Thankfulness expressed is gratitude. The scriptures recount many stories of gratitude and ingratitude as object lessons to teach us God's ways. Mephibosheth's attitude is instructive. Are we showing our gratitude to God and encouraging others by showing our appreciation for their support in our lives?

As people rush greedily to snatch up bargains on Black Friday, one is left to wonder whether Thanksgiving holds any meaning for most North Americans. Is thankfulness important? And if so, “Who should we thank, and why should we be thankful?” Jeff Patton rehearses the lessons that God wanted his people to know and that very few people seem to value to their detriment. Thankfulness has its rewards, as does ingratitude. We get to choose the outcome based on our attitudes.

Petitions, Prayers, Intercession and Thanksgiving God hears the petitions and prayers of his people. Whether we are in personal distress, or our nations are facing daunting foes, our prayers can make all the difference. Hezekiah, the King of Judah, knew this to be true when the Assyrians attacked Jerusalem. Earlier, Hezekiah had been on his death bed, but God had heard his prayers and seen his tears, and healed him of a fatal illness. So when Sennacharib’s army began to demolish the cities of Judah, Hezekiah knew where to turn for help. Do we?

A spirit of generosity is an element that has united brethren for millennia, beginning in those very first weeks when the brethren in the Jerusalem church supported those who had travelled from afar with food and lodging. Our generosity towards others is an outgrowth of God's generosity towards us, for not only has he provided all of our physical benefits but he has given us the great hope of eternal life. Paul in writing to the brethren in Rome, reiterated the vital importance of giving generously in our service to God and to those in our care. He asks us to reflect on whether our spiritual sacrifice reflects that generous spirit in the use of the gifts we have been given. Whether writing to the Corinthians or Ephesians or speaking with the Macedonians or the Greeks in Athen's his generosity of spirit was evidenced in how he treated the believer and the non-believer. Are we living with a deep appreciation of God's graciousness towards us and are we living with that same generosity of spirit in our interactions with others? It's time to consider how we can better reflect God's nature in this matter. http://www.cogwebcast.com https://rumble.com/c/c-1238254 https://www.minds.com/JudeoChristian/ https://odysee.com/@JudeoChristian:59dafee676c47dae75ce1f9db7bc0c7bc10e5883 https://www.youtube.com/user/cogwebcast https://www.facebook.com/pg/cogwebcast/posts/

Some of the Separatists and Non-conformist Christians found refuge in the new world. Their's is a story of thankfulness in tough times. One couple, Steven and Ann Mumford, sailed for Rhode Island in the hopes of escaping the religious discrimination in England that had made life increasingly difficult. Rhode Island's governor had provided a safe haven for these religious refugees with the creation of a Charter in 1663 that guaranteed freedom of worship. Over time the Mumford's and others established the first Sabbath-keeping congregation in the colonies. Their efforts created the legacy upon which the modern Churches of God have been built.