Martha’s Thankfulness

http://scripturehandmaidens.blogspot.com/2011/03
/mary-and-martha.html

Today, we finish our interviews with Biblical people who received special blessings from Jesus. Today we will hear from Martha.

Quiet Spirit: Martha, thank you for your patience, are you ready to share your story with us?

Martha:  Yes, thank you. I am so glad to be here to share my heart with all your friends.

Q.S.: Tell us about yourself.

Martha: I live in Bethany on the eastern slope of Mount Olivet, near the Jericho road. Bethpage and Bethlehem are nearby. We could walk the short distance to Jerusalem.

 Q.S.: How did you meet Jesus?

Martha: My brother Lazarus, my sister Mary, and I heard of the miracles He performed. Those who witnessed these miracles and heard His preaching were either pleased with Him or were angry about His ways. We decided to go hear for ourselves. What he said made sense to us. We embraced Him.

After that, whenever Jesus came through our town, we opened our home to Him. He became like one of the family. We had him stay in our home.

We permitted Him to use our home as a central base for His disciples whenever they returned to our town. I always prepared a meal and gave them a place to rest.

Q.S.: Was there a time that you learned something from Jesus that was especially for you?

Martha: Whenever He came to our home, I always served a big meal, almost a banquet, as a welcome. One time, my sister Mary just sat and listened to Jesus. She didn’t help me do anything. Her behavior got under my skin. I was frustrated! I spoke my mind. I asked Jesus to tell my sister to help me with the meal.

                He told me I was anxious and troubled about many things. He let me know, nicely, that Mary chose what He called the better way. I let up on Mary that day. I vowed to have simpler meals in the future. I realized no one would remember what I served them. However, those who listened to Jesus could repeatedly tell many others what He said.

Q.S.: Are you thankful for what He did for you? Please explain why.

Martha: Yes, I am very thankful for what Jesus did for me. Because I was able to relax more. I heard the stories Jesus shared with the people who flocked to our home and listened to Him. I will always be thankful for the miracle He performed when he raised my dear brother Lazarus from the dead, but I have taken too much of your time. Maybe, I can tell that story at another time. Maybe then, I can share some recipes with you.

               

Q.S.: Thank you. I just might do that. 

                We have heard stories of thankfulness from those who encountered Jesus and received health and life-giving counsel. They each expressed that they were thankful. It is one of the tenets of the Christian faith that God through Jesus Christ teaches us that we are precious in His sight, delivers His children from the bondage of sin, forgives our wrong attitudes, and heals us from hurts.

Who among us has felt unrecognized, underappreciated, or forgotten?

Who among us spent even a small part of our lives angry at Jesus, but, because of a miracle He performed, have allowed Him to guide our lives?

Who among us, faced losing a loved one, and Jesus took over and brought healing?

Who among us has let our passion for our work overshadow our time spent with Jesus?

My questions to you are this: 

Has Jesus performed a miracle in your life that you are thankful for? 

Has He done something today that makes you thankful? 

Have you taken the time to express your thanks to Him?

_______________
I am taking a break until November 28th. I have to get ready for Thanksgiving (clean my house) and try to decorate our house for Christmas. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

A Story of Thankfulness from Malchus

https://burningfireshutinmybones.wordpress.com

Today, we have a very special guest with us. Malchus. He met Jesus in a very unusual way. But Jesus took care of his need, in spite of the fact that Malchus opposed the LORD.

Quiet Spirit: I would like to hear the story of your encounter with Jesus. Malchus, are you ready to share.

Malchus: Yes, I am. I’ll be glad to share with your friends.

            I am a servant in Caiaphas’ household. I started in service as a young boy, about eight or nine. My duties at that time were working with the animals. You know feeding them, cleaning the stalls, and replacing the hay in their stalls. As I got older, those duties changed.

QS: How did you meet Jesus?

Malchus: The year I was 20, on the night of Passover, I found myself going in a group of 200 men, some were assigned to Caiaphas, others were Priests and also there were Roman soldiers. It was dark; we carried torches to illumine our way through Jerusalem, up the Mount of Olives, and into the garden Gethsemane.

    As we approached this man Jesus, the one we followed there gave the sign to identify him. He actually kissed this Jesus person.

    Jesus asked who we were looking for. The priest answered. Jesus asked another question and again the priest answered. One of the men with Jesus asked yet another question and suddenly I felt something hit the side of my head. I reached up with my free hand and felt something warm on my skin. Someone near me held his torch closer to me and shouted, “This man is bleeding; his ear has been cut off.”

    Jesus chided one who was with him “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” He took my severed ear in his hand, placed it against the side of my head; said a few words, and removed his hand. This itinerant preacher, whom everyone wanted to die, healed me!

    My fellow servants told me which one of the men with Jesus did this to me. Later, after they brought Jesus to my master’s house, I recognized that man. I approached him and asked if he was with the Galilean. (Pause) Of course, he denied it.

QS: How has your encounter with Jesus affected your life?

Malchus: All I knew about Jesus was what I overheard from Caiaphas, Annas, and the other priests. I really didn’t care for him. That’s why I didn’t mind going in that group to find him that night.

     However, after he healed me, I thought about how he showed compassion to me by taking the time to do it, someone unworthy. If Jesus had not healed me, I don’t know what my life would have been like. I could have been reduced to a life of begging. He will always have my thanks.

Freely, Freely

Bartimaeus is Thankful

http://bibleoutlines.com/blog/beggars-can-choosers
-healing-blind-bartimaeus

We continue with our talks with Biblical people whose lives have been touched by Jesus. Bartimaeus is waiting in the wings.

Quiet Spirit: Bartimaeus, would you like to go next?

Bartimaeus: Thank you. I am glad to be here today to tell my story.

            I lived in Jericho, a short way from the Mount of Olives. I was among the poorest of the poor; my blindness reduced me to begging. Although the Law told the ‘hale and hearty’ ones to care for those of us who were impaired, it didn’t work that way.

QS: How did you encounter Jesus?

Bartimaeus: One day, I sat along the road leading out of Jericho. I heard a commotion that got louder and louder. I asked the people around me what was happening. They told me, “Jesus is passing by!”

            I had heard of this Jesus. Stories of the miracles He performed were on everyone’s lips. From the time I was a small lad, I heard of the promised Messiah. I had learned He would be a descendant of King David. That day when I was told that Jesus was going past, I believed He was the Messiah, the true Son of David.

            I felt I had to call out to Him. Those around me told me to be quiet, that he had other places to be and other people to meet. I yelled all the louder and got His attention. When He came to me, He asked me, “What do you want me to do for you?” I responded, “Rabbi, I want to see.” He told me my faith had healed me.

QS: How did the people of Jericho respond to you after your encounter with Jesus?

Bartimaeus: My friends were happy for me. Those of the privileged class mocked me. The others, mostly those who didn’t like Jesus, were cynical. They thought my eyesight would go away again. Those who mocked me and those who were cynical believed I was cursed by God for my sins.

QS: How do you feel about what Jesus did for you?

Bartimaeus: I am thankful for Jesus taking the time to come to me and for restoring my sight. Because of what He did, I am able to see the sun and the trees and the plants. I can see the smiles on children’s faces. For these small things, I am eternally thankful.

QS: We rejoice with you over these precious things you can now enjoy. Thank you for stopping by.

Give Me Jesus

The Thankfulness of Jairus

https://ag.org/

Over the next few posts, we will look at some Biblical people and learn why they are thankful for Jesus. These thoughts were written by me for a church drama we gave last year. The first one is Jairus.

Quiet Spirit: Welcome to Following My King, Jairus.

Jairus: Thank you. I was a ruler of our Synagogue in Capernaum. In my work there, I looked after the building, ran the school through the week, supervised the worship services, and found Rabbis to teach on our Sabbath days. My life was blessed by God; I had a wonderful wife and a beautiful daughter.

Q.S.: How did you meet Jesus?

Jairus: I first met Jesus when I engaged Him to preach in our Synagogue one Sabbath. His message set me to thinking. Could what He preached be true?  However, several of the priests and scribes were not pleased with Jesus’ words.

            Later, when my daughter fell ill, I heard He was in our town again. I sought Him out. I fell at His feet and begged Him to heal my daughter. As I spoke to Him, two of my servants approached me with the message that she had died. I became confused, fear overcame me. In that instant, I lost hope. The Teacher spoke words of comfort to me. He said words I have not forgotten, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”

            Jesus accompanied my servants and me to my home. By the time we arrived, a large group of mourners was there. They cried and wailed so loudly, I couldn’t hear The Teacher’s words to my wife and me. He told them that our child was not dead, just asleep. I am afraid those people acted rudely to Him. In spite of their rudeness, Jesus restored our daughter’s life.

Q.S.: How did the community of Capernaum react to you after your encounter with the Lord?

Jairus: The merchants of our town gave us better service. They were friendlier to our servants and to our family. Those associated with the Synagogue treated me differently than before; they were more distant, less friendly. Jesus chose to move to Capernaum, allowing those in the Synagogue to witness His miracles and hear His preaching more often. I am sorry to say that not all the town’s people accepted Him for who He is. There were some who did but they had difficulties dealing with the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Q.S.: How has your experience with Jesus affected your life?

Jairus: My experience with Jesus gave me a new outlook on life. I learned not to take anything for granted; I also learned to treasure my family and my friends.

Q.S.: How do you feel about what Jesus did for you?

Jairus: I am thankful for Jesus’ presence in our town. I am thankful for meeting Him and, especially for His returning our daughter to us.

he has made me glad

Praise His Name

http://www.wallpraise.com/id250.html

Enter his courts with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

The psalmist directs us to be thankful when we enter God’s presence. What does he mean by this?

We are to come before the LORD with gratitude for what he has done for us. We come before Him when we enter His house. Also, we enter his presence when we pray. 

At our church, we have a time of praise and thanksgiving. We are glad (I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”  Psalm 122:1) to be able to assemble together and worship the One True God.

When I awaken each morning, I find myself thanking God for the gift of another day. Between doing this and repeating Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the LORD has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it.” God sets my day for me.

When we eat our supper, I thank God for our food and the privilege of being able to have it in our home.

During this month of Thanksgiving, our Pastor has asked us to journal our praises and write prayers for those praises. I started out recording a praise for each day at the back of my prayer list. I decided to journal those. I had gotten out of the habit of daily journaling. I found that I look forward to that time of day when I can reflect on what God has done for me and the opportunity to give thanks to Him.   

A friend of mine writes out her prayers. She has learned that what she writes comes from her heart.

How are some ways you praise the LORD?

Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks

http://www.christianityeveryday.com/index.php/rejoice-pray-and-give-thanks/

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

Paul tells the believers at Thessalonica this guiding principle.

           

Rejoice: be joyful, express praise.

Always: do it at all times.

 

Wait a minute! No one can be joyful when they have a car wreck, when they lose a loved one through death, or when they are faced with a divorce.

In times like these, we can be thankful that Jesus is there to give us the strength to guide us through the difficulties, the grief, and emotions.

At certain times, we may have to search for reasons to rejoice about the issue we face but, if we ask His guidance, Jesus always shows us His purpose, according to His timing.

pray without ceasing

How can a believer do this? How can we be in prayer non-stop throughout our days?

We should maintain an attitude of prayer. We can pray whenever we come across a need, be it ours or another’s. When we hear another person express a need or a concern, we can offer to pray right then. When we face upsetting circumstances ourselves, we can cry out to Jesus in our hearts.

give thanks IN all circumstances

Paul then tells the Thessalonians and future believers to “give thanks.” When we thank another person, we convey our appreciation of them and their deeds. When we give thanks to the LORD, we humble ourselves before Him and express gratitude for what He has done.

He then tells us to do this in all circumstances. When we first read this, we might gloss over the preposition. He tells us to express our appreciation IN ALL circumstances-whether good or bad.

When we give thanks to the LORD we give homage (honor) to Him for His presence with us. For what He has done for us, or for what He will do to guide us through to the resolution of the issue we face.

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Paul further tells us why we should do these actions. God desires to have us acknowledge Him and what He does on our behalf.

In Times Like These

Being Thankful

Mycrazyblessedlife.com

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, and

 let us make a joyful noise to him with him with songs of praise.

Psalm 95:2 (NIV)

The psalmist gives us a formula with which to approach the LORD. He encourages us to come before Him with thanksgiving.

Have we received an answer to a long-standing prayer request?  When we do, we should give thanks and praise to the LORD.

Has God spoken to us about something that has been on our heart? When He does, the response we give should be one of gratitude.

Has someone reached out to us to bring us out of an emotional low? We should thank God for that person.

Has a total stranger gone out of his way to show you respect?  Our response should be a prayer of giving thanks for that person know only to Go

Has God brought us or a friend’s loved one been brought through major surgery or a major illness? We have only one response that we should have, that of thanksgiving.

Several years ago, I heard a woman say that we should have an attitude of gratitude about all the innumerable ways God helps us throughout our lives.

As children of God, we should learn to practice “Thanks-living” throughout each day of the year.

We should live thankfully each day the Lord gives us.

Thank You, LORD