A man went into a flower shop and ordered flowers

A man went into a flower shop and ordered flowers, saying: "These are my wife's favorite." The young lady expressed sympathy at the illness of the wife. "Ill, my wife is as well as your are." The young woman apologized; saying: "Sir, I beg your pardon for my mistake, but to tell the truth, husbands don't usually buy flowers for their wives unless they are sick or dead."

Gratitude, like love, ought to express itself more frequently. Paul said [Eph. 5:20]; "Giving thanks always for all things." Thanksgiving should be an all-through-the-year-proposition. It is something much deeper than a feeling. All too often Thanksgiving is just another Holiday. Let us offer this day a:

Paul said it this way: "The fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Open acknowledgement of Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins should be our primary sacrifice of praise. Q. Will November 25 be just another holiday? Did you know Sacrifices of Thanksgiving date back to the Old Testament (see Lev. 7)? Q. Did you know that the traditional purpose of sacrifice has been to establish a favorable relationship between God and man? Q. I also know because Christ became the eternal sacrifice for sin, "..there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Heb.. 10:26). Animal and material sacrifices of the Old Testament are no longer needed, but "Through Jesus .... let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise ... the fruit of our lips that confess his name." (Heb. 13:15).

Q. AND WHAT ARE THE SACRIFICES OF PRAISE? Open acknowledgment of Jesus as the sacrifice for sins should be our primary sacrifice of praise. Yes, verbalization as a means of praising God is often abused, but is still needed. And when "..men praise the Lord for His goodness," a mutual bond develops between the one praised and the one praising.

The second Sacrifice of Praise is made with our possessions. None of us are so poor but that we have something to share with others. What we do with our possessions, whether we hoard them, waste them, or share them, demonstrates too God our attitude toward Him. "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" [Heb. 13: 16].

The third sacrifice of praise is the giving of ourselves. In the times of material prosperity it is easy to give of our possessions and not of ourselves. My Friends, God is looking for more than a few trips to church and a contribution to a favorite charity; we owe Him more. To give our possessions and not ourselves is less than acceptable praise. We must share our lives if we would praise Him.

Today's praise is not sufficient for tomorrow. Sacrificing will not always be pleasurable, but the end results produces Joy and Pleasure. Jesus knew what He was facing as He went to Jerusalem; "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross..." [Heb.12: 2].

Someone said; "No longer can the church say: "Silver and gold have I none," and most churches cannot say to the lame man, "Rise up and walk." Today we are more problem conscious than power conscious.

><)))> In "HIS" Service

Bro. Roy

Gracious Lord God, as we prepare for Thanksgiving Day, let us prepare our hearts. As many across the nation are worshipping together, let us join together in praising You and counting our blessings, for we each have some, perhaps more than we realize -- we are here! Any day that one can get out of bed is a day to be grateful. We thank You for Your sustaining grace, Your protection, and for Your presence in our lives through good times and through trying times this past year. ... We pray for those in this country, and in other nations around the world, who are suffering and need Your help. ... As You have blessed us, help us to be a blessing to others, in sharing where we can, and in praying that You will sustain them and supply their needs.

by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted for noncommercial use.