The "Act" of Being Thankful

  By Rev. David Strader  

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
 

It is the will of God for us to be thankful at all times and in all circumstances that life may bring. As impossible as that may sound, it is something we can achieve! However, we must understand that the reality of being thankful is simply a choice, a choice we all must make each and every day.

So Thankful

  By Rev. Mark A. Staten  

I have been blessed with so many fond memories of Thanksgivings spent at my maternal grandparents' home, enjoying the warm atmosphere of family, friends and of course food! Even as a young boy, I felt so thankful that God placed me in a godly family.

My mother, Sis Marge Staten, who has been promoted and whom I miss so dearly, would reminded me to thank everyone individually before leaving, no matter how great or small their acts of kindness were. Upon returning home, she made sure that I wrote thank you cards to all who had gone above and beyond the call of duty.

I am reminded of that song "Give Thanks with a Grateful heart, Give Thanks to the Holy One, Give Thanks because He's given Jesus Christ His Son for us and now let the poor say I am rich and the weak say I am strong because of what the Lord has done for us. Give Thanks"

Webster defines the word 'Thanks' as, "An acknowledgement of a favor, gift, or benefit; gratitude."

I believe that to show gratitude is to be thankful with a "Grateful Heart" Giving thanks from the heart and with deepest sincerity not just halfheartedly.

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 100:4 "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

 Except for the salvation of a soul I believe that nothing delights God more than when His children utter to Him heartfelt words of thanksgiving.

Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:2 "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"

We are seeing the spirit of unthankfulness all around us today. Unthankfulness is evidence of selfishness and pride. Our beloved J.T. Pugh used to call that "Being drunk on yourself".

Matt 22:36-39

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Being genuinely thankful is evidence of humility and love for God and others.

Webster defines 'Thanksgiving' as "An act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, especially to God."

Everyday should be Thanksgiving, especially for apostolics. When we think of where God has brought us from and where He's taking us to. 

William and Ramona Schlege, INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY, Turkey

November 15-20, 2011

Ed and Mary Simmons, Thailand

Edward Simmons has served as: pastor, Christian school teacher and administrator, Bible school instructor and vice-chairman, and associate pastor. He was the senior associate pastor at Revival Tabernacle, San Diego, California, when he and his wife received their missionary appointment to Thailand in March 2004. The Simmonses went to Thailand in 2001 on the AIM program and preached at the general conference, in many churches, and at the youth conference; taught Bible studies; ministered in Cambodia and northern Thailand; and visited Laos and the Burmese border. They had some very interesting experiences while there: a Malaysian viper in the hotel lobby, a wasp attack, a shootout in Cambodia directly in front of their van, four-wheeling to mountain tribal villages, and listening to the Thai artillery shelling Burmese troops who had crossed the border. Best of all, they saw 38 souls receive the Holy Ghost and 30 baptized in Jesus' name.

December 6-11, 2011

Michael and Lisa Long,  Vanuatu

Mike and Lisa Long received their missionary appointment to Vanuatu in October 2001. He pastored a daughter work of Christian Outreach Center, Houston, Texas, before he and his wife went to Botswana in 1996 to labor as associates in missions with Tim and Carolyn Simoneaux. After completing his Bachelor of Science degree in 1999, another AIM assignment took the Longs to Vanuatu in the South Pacific. He stated, "Since we have been in Vanuatu, we have had the opportunity to go into areas that do not have churches and get the ball rolling to establish a church in their community. We have done this through crusades and home Bible Studies. In one area we have had over 30 in a Bible study. We have been asked to start three churches in different villages and are praying that God will send pastors to these areas."  

Oscar and Erin Rodrigues

January 3-8, 2012

Portugal

Bio: Oscar and Erin Rodrigues were assistant pastor in Manteca, California, for seven years before being appointed intermediate missionaries to Portugal in 2010. Oscar was raised in Portugal where he assisted missionary William Markham for several years before coming to study at CLC Bible College. For the last three years, they have ministered in Portugal during the national conferences. Once the Rodrigueses return to Portugal, it is their vision to establish new churches in the northern region, where there has never been an apostolic church, and then training and developing capable, God-called individuals to pastor these works.

 January 10-15, 2012

  Terry and Cheryl Riddick 

 Cameroon

Bio: In August 1982 the Riddick family arrived in Cameroon working with an oil company. While they worked for the oil company, God allowed them to start the first UPC church in Buea, Cameroon. In 1986 the Riddicks returned to the States and were appointed as full-time missionaries. Since then the Riddicks have been active in ministerial training, church planting, evangelism, and building projects. They operate both a portable Bible school and a full-time Bible school teaching in both French and English. The first regional missionary sent from the West Africa Sub-region is a graduate of the Cameroon Bible College and is now serving in the country of Equatorial Guinea. Riddick also serves as the field superintendent of the UPC of Cameroon and oversees 32 licensed Cameroonian ministers. Terry Riddick serves as coordinator of the Africa Impact Team, a mobile evangelism unit built for all types of terrain

Kevin and Lolita Vacca

March 20-25, 2012

Philippines

Bio: As a U.S. Marine sergeant, Kevin Vacca and his wife, Lolita, were saved in 1982. Within two years they felt called to foreign missions. He eventually left the military to work in the aerospace industry. Because of his job, they were able to serve as AIMers in Germany, Japan, and Taiwan. The Vaccas were appointed to Taiwan in 1994. While attending language school, they organized five international works in five cities. Their appointment was changed to the Philippines in May 1999. In September 2000 they were asked to pastor a Trinitarian church after being invited to preach by the church elders. Shortly thereafter, 33 members were rebaptized in Jesus' name. The church is now a UPC congregation with 200 in attendance. Vacca serves as advisor to Region 2, is a member of the executive board, and serves on three district boards.