"Don't Forget The Armor" - Inspirational Weekend

The above flower and fruit (the ball) are on the Cannonball Tree; a tree with its own weapon !   When the cannonballs fall to the ground (or on your head!)  they burst open and emit a foul odor.  You might say this is a tree with its own armor.  

Christians have armor for their use as well.  The armor of God, that is.  In last weekend's post  I dealt with the subject of strength: how to be strong.  This weekend we will discuss how the armor of God can make you strong and can protect you in this spiritual battle we find ourselves in every day.  Following are verses from Ephesians 6 that describe this armor of God, which verses most Christians are familiar with but I quote it here for unbelievers or those who are not aware of this passage in the Bible.

"(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against  powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  (17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: "  -  Ephesians 6:10-17

We cannot win this spiritual battle by our own human effort; we need the Lord's help and His Spirit, and these verses above inform us how to do just that.   It is good to take note that, in verse 12, it tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood....in other words, we should not lash out at humans that give us a hard time as though they were the real culprits or enemy.  The devil is the real enemy and is able to use people to tear us down and persecute us and to make us lose heart.

Also in verse 12, satan and his fallen angels (demons) are referred to as "spiritual wickedness" and "the rulers of the darkness of this world."  Though powerful, they are not as powerful as God and the Lord can protect us and help us by means of the armor of God.

Please note also that verses 11 and 13 admonish us to "put on the whole armor of God."  Not just a part of it, but all of it.  That is the only way we can stand firm and be strong.  Ancient soldiers equipped themselves with all of their armor when in battle, and we should do the same with our spiritual armor.  

"Having your loins girt about with truth"  (verse 14) ;  The girdle or sash was always an important part of their dress in war as well as in peace.  It was designed to keep every part of the armor in its place, and to gird the soldier on every side. Likewise, believers need the truth of God's Word to keep things in perspective and to help them endure the battle we face with the darkness of evil.  In other words, to hold everything else together as only God's Word is able to do.

"Having on the breastplate of righteousness" (verse 14) ;  Here Paul is showing that true believers are to put on righteousness to protect their hearts as a soldier puts on a breastplate to protect himself.  This righteousness includes integrity, holiness, purity of life, and sincere piety.  

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" (verse 15);  A peaceful and benevolent attitude which is an essential part of the Christian character.  This, like the boots worn by soldiers, will keep you from being harmed by the many difficulties and trials which, like sharp-pointed thorns, may lie in your way and thereby obstruct your progress.

"The shield of faith"   (verse 16)  The apostle alludes to the great oblong shield which covers the whole body.  As faith is the grace by which all others are preserved and rendered active, so faith is properly represented here by a shield by which the whole body is covered and protected.   True faith can quench any dart of the devil.

"The helmet of salvation"  (verse 17).   This protects one's understanding from being darkened and confused by any temptations of the evil one.  It also protects from any subtle views of the ungodly.

"The sword of the Spirit."  The Word of God; the Holy Scriptures.  It comes from the Holy Spirit, and receives its fulfillment in the soul through the workings of the Holy Spirit.  The ability to quote God's Holy Word, especially in times of temptation and trials, can cut in pieces (like a sword) the snares of the adversary and his demons.  

Ephesians 1:19 tells us:  "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."

In other words, God gives us the strength to help us to resist the devil.  As stated previously, we are in a war; a spiritual warfare against the wicked forces of darkness.   This is particularly true of Christians who are living godly lives and sharing the Gospel.  The devil strikes at them especially hard, to bring them down, because he already has the ungodly...the world in general...in his grasp.

So put on the armor that God provides.  The Lord will protect you and help you to endure.

"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you.  Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart - so will you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."  -  Andrew Murray

We should not overlook what Ephesians 6:18 tells us,  "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Prayer gives you strength from the Lord.  It just simply makes all things better to pray.   When you pray and read your Bible daily, you draw ever closer to the Lord, and that alone gives you victory over temptation and discouragement.  When you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, you will live more and more in His presence and grow stronger every day.


"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."   -  1 Corinthians 16:13

The September 23, 2017 Myth

The Internet is overflowing right now with the myth that the Rapture will occur on September 23, 2017, because of the alignment of the stars and of what Revelation 12 records.    Granted, it is possible for the Rapture to occur at any time, even on September 23, but it is not likely on that specific date.  Mainly because of what Jesus said at Matthew 24:36,  "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."  He also says at Matthew 24:44, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh."  In these verses Jesus made it very clear that no one would know the day or the hour when He returns.

Following is a video by Joel Richardson concerning this big to-do over September 23 of this year.  The following video contains a video from Stellarium showing exactly where the stars will be on that date, and it disproves the current theory that it will be the time of the Rapture.  It is a very informative video and Mr. Richardson's thoughts on this false sign of September 23 of this year are worth taking note of.

 Update :  This video was deleted .  To view go to You Tube and type in   ..  The Underground Episode 65 The False Sign of September 23, 2017

Sorry for the inconvenience.

It is very true that this year is worth noting; so many prophecies are coming true almost daily, or are a precursor of what is to come.  I have written several posts about the end times, the Rapture, the Mark of the Beast, the 7 year tribulation, etc.  You may type any of those subjects in the above right search box to take you to those posts.   

Pete Garcia has written an excellent article on how significant the year 2017 is.   For instance, 2017 is 70 years since Israel became a nation again (Israel won the right to statehood on 11-29-47); also, this year, it has been 50 years since they regained Jerusalem in the 6 day war of 1967.  Remember, the Jewish people are special to God; He made an everlasting covenant with them in ancient times and Israel is the LORD's prophetic time clock.  The end times began when Israel became a nation again. You may read Pete Garcia's article here.  

Let us not get so involved in dates and prophecy that we neglect the main thing:  Jesus Christ, our Lord and King and Savior.   We need to stay focused on Him, in worship and in praise.  We need to pray daily and read our Bibles daily so we may grow to know Him better and to thereby have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with Him.  He loves us and wants to hear from us and He wants to fellowship with us.

We should live godly lives, in expectation of our Lord's return at any time.   

"And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."  -  1 John 2:28

"How To Be Strong" - Inspirational Weekend

How refreshing is this small waterfall !  It reminds me of what Jesus called "living water".  (John 7:38).  God's holy Word is even more refreshing - and more rejuvenating - than even this delightful waterfall shown here.  Just a side-note: when I do my daily Bible study I have an internet video going depicting a stream with waterfalls and with birds chirping in the background.  It is very soothing to watch and listen to as I read my Bible.  It is not distracting as the sound is on low and I only occasionally glance at the moving water.  Try it sometime.    

This post is about acquiring strength to face obstacles.  Reading God's Word and immersing yourself in its faith-building truths will enable you to do just that.... to face hardships and trials with the Lord as your strength.   

"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according to Thy word."  -  Psalm 119:28

Philippians 4:13 tells us,  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."   I could almost end this post with that verse, because it just about sums up everything concerning strength and how it is possible when you have the Lord by your side.  You can face anything by the power of God/Jesus and you can endure the impossible in His strength.  Philippians 4:13 is a only a part of what Paul had in mind in this epistle as to Christ's abilities to meet all of our needs.  

A large part of endurance and learning to be strong is found in the ability to learn to be content in whatever circumstances one finds himself in.  (Philippians 4:11).  The more you have your mind on Christ and on heavenly things (and not on the lusts of the world), the more you will find yourself content, serving the Lord and living a godly life, with Jesus to guide and strengthen you in all things.

"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,"  -  Ephesians 1:19-20

"Only he who can say, 'The Lord is the strength of my life' can say 'Of whom shall I be afraid?' "  -  Alexander MacLaren

"You become stronger only when you become weaker.  When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires."  -  Erwin Lutzer

We need to rely on the power of God.  God cannot use a person who is self-centered and who relies on his own strength and not on Him.  That is the epitome of conceit and pride to rely on your own strength.  When we were saved, we were to rely on Jesus as our Lord and Master as well as our Savior.  Inquire of the Lord when you are in doubt and need guidance.   He is waiting to hear from you.   He will give you strength to endure and to face your mountains.   

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength...........But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."    -  Isaiah 40:29, 31

Remember, however, that if you ask for strength, God may give you difficulties to make you strong.  It is through endurance that we learn to be strong.   

"Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath.  For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is."   -  Thomas A. Kempis

Remember Paul and his thorn in the flesh.  In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul describes how he was caught up to the third heaven and that he "heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."  Verse 7 tells us that to keep him from being prideful he was given a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet him.  He prayed to the Lord to remove it, but verse 9 tells us:

"And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."    And continuing with verse 10 of 2 Corinthians 12:  "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

We can see that the Lord's grace was sufficient for Paul because it was a better solution than to remove Paul's thorn.  "Human weakness provides the perfect opportunity for the display of divine power."  

To be strong requires strong faith.  If you have been born-again the Holy Spirit will increase your faith as you study your Bible and as you come to the Lord in much prayer.   Answered prayers is one of the greatest faith-builders there is !    When you are in distress or feeling blue, just remember how many times God has answered your prayers showing how much He loves you and cares for you.  Recalling His goodness and faithfulness toward you will guarantee that you snap out of your negative mood and that you will also be encouraged to continue life's journey with much faith in the Lord, which in turn will make you stronger in your walk with Him.

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."  -  Francis de Sales

"The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God.  When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength."  -  Warren Wiersbe

We find ourselves now living in the end times, the last hours of the last days.  We need our faith and strength in the Lord to be able to endure these perilous times.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5).  But, if you are a true believer in and follower of Jesus Christ,  you will be included in the Rapture of the Church which is soon to happen.  You will therefore not suffer the wrath of God which occurs during the seven year Tribulation period.  You do not want to be "left behind" and see and experience the horrendous judgments during the Tribulation; that is, if you are not saved now, you must give your life to the Lord in faith, believing in Him with all of your heart and also in His resurrection; repenting sincerely of all your sins and asking the Lord to forgive you and give you a humble and contrite spirit.

Time is short !!  


"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened  with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness  of God."   -  Ephesians 3:16-19   

"Fear Not; God Will Save And Deliver You" - Inspirational Weekend

Let us focus now on the good, the lovely, the godly; on the Scriptures and on faith, hope, and love.   The world is full of chaos, deception, terrorism, and the threat of nuclear war.  Many people are fearful and anxious of the things coming upon the earth.  Let us take a peaceful break from all of that and concentrate on the good instead.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  -  Philippians 4:8

What good? you may ask.   You are alive and privileged to draw breath another day.  If you are a Christian - a true believer in Jesus Christ - you have the hope of living forever in all eternity with Jesus and God.  That is good news!

Here is a worship song by Chris Tomlin titled "Fear Not" :

The above song reminds us that God is mighty to save and that He will not abandon us.   (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6)  Even if we die or are killed in a war, etc., God does not abandon us to that fate in the sense that true believers when they die will go immediately into the Lord's presence.   

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 informs us,  (6) "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7) For we walk by faith, not by sight:  (8) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

According to the above Scripture, the believer who has died is immediately at home with Jesus.  That is so much more preferable to this life on this troubled earth.   

It has been said that the subject Jesus mentioned most was "Fear not".  We are so inclined to do just that - to fear.  That is, perhaps, why He mentioned it so often -  365 times - either "fear not" or something along similar lines was spoken by the Lord.  

Once you become a "new creature" in Christ (1 Corinthians 5:17) you will develop a close, personal and intimate relationship with the Lord; that means your faith and trust in Him will grow and you will not fear the unknown or death.   God is in control.  He is watching over you and will take care of you.   

We need to be still and know that He is God.  (Psalm 46:10)

Here is a worship video with beautiful landscapes and Scriptures to help relax you and to help you to take in the healing words and message it contains :

And if you will read your Bible, it tells us how everything will end when all is said and done.   

God wins!  He will gain the victory over satan and the evil principalities.  We will live forever with Him in eternity.  What a hope!   What a future!  

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  -  Romans 8:38-39

For the above to be true for you, you need to accept Jesus as your Savior, Lord, and Master.  Have faith in Him; believe in Him and in His resurrection, and you will be saved.   (Romans 10:9,10,13)

But first you must sincerely repent of your sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness.  God looks at the heart, and if you are truly repentant and have a humble and sincere faith, the Lord will hear and answer that prayer to Him for forgiveness and salvation.

The next step is to find a true Bible-based Christian church and to fellowship with other believers.   (Hebrews 10:25).  Tell the pastor of your decision to follow Christ and to be baptized.   Just a note, baptism does not save you but, rather, it is a public declaration of your faith in the Lord and symbolizes being now dead to sin and raised to life.

And please remember how important it is to read your Bible daily.  That is the primary way God speaks to us.  By daily reading of God's Holy Word you learn of His attributes, His love, and His forgiveness; and you will grow in your love for Him.  This draws you ever closer to Him, as does daily prayer.  The Lord wants to fellowship with us.  And you will discover the power in His Word and the power of prayer.  Which in turn empowers us to live a godly life as we become a friend of God.

"We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God.  He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts."    A. W. Tozer

"Assurance is the fruit that grows out of the root of faith."  -  Stephen Charnock

Faith is the killer of fear.  I used to be fearful of many things before I came to know the Lord.  Now I have peace and know that I am in God's hands, no matter what happens.  Faith gives you a positive attitude and gives you hope.


"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."  -  Psalm 23:4

"Be careful {anxious} for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  -   Philippians 4:6-7  

Have a wonderful and Christ-centered weekend !

The Seven Seals of Revelation - Why A Gap Between The Rapture And The Tribulation (With Video)

I have written previously about a gap of possibly several years between the Rapture of the Church and the beginning of the seven year Tribulation period.   This post includes a video discussing that very subject.  But before we talk about the video, it will be a good idea to discuss the 7 seals of Revelation 6.   There we find the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.  Most of you are familiar with the four horsemen, but many of you probably have not read the Scriptures pertaining to them.   Please read the entire chapter of Revelation 6 for your own edification.  I will touch on those verses briefly now.

Revelation 6:1-2 (the first seal) speaks of the white horse, "and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given him: and he went forth to conquering, and to conquer."  This is the antichrist , who is alive today and will be revealed after the soon rapture of believers.

Revelation 6:4 (the second seal) speaks of the red horse, which symbolizes war.

Revelation 6:5 (the third seal) tells of a black horse, "and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand."  Revelation 6:6 reveals that he represents famine, and economic hard times.

Revelation 6:8 (the forth seal) reveals a pale horse, "and his name that set upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him."

Revelation 6:9-11 (the fifth seal) speaks of "the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"   Notice that these martyrs do not know how long it will be, so, according to Bill Salus, they must have died and said this before the Tribulation began, because the Tribulation begins when Israel signs a peace covenant with the antichrist, and the Bible tells us how long after that before Jesus returns to destroy the wicked on earth and sets up His Millennial Kingdom.  This is expounded upon in the following video.   

Revelation 6:12-17 (the sixth seal) speaks of cosmic disturbances to come upon the earth.  Instead of repenting, the remaining wicked upon earth choose to try to hide.   

The seventh seal begins the seven trumpets.  

In the illustration above, the 5th seal is shown as "Martyrdom and the Great Tribulation."  In the following video from prophecywatchers.com, Bill Salus explains why he believes these seals of Revelation 6 happen after the Rapture but before the Tribulation.

Please watch this video and decide for yourself if you agree with Bill Salus' conclusions.  He "challenges traditional thinking" says Gary Stearman of Mr. Salus.

Whether Bill Salus or anyone else is right or not,  we need to believe the Bible and we need to make sure we are right with the good Lord.  Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.   It does not mean that we will be perfect, but that we should have faith in God and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord, and Master.   We should immediately repent of our sins, and not repeat them and live a life pleasing to the Lord.  We should surrender to Him totally. His will, not ours, be done.   

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  -  Romans 12:1

"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  -  Romans 6:22-23

"Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy."  -  1 Peter 1:16

2030 Agenda And A New Look At The Mark Of The Beast (With Video )

Much has been written about the 2030 Agenda, and I will not elaborate on it except to provide you with a link that will help you understand just what it is truly about.  Think about it!  2030 is less than a full 13 years away.  And the powers that be intend to have every person on earth cataloged and marked by then!  My opinion is that perhaps true believers in Jesus Christ will be taken to heaven before then.  Please go to the following link:

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-2030-agenda-this-month-the-un-launches-a-blueprint-for-a-new-world-order-with-the-help-of-the-pope

The following video featuring Carl Gallups is very informative and chock full of new thoughts on the Mark of the Beast spoken of in the Bible at Revelation 13.

Speaking of the beast or the antichrist, Revelation 13:15-18 tells us:  (15) "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed (16) And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  (18) Here is wisdom,  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."

In the video above, Mr. Gallups explains that man is a carbon-based life form.  "Carbon 12  is a major component of life and of DNA, of our chemical make-up.  Carbon 12 consists of 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons, which equals 666, the number of man or the number of humanity."   Interesting!  The antichrist (the beast) will be human, but he will be indwelt by satan himself.   You will find the above video compelling.

The fact that we are presently being cataloged and scanned and tracked tells you that we are near the beast system.   But my eyes and concerns are not on the antichrist.   

My eyes are on Jesus Christ, and His soon return to rapture true believers to heaven to be with Him.  

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."  -  Jesus at Luke 21:28

"Gratitude And Thankfulness Pleases God And Jesus" - Inspirational Weekend

"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it."  -  A.W. Tozer

The quote above is so true.  When things are going badly or I get a little discouraged, all I have to do is remember how God has blessed me in so many ways and when I pray and thank the Lord for His goodness and His blessings, it relieves any negativity that has crept into my thoughts and puts me back on the right track. Worshiping and praising the Lord is the most positive and powerful antidote for any type of upset or discouragement.  It causes me to remember all the ways God has "rescued" me in the past, and that in turn increases my gratitude many times over.  It also increases my faith tremendously to recall His goodness to me in times past, as well as in the here and now.

"God wants to see prayers that are filled with genuine praise and thanksgiving for what He has done in the past.  He wants our hearts to be filled with awe and gratitude for His blessings.  He wants us to set up memorials in our hearts testifying to the provisions He has given us."  -  Michael Youssef

The Bible is full of men of God who expressed their gratitude and thankfulness to their Creator.   Job lost all of his children and all of his wealth and was stricken with painful boils all over his body (all at satan's wicked hand).   Although Job did not realize the evil one was behind all his troubles and pain, still Job had faith in the goodness of God and said at Job 1:21, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."  Job was grateful to God and still praised Him in his adversity.

Consider how the apostle Paul was persecuted and all of the hardships that he endured during his ministry and in preaching of the Gospel.   Yet his letters to the churches were full of thanksgiving.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul wrote,  (16) "Rejoice evermore.  (17) Pray without ceasing. (18) In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

All one has to do is read the Psalms of David to grasp how much he gave praise to God and that he was grateful for all the LORD's provisions and protection and guidance.

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." - Psalm 100:4

Consider how Jesus Christ suffered and died at Calvary so that all who believe in Him and in His resurrection may have eternal life. How could we not be grateful for His sacrifice and for the extreme and supreme love He demonstrated in doing so for us!!

"If we comprehend what Christ has done for us, then surely out of gratitude we will strive to live "worthy" of such great love.  We will strive for holiness not to make God love us but because He already does."  -  Philip Yancy

May all of us say a prayer like what George Herbert said, "Thou who has given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart."

Just as parents are pleased when their children show them gratitude, so it pleases God and Jesus when we are thankful and grateful to them for their many blessings.

Here is a lovely song on thankfulness by Josh Groban:

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."  -  Colossians 3:15

"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and  power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.  Amen."  -  Revelation 7:12