Encouragement, Praise, Worship

Thanksgiving

As I have been reflecting this past week on what I am thankful for, I began to think about where I was a year ago. A year ago, this Thanksgiving, I was newly engaged. The thought of finding someone a second time around to spend my life with is nothing short of a miracle.  No one but God could orchestrate something like that!  The thought that He has arranged my life in such a way that He would give me two wonderful men to call husband, is beyond my wildest imagination.

As I reflect on this past year, I am so grateful for what God has done in my life. He has done so many wonderful things, not the least is, He paid for my sins and purchased my salvation with His blood. His death on the Cross was the atonement for my sins, and I received eternal life when I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.

Psalm 92 is full of praise for God and all of the wonderous things He has done. Psalm 92:1-4 (NASB) says, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night, With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music upon the lyre.  For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your Hands.”

 

I have a tendency to express my praise in music, so this Psalm really speaks to me.  I use my musical ability, both singing and playing my flute, to worship and praise God for all He has done. Daniel 2:23 (KJV) says, “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we ’desired’ of thee…” God not only has saved me, He has given me the desires of my heart. My husband says that I literally prayed a husband in…and maybe he is right.  All I know is that God brought me a wonderful man to spend the rest of my life with.

At this time of year, it can be very difficult for some people. The loss of loved ones and desperate circumstances give way to depression and for some, the feeling that God has abandoned them in their time of need.  As difficult as it is, I Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) tells us, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  During my time as a widow, I found that hard to do.  In spite of where I was emotionally, I pretty much forced myself to be thankful.  I know, that isn’t true thankfulness, but at the time, it was all I could muster.  God knew what I needed, maybe more than I did.

In looking back, I have been able to thank Him for taking care of me when I was on my own.  There are so many things that He did for me, that I can only praise Him for His care.  Times when it seemed like there was no way out, He always provided a way, financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  He has always been there.  Thank you, God for Your love and mercy!

 

Published by

Donna Knuth Rice

I am trying a blog for the first time in my life, and frankly, I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing! But, here goes. I work at a Christian Television network in the Correspondence Department, where I write letters and emails to our viewers, pray with them for their needs, and send materials they request. I am a Christian. I was saved at the age of 11 during a youth meeting at my church. My pastor led me to the Lord, and to say the least, my life has been an adventure. I am a widow. My late husband, Allen, passed away after 34 1/2 years of marriage. He had been sick the last seven years of his life, and it was a struggle, for him and for me. We met as part of a singing group that was affiliated with a Christian Radio station, and we sang together all through our lives together. We both worked in television and radio all through our married life, mostly for Christian stations. Besides singing I also play flute. I had the luxury of having parents who started out as music teachers...so music was in our house constantly. Some people describe me as being a loud-mouthed lime type...can't disagree with that. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count! I also have a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind...which is why I get myself in so much trouble! LOL! Trust me, that's something me and God have been working on for a very long time. I have no children here on earth, although I have a baby in heaven. My baby here is my dog Jack. He's a black lab/ chow mix. He's a big boy....thinks he's a lap dog! Can't think of much else to say. The reason I started this blog is because a few months ago in church, a guest pastor came and delivered a message, and when he asked for those of us who wanted prayer to come forward, I did. When he came to me he asked me if I did any journaling. I told him no 'cause I wasn't very good at it. He told me to start, and prophesied over me that my journal thoughts would impact other people. I wasn't sure just how I was to go about doing this. In fact, I was a little hesitant at first. I started journaling at home, and our assistant pastor's wife asked me to submit something for our Senior newsletter. I didn't the first edition, but something I had heard on Christian radio a long time ago and has stuck with me all these years, came to mind so I submitted an article. That article will be my first post. I don't claim to have all the answers, and my thoughts may seem a little "out there", but I feel God has been prodding me to do this, and so here I am. I hope what I post will bring encouragement, and "Something to Think About".

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