We are Thankful
Let us be thankful in all things. Jesus taught, “if you give a cup of water in My name, you did it unto Me.” We all need help at times, let us pay it forward where there is a need in others. One day, you may be the one in need of a helping hand, smile, or show of love.
There are different ways to help others. Jesus knows their hearts and needs, so ask Him what you can do for someone else. Ask Him how to see others through His eyes. There may be a shut-in who receives no callers, nursing homes with no visitors; there are many lonely people in this world. I know for myself, many times just a kind word or touch helped because it was the hand of God stretching out toward me.
Let us be kind one to another and help to heal this world through our Lord’s love. Don’t be weary in well doing, you will reap what you sow in due season. We should not give just to be paid back. We should give because we see a need. Let us not take advantage of others, those that give to us in kindness. That doesn't make Jesus proud of us. We must be cautious that our hearts are right when we receive from others. A blessing received in good faith versus a greedy hand taking advantage of someone’s generosity is displeasing to the Lord and His teachings. This even goes for our own families. Oftentimes it is easy to take advantage of our loved ones and have a bad mindset about what we are due. Let us grow up in the Lord and put our selflessness away and make our Heavenly Father be proud and smile down on us. My sister used to say “this is a Me Generation”. We can be all about ourselves and our own needs, and can get caught up without thinking of those around us. Instead, let us examine our hearts daily, and keep looking up to our Father in Heaven, for He will meet our needs in His time.
Because of all He has done for me and my family, I choose to give in gratitude. I want to shine my light through giving love and through giving help because I know having those needs can be heavy when faced alone. I don’t have much, but I am so blessed! My car is really old, but it works like a charm; I am surrendered by ones who love, and show me love and respect everyday. I just love the Lord Jesus Christ, and want to be His hand touching others, putting His will first, not my own fleshly desires.
Let us be grateful for what we have in Jesus- contentment, love, peace and a joyful heart. Nothing but Jesus in your life can give you these gifts of love, so let us serve Him with a cheerful and loving heart, giving to those who are in need joyfully. It can have a great impact in ways we may never truly come to know until we are united with our Savior. When I was younger I visited nursing homes and hospitals bringing the love of Jesus and saw first hand how many needs were met and lives were changed by such small acts of kindness, so don’t give up, Amen!
2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Luke 6:38
[Jesus said] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Proverbs 11:25
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
1 Corinthians 13:3
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.
1 John 3:17-18
17-But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18-My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.