have actually earned that honor, had to stay home.

We have all heard of similar events through the years. Some are legitimate concerns, others are just sour grapes, but that is not the point of this article today. The point I want to make is the same one that John Wooden made many years ago: Character is who we are when we think no one is looking.

The thing I like about character is that it is hard to hide. Good character, like cream, will eventually rise to the top. Bad character, though sometimes going unseen for many years, will always be revealed in the end.

And good character lets you sleep at night. Good character lets you look yourself in the mirror without shame. Good character is a virtue that never lets you down.

Bad character just rots.

And, it will always, always, always, come back to haunt those who possess it.

I once gave a test to a group of young men and women. As I passed it out, I repeated an admonition another teacher had once given. I told them that I was about to give them two tests. One was a test in math, the other a test in honesty. I told them that I hoped that they would pass both tests– but if they could pass only one test, I wanted it to be the one in honesty.

I believe God wants us to do the same!

And, to those who may have been temporarily cheated at one time or another, remember this: You have passed the most important test… and Someone was watching. And that Someone will reward you someday with something far greater than a trophy that will just gather dust and be forgotten. But to get that reward tomorrow, you must not fail God’s character test today.

“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14, NIV

Day 6: A Conversation with the Master

You will not have a more important conversation in your life than the one you will have with God today.

Prayer: There can be no greater honor bestowed upon men than the right to communicate with God each day. Just imagine, you have been invited to have an audience with the Creator of the Universe at a moment's notice. That means that you can go to the one being that not only knows the exact solution to any problem that you may have, but also the one who has the ability to act on that solution. Before you get out of bed tomorrow, why not take a few moments to thank your Father for another day and ask Him for His guidance. Then, take the privilege that He has bestowed upon you to talk to Him throughout the day. It is a great gift to talk to God - don't forget to use that gift. It will change your life.

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests... Pray continually...

Ephesians 6:18 & I Thessalonians 5:17, NIV 

Day 7: Nourish Your Soul

They're not called the Ten Suggestions, they are called the Ten Commandments. Ted Kopel

The next necessary step to true change is in the area of God's word: Read your Bible every day. "But I don't have that kind of time" is the most common, and most pitiful excuse of all. Do you eat every day? Sleep? The point is not that eating and sleeping are optional - the point is that neither is reading God's word, if you want to live for God. It tells you of His concerns, it reveals the way His world works, it tells you about the rules that He has thoughtfully placed for our benefit. It tells of His Son, Jesus, and the love He has for us. It contains the secret to a happy life and the road map to Heaven. You cannot change your life without reading the Bible on a regular basis and... you cannot read it on a regular basis without it changing your life. It is a love letter from God!

I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. Psalms 119:131, NIV