thankfulness

[a.baker]

I hear so much complaining from people about what they don't have. Especially in this country U.S. We are so very fortunate to have doctors readily available even though we may not have insurance we can still see a doctor. We are so fortunate to have clothes on our backs, shelter, food, clean water, free from many diseases ect.

I'm sick of the attitude of things never being enough or good enough for people. I wish people would look at things with a different perspective, with a different attitude. Today we have, tomorrow we may not. I see people coming even from poverty countries to the U.S. and starting to complain!!!:grr:

Instead of complaining which I think is self focused, people should be glad in what they do have. Even if its not their idea and things still may be hard they could always be worse.

I was continuing to read Job today and came across Job 24. As I imagined myself as one of these poor people Job talks about I realize most here in the U.S. that call themselves poor are not really poor, its just a lack of "stuff". We are still very fortunate and many others would view us as rich. Compared to those that put only rice in their bellies once every 2 weeks and are forced to drink the diseased water .... I hear this passage Job 24 clearly and can imagine myself there, never understanding exactly what there is unless I was or am, but grasping enough understanding to be very thankful in what I do have.

I also think about in MOST parts of our country its free and safe, not saying anything can't happen just saying how often things happen in other places compared to here. How lucky we are to have a system even though it may be corrupted by men, all things are, nothings good.

I've come to find in life if you expect the worse then you will look at things you have with a thankful heart. Things here aren't supposed to be good or easy, remember the fall of man.

While we may grieve and suffer we can still be thankful at the same time.

Job 24
1 "Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment?
Why must those who know him look in vain for such days?

2 Men move boundary stones;
they pasture flocks they have stolen.

3 They drive away the orphan's donkey
and take the widow's ox in pledge.

4 They thrust the needy from the path
and force all the poor of the land into hiding.

5 Like wild donkeys in the desert,
the poor go about their labor of foraging food;
the wasteland provides food for their children.

6 They gather fodder in the fields
and glean in the vineyards of the wicked.

7 Lacking clothes, they spend the night naked;
they have nothing to cover themselves in the cold.

8 They are drenched by mountain rains
and hug the rocks for lack of shelter.

9 The fatherless child is snatched from the breast;
the infant of the poor is seized for a debt.

10 Lacking clothes, they go about naked;
they carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.

11 They crush olives among the terraces [a] ;
they tread the winepresses, yet suffer thirst.

12 The groans of the dying rise from the city,
and the souls of the wounded cry out for help.
But God charges no one with wrongdoing.

13 "There are those who rebel against the light,
who do not know its ways
or stay in its paths.

14 When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up
and kills the poor and needy;
in the night he steals forth like a thief.

15 The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk;
he thinks, 'No eye will see me,'
and he keeps his face concealed.

16 In the dark, men break into houses,
but by day they shut themselves in;
they want nothing to do with the light.

17 For all of them, deep darkness is their morning [b] ;
they make friends with the terrors of darkness. [c]

18 "Yet they are foam on the surface of the water;
their portion of the land is cursed,
so that no one goes to the vineyards.

19 As heat and drought snatch away the melted snow,
so the grave [d] snatches away those who have sinned.

20 The womb forgets them,
the worm feasts on them;
evil men are no longer remembered
but are broken like a tree.

21 They prey on the barren and childless woman,
and to the widow show no kindness.

22 But God drags away the mighty by his power;
though they become established, they have no assurance of life.

23 He may let them rest in a feeling of security,
but his eyes are on their ways.

24 For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone;
they are brought low and gathered up like all others;
they are cut off like heads of grain.

25 "If this is not so, who can prove me false
and reduce my words to nothing?"

[Willy]

Well said and right on ... we need to count our blessings and stop complaining. :rant::slingshot:

On the average, 1 child dies every 5 seconds as a result, either directly or indirectly, of hunger - 700 every hour - 16 000 each day - 6 million each year - 60% of all child deaths (2002-2008 estimates).
We also must start to look at how our shenanigans are effecting people who are really in need.

Under WTO regulations Japan has to buy a good chunk of their rice from U.S.A. Now Japan is producing more than enough rice to feed it's own people so where does the extra rice go? It is converted into animal feed. :nosmiley:

We really need to talk to the Milk board, Chicken board, Wheat board, etc. and find a way to increase quotas and get the surplus to the needy. :not:

Easy said ... not easy to do. That is what they say ... but what is the value of a human life..?? :not:

Is it not worth the effort..?? :nod::nod::nod::nod::nod::nod::nod:

[a.baker]

Part of the scripture says how a baby is snatched from the breast to pay for a debt. Can you imagine? That happens right now in parts of the world. Me and my family has debt, what if someone came and took my daughter for payment? Then knowing what would happen to her as a slave from the moment she left my sight. Its awful!!!

[a.baker]

You know us women have quite a few rights in our country.

We also do have freedom. We can own and read Gods word without having to be too careful or hiding it, the Bible is sold in stores.

[Jessie]

its the give me give me give me attitude.

with no morals all sorts of sins prevail, pride and greed is one.

people dont seem to think of tomarrow anymore, as far as their children are concerned and what kind of world they will live in.

thats why God told the people to remember them when they came into the land and not forget Him...

we live in the last days. and boy is it getting obvious!

highminded, lovers of self, no self control ect....

[CoreIssue]

We all get frustrated and if we were limited to this world we would have reason for anger.

But we are not.

After 58 years I am far from well off, but recognize I am not as bad off as others. I have several medical issues, but there are others worse. And more.

But be it 58 or 85 years, it is nothing compared to eternity and what life will be like there.

[Willy]

We all get frustrated and if we were limited to this world we would have reason for anger.

But we are not.

After 58 years I am far from well off, but recognize I am not as bad off as others. I have several medical issues, but there are others worse. And more.

But be it 58 or 85 years, it is nothing compared to eternity and what life will be like there.

Amen..!!:nod:

"where your treasure is" ... "your heart will be also."


Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
:nod:

[a.baker]

We all get frustrated and if we were limited to this world we would have reason for anger.

But we are not.

After 58 years I am far from well off, but recognize I am not as bad off as others. I have several medical issues, but there are others worse. And more.

But be it 58 or 85 years, it is nothing compared to eternity and what life will be like there.

Amen..!!:nod:

"where your treasure is" ... "your heart will be also."


Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
:nod:

Maybe thats why we're thankful.

[Willy]

Everyday I am drawn to the scripture you have posted ... Job 24, and every day there is something new in it. For a book that was written so long ago, 2nd millennium B.C., it defines our present human conditions exactly. Man does not change, and yet God waits for each to see the folly and injustice, and turn to Him and live. His patience with so great a sin before His eyes is beyond me in some ways.
Where I cry out in judgment, God says, "a little longer will I strive with man" and some are saved. Amazing grace and Divine patience.
It is hard to witness the pain and suffering and one must fight to see and understand that there is justice down the road for all, for all are created eternal.
Calvary's cross compels me to believe that God understands man and his evil heart and has, in "love" and "grace" that is way beyond me, extended His hand to save even the worst if they would only see their need, come to God, deal with sin and accept the life He offers in His Son.
"Father forgive them," "they know not what they do.," is to me the cry of understanding our complete blindness. We really don't know what we are doing. If we were allowed to see it all, in it's grizzly reality, I believe we would all perish and willingly, such is the magnitude of our blindness. :nod:

[a.baker]

Everyday I am drawn to the scripture you have posted ... Job 24, and every day there is something new in it. For a book that was written so long ago, 2nd millennium B.C., it defines our present human conditions exactly. Man does not change, and yet God waits for each to see the folly and injustice, and turn to Him and live. His patience with so great a sin before His eyes is beyond me in some ways.
Where I cry out in judgment, God says, "a little longer will I strive with man" and some are saved. Amazing grace and Divine patience.
It is hard to witness the pain and suffering and one must fight to see and understand that there is justice down the road for all, for all are created eternal.
Calvary's cross compels me to believe that God understands man and his evil heart and has, in "love" and "grace" that is way beyond me, extended His hand to save even the worst if they would only see their need, come to God, deal with sin and accept the life He offers in His Son.
"Father forgive them," "they know not what they do.," is to me the cry of understanding our complete blindness. We really don't know what we are doing. If we were allowed to see it all, in it's grizzly reality, I believe we would all perish and willingly, such is the magnitude of our blindness. :nod:

I couldn't of said it any better:hug: In the end end none of us have patience, only God has patience , for me patience is one of the hardest things sometimes. I'm always trying to let go and ignore things but is hard with some things. You just can't change people, you want to say or do things but must not and leave the work in the Fathers hands. With practice, learning, growing and understanding things get easier but there never easy.

And what you said about perishing I believe also. And we must never forget that and what God did for us, to keep ourselves humble, its a reality check:nod:

I hear Jesus' cry out for the people, look at his example, no man could of ever done the things he did and with perseverance, pushing on and then the final day on the cross. I am amazed how many fail to see that, but I remember I once didn't see either. I remember the blindness and folly. I'm amazed how God had patience for me and still does. Like we talked before, I am thankful for my bad past and I'm thankful I don't forget.:hug:

[Willy]

Everyday I am drawn to the scripture you have posted ... Job 24, and every day there is something new in it. For a book that was written so long ago, 2nd millennium B.C., it defines our present human conditions exactly. Man does not change, and yet God waits for each to see the folly and injustice, and turn to Him and live. His patience with so great a sin before His eyes is beyond me in some ways.
Where I cry out in judgment, God says, "a little longer will I strive with man" and some are saved. Amazing grace and Divine patience.
It is hard to witness the pain and suffering and one must fight to see and understand that there is justice down the road for all, for all are created eternal.
Calvary's cross compels me to believe that God understands man and his evil heart and has, in "love" and "grace" that is way beyond me, extended His hand to save even the worst if they would only see their need, come to God, deal with sin and accept the life He offers in His Son.
"Father forgive them," "they know not what they do.," is to me the cry of understanding our complete blindness. We really don't know what we are doing. If we were allowed to see it all, in it's grizzly reality, I believe we would all perish and willingly, such is the magnitude of our blindness. :nod:

I couldn't of said it any better:hug: In the end end none of us have patience, only God has patience , for me patience is one of the hardest things sometimes. I'm always trying to let go and ignore things but is hard with some things. You just can't change people, you want to say or do things but must not and leave the work in the Fathers hands. With practice, learning, growing and understanding things get easier but there never easy.

And what you said about perishing I believe also. And we must never forget that and what God did for us, to keep ourselves humble, its a reality check:nod:

I hear Jesus' cry out for the people, look at his example, no man could of ever done the things he did and with perseverance, pushing on and then the final day on the cross. I am amazed how many fail to see that, but I remember I once didn't see either. I remember the blindness and folly. I'm amazed how God had patience for me and still does. Like we talked before, I am thankful for my bad past and I'm thankful I don't forget.:hug:

:nod::hug:

[sinnerredeemed]

I would just like to thank God for all the things He has done for me. I was a lost.....totally lost before Christ came into my life. I'm not worthy of His Grace, none of us are.

I would like to share my testimony of why I'm thankful. It all started when all the things that I ever did wrong in my life confronted me. I literally did not want to go on living. I tried to think of ways that I could take my own life. I thought if I pulled my truck into the garage and started it I would just fall asleep and never wake up. I thought about other way too, but I feared that it would be to painful. I lost my job, I was ready to lose my house, I have three kids that I didn't know how I was going to support. It felt like life was just going in slow motion and that my kids would be better off without me. It got so bad that all the love that I had for my kids and my wife couldn't save me...........get ready for love of GOD.
I went to my Dads house for whatever reason{a man of God} and He knew something was wrong. He prayed with me with tears, and everything that I had thought about doing just melted away. Within a week I had the best job I have ever had, I got to keep my house, and was able to support my family.
I since have discarded all baggage, attending Bible study, and just living for the Lord.
The devil will tell us that we are no good. He will isolate us when we are at the lowest point in our lives. We must resist him and seek the Lord Jesus. I'm living proof.
We must love the Lord will all our mind, soul and heart. Thank you Jesus.

[Willy]

I would just like to thank God for all the things He has done for me. I was a lost.....totally lost before Christ came into my life. I'm not worthy of His Grace, none of us are.

I would like to share my testimony of why I'm thankful. It all started when all the things that I ever did wrong in my life confronted me. I literally did not want to go on living. I tried to think of ways that I could take my own life. I thought if I pulled my truck into the garage and started it I would just fall asleep and never wake up. I thought about other way too, but I feared that it would be to painful. I lost my job, I was ready to lose my house, I have three kids that I didn't know how I was going to support. It felt like life was just going in slow motion and that my kids would be better off without me. It got so bad that all the love that I had for my kids and my wife couldn't save me...........get ready for love of GOD.
I went to my Dads house for whatever reason{a man of God} and He knew something was wrong. He prayed with me with tears, and everything that I had thought about doing just melted away. Within a week I had the best job I have ever had, I got to keep my house, and was able to support my family.
I since have discarded all baggage, attending Bible study, and just living for the Lord.
The devil will tell us that we are no good. He will isolate us when we are at the lowest point in our lives. We must resist him and seek the Lord Jesus. I'm living proof.
We must love the Lord will all our mind, soul and heart. Thank you Jesus.

Amazing Grace ... :nod:

[a.baker]

I would just like to thank God for all the things He has done for me. I was a lost.....totally lost before Christ came into my life. I'm not worthy of His Grace, none of us are.

I would like to share my testimony of why I'm thankful. It all started when all the things that I ever did wrong in my life confronted me. I literally did not want to go on living. I tried to think of ways that I could take my own life. I thought if I pulled my truck into the garage and started it I would just fall asleep and never wake up. I thought about other way too, but I feared that it would be to painful. I lost my job, I was ready to lose my house, I have three kids that I didn't know how I was going to support. It felt like life was just going in slow motion and that my kids would be better off without me. It got so bad that all the love that I had for my kids and my wife couldn't save me...........get ready for love of GOD.
I went to my Dads house for whatever reason{a man of God} and He knew something was wrong. He prayed with me with tears, and everything that I had thought about doing just melted away. Within a week I had the best job I have ever had, I got to keep my house, and was able to support my family.
I since have discarded all baggage, attending Bible study, and just living for the Lord.
The devil will tell us that we are no good. He will isolate us when we are at the lowest point in our lives. We must resist him and seek the Lord Jesus. I'm living proof.
We must love the Lord will all our mind, soul and heart. Thank you Jesus.

:nod::hug: