(Again,stolen from my dear friend Ann.She's such a gifted writer ! Tomorrow,I promise an original :) I will be sharing my thanksgiving list.So,stay tuned......)
I loved this message, as I prayed for a word today to minister to my heart, who better for the Lord to send a word from but Francis? I know it will minister to many. We must give thanks in every situation, in every relationship, in every storm. Lord let your joy be our strength. Bring reconciliation Lord where it's needed, comfort those of us who are facing the holidays in a place of dividedness in families, natural or spiritual. Heal wounds, bring forgiveness, Holy Spirit be our comforter. Give us your unconditional love for one another. Thank you so much for every single person you have placed in my life for me to love with your heart. Give me new ways to show my gratitude for them. Thank you for giving us our breath, our lives. I want to be like you Jesus, use me Lord. Love you so much.
Enter Their Gates With Thanksgiving
By Francis Frangipane
For the last several messages, the Holy Spirit has been urging us to deal with issues of the heart. We've focused on issues like cold love, anger, grumbling and betrayal. Now, I'd like to share what I believe is a means to discovering the life of God. I am speaking of possessing a thankful heart. It is truly a place of immunity from the demonic and fleshly storms that come our way in life. Of course, there are some people that test not only our character but also our sanity. I remember visiting a church and seeing a sign in the pastor's office over the door. It
read, "Everyone who walks through this door makes me happy: some when they
enter the room and others when they leave."
Well, that's one way to keep our spirits up, but it's not exactly what I mean. I'm saying we can be thankful that God is with us no matter who walks through the door. In fact, the Bible tells us to "rejoice always . . . [and] in everything give
thanks." (1 Thess. 5:16, 18). The Word doesn't say thank God for everything,
but thank Him in everything. In every battle there is a place where we can
find God. In every conflict there exists a spiritual means to ascend into
God's presence, where we can ride out the storm. A thankful spirit sustains
us when we otherwise would faint. It makes us alive to the awareness of
God's nearness. The truth is, that no matter what trial we are in, God is
there with us. A thankful spirit acknowledges Him, identifying His blessings
and appropriating His gifts; gratitude escorts us into the presence of God.
Even Trouble-Makers
The value of gratitude goes beyond transforming our hearts, it can also
transform the people who are near us. Certainly, we can see what's wrong
with people, but have we ever actually thanked God for them, even the
trouble-makers? You see, without them, we would never mature spiritually!
They thrust us out of ourselves, causing us to rely more completely upon the
help of God. Yet, gratitude is actually a form of spiritual warfare,
especially when it comes to healing human relationships. True, there are
times when, for a variety of reasons, people are not open to us and they
shun our initiatives for peace or reconciliation. However, I believe if we
were more genuinely appreciative of them, in time they might relax their
guard and open up. The value of gratitude goes beyond transforming our
hearts, as we appreciate others, we can also transform those near us.
You see, not only is Jerusalem surrounded by walls and gates, our souls also
are protected by barriers; we too have walls and gates surrounding our
lives. We have "eye gates" and "ear gates" that allow influences into our
soul. But we are not open to everyone. We've learned to protect ourselves
instinctively from emotionally damaging people. On the other hand, the words
of loving, appreciative people inspire us to drop our guard and let them in.
Just as God requires we enter His gates with thanksgiving, so it is with
human nature, for we are made in God's image. If we expect others to open up
to us, it is important we express our gratitude for the good we see in them.
Of course, people do not have to be perfect for us to appreciate godly
elements in their character or personality. When I voice my gratitude for a
specific quality or virtue that I see in another, I affirm and strengthen
that virtue. By so doing, I also gain their trust.
For example, if you're not thankful for your teenagers, your disappointment
with them will push them away from you. The Bible says that a "false balance
is an abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 11:1). Sometimes we can be so focused
on the negatives in our kids that we drive them away. We communicate with
anger and disgust, weary of the battle we've been having with them. Yet, if
we take time and sincerely communicate the things we appreciate about them
(and those things are there. You must just find them), your teens will relax
their guard.
Parents, as an experiment, dismiss for several weeks the obligatory
criticisms you usually express when you and your kids are together. Instead,
tell them the things you appreciate about them. You see, each of us needs to
know we are appreciated at least for something. Even God responds positively
to praise! Such reinforcement empowers our desires to do well and increases
our sense of self-worth and value.
There is something like radar inside the human heart that senses the
displeasure of others. Displeasure and ingratitude are like a repellant to
human relationships.
Acceptance: Oxygen For The Soul
Because God has designed us to be social creatures, we each enter the world
with an innate desire for acceptance. By appreciating our loved ones, we
affirm and help settle their quest for acceptance, without which they might
otherwise be compelled toward ungodly associations. Just as when property
appreciates it increases in value, so when we appreciate our loved ones,
destructive tendencies created by self-hatred and fear of rejection diminish
proportionally. By appreciating what we see as right in people, their soul
nurses on the life of love and acceptance.
There is something like radar inside the human heart that senses the
displeasure of others. Displeasure and ingratitude are like a repellant to
human relationships. People think, if I can't measure up --- if you can't
see anything good in me --- I'll go where people will accept me as I am.
Thanksgiving brings our loved ones closer to us rather than driving them
away.
At the same time, I know people in marriages that, every time they get
together, they wind up discussing what's wrong with their relationship. Why
not take a few weeks and shift the focus to appreciating what's right in
each other?
Some of us have been ungrateful, gossiping and grumbling. So, for those in
particular, I'm calling for a thirty-day fast. From what? Let's fast from
ingratitude. For the next thirty days, each time you would have complained,
grumbled or been ungrateful about something or someone, focus instead on
things for which you are thankful. Make a list of at least seven people in
your world that you know fairly well and write down seven things in each of
their lives for which you are appreciative. Over the next two or three
weeks, tell them how much you appreciate this or that quality you've
observed in them. Finally, let's see if most of these very people do not
begin to automatically open up when you draw near; let's see if you can't
enter their gates with thanksgiving.
