For anyone to be truly thankful, they need to be growing in their knowledge of God.

We need to “Know that the LORD, He is God!”

Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.  This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 3.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.(Psalm 100:3 NLT)

 Know that the LORD, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm 100:3 ESV)

We learn to know God better by studying Scripture. Listed below are a few of the facts that scripture teaches us about God.

• There is only one true God.

 There is … one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV)

For there is one God, …(1 Timothy 2:5 ESV)

• God created and sustains the universe and everything in it.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. …(Genesis chapters 1 & 2 ESV)

• God created us.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  And God blessed them. (Genesis 1:27-28 ESV)

• God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

• God sent a Savior into the world.

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17 ESV)

• God loves his children with an immeasurable love.

 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1 ESV)

• God is our shepherd.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  (Psalm 23:1-6)

Know that the LORD, He is God!

• There is only one true God.
• God created and sustains the universe and everything in it.
• God created us.
• God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.
• God sent a Savior into the world.
• God loves his children with an immeasurable love.
• God is our shepherd.

Know that the LORD,
He is God!
It is He who made us,
and we are His;
we are His people,
and the sheep of His pasture.
(Psalm 100:3 ESV)

Happy Thanksgiving

We will look at Psalm 100 verse 4 in a future post.

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Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.  This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 2.

Worship is a significant part of Thanksgiving.

• We can worship the Lord with singing.

Worship the Lord with gladness.  Come before him, singing with joy.  (Psalm 100:2 NLT)

Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (Psalm 100:2 ESV)

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (Psalm 100:2 NIV)

When we worship we should do it:

Cheerfully

Willingly

Happily

Gladly

• We can worship the Lord by serving others.

Serve the LORD with gladness!

In many Scripture passages, the original words for “worship” and “serve” are used interchangeably.  We can also worship the LORD by serving others.  We should look for ways to willingly, cheerfully, happily, and joyfully serve others during this holiday season, and throughout the year.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,   I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’   “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?   When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?    When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’   “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’  (Matthew 25:35-40)

 Serve the Lord with gladness!

Worship the Lord with gladness. 

Come into his presence with singing!Happy Thanksgiving

We will look at Psalm 100 verse 3 in a future post.

 Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.

This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 1.

• Thanksgiving should be directed “to the Lord”. He is the focus of our praise.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! (Psalm 100:1 NLT)

 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! (Psalm 100:1 ESV)

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 100:1 NIV)

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 100:1 NASB)

• Thanksgiving should be done with energy and enthusiasm.

Psalm 95:1-2 reinforces the idea of enthusiastically and joyfully praising and thanking God for all He has done for us.

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! (Psalm 95:1-2 ESV)

Psalm 150:3-6 also encourages us to “Make a joyful noise to the LORD”.

Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:3-6 ESV)

• Thanksgiving should be directed to the Lord with energy and enthusiasm.

 “Shout with joy to the Lord.”

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord.”

“Shout for joy to the Lord.”

“Shout joyfully to the Lord.”

“Make a joyful noise to Him.”

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Happy Thanksgiving

We will look at Psalm 100 verse 2 in a future post.

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Thanksgiving

• It is good to give thanks to the Lord.

 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High. (Psalm 92:1 NLT)

• Give thanks to God because He is good.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.  (1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT)

• Be thankful in all circumstances.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

• Thank God for sending Jesus into the world.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NLT)

• Thank God for the gift of salvation.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT)

• If you have received this gift of salvation, thank God for giving purpose and meaning to your life.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

 

As you celebrate this Thanksgiving season remember:

• It is good to give thanks to the Lord.
• Give thanks to God because He is good.
• Be thankful in all circumstances.
• Thank God for sending Jesus into the world.
• Thank God for the gift of salvation.
• If you have received this gift of salvation, thank God for giving purpose and meaning to your life.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20 NLT)

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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ….Then God said, “…. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”  So God created …. every sort of bird…. . And God saw that it was good.  (Genesis 1:1, 20-21 NLT)

 

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.  (Romans 1:20

Do you see the invisible qualities of God when you look at the world around you?  Maybe not.

Some people “just don’t get it” when it comes to the truths of God and the truths of the Bible.

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.  (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT)

Do you want a right relationship with God, but “just don’t get it”?  Are you confused about the truths of the scriptures?  Ask God to open your eyes and reveal His truths to you.

Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.   (Psalm 119:18 NLT)

God will hear and answer your prayer.

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.  And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.  (1 John 5:14-15 NLT) 

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
(Psalm 34:8 NLT)

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What Kind of People Does God Use?

God used a man who ate bugs.

God uses all kinds of people.

 

God used:

A drunk.

A man who had speech problems or at least the lack of confidence to speak publicly.

A prostitute.

A doubter.

An old man.

An adulterer and a murderer.

A man who ran from Him.

A tax collector.

A little Boy.

A daydreamer.

A cheater.

A physically unattractive lady.

A man who had long hair and was a womanizer.

Someone “too young”.

A gossip.

A man who preached naked.

A man who went bankrupt.

A man who was suicidal.

A man who was abused.

A man who was afraid.

A lady who was divorced (multiple times).

A widow.

A man who denied Christ three times.

A lady who worried about everything.

A man who was small and money hungry.

Men who fell asleep while praying.

A Pharisee who persecuted Christians.

 

God uses people who are less than perfect.  That’s a good thing because no one is perfect.  No one is without sin.

As the Scriptures say,

“No one is righteous—
not even one.
No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)

We are all infected and impure with sin.
When we display our righteous deeds,
they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
and our sins sweep us away like the wind.  (Isaiah 64:6 NLT)

Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.  (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT)

God can use anyone He chooses to use.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT)

Do you want God to use your life? Are you willing to surrender your life to God?

 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2  NLT)

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:23-25 NLT)

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What do You See When You Look at Your Selfie?

What should you be seeing if you are a Christian?  Is your true identity being revealed?

What does God see when He looks at you?

What does God see when He looks at any Christian?

What is true about all Christians?  (Part 4 of 4)

A Christian is a person who is: (from Have You Taken Any Selfies Lately? 1-3)

Loved by God.

Chosen by God.

Adopted into God’s family.

Filled with the Holy Spirit.

Called by God.

Given faith to believe.

Favored by God.

Eternally saved.

Created by God to do good works.

A light in this world.

An ambassador.

Now that you know all these things about yourself, and this is only a partial list, how should you (if you are a Christian) respond?

You need to know that you did not, and cannot, earn or deserve any of the qualities listed above.

What is a good response for something unearned and undeserved?

Your response should include the following.  Again, this is just a partial list of responses.

Respond by:

• Loving God and loving people.

…. “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. ³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’  ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 NLT)

• Walking humbly with God

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.  (Micah 6:8 NLT)

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  (1 Peter 5:6 NLT)

But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12 NLT)

• Worshiping the Lord continually.

Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker…  (Psalm 95:6 NLT)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1 NLT)

Then I will praise God’s name with singing,
    and I will honor him with thanksgiving.  (Psalm 69:30 NLT)

Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.  (Psalm 100:2 NLT)

• Treating others appropriately.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  (Colossians 3:12 NLT)

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  (Ephesians 4:2 NLT)

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  (Philippians 2:3 NLT)

Conclusion:

A Christian is a person who is:  (from Have You Taken Any Selfies Lately? 1-3)

Loved by God.

Chosen by God.

Adopted into God’s family.

Filled with the Holy Spirit.

Called by God.

Given faith to believe.

Favored by God.

Eternally saved.

Created by God to do good works.

A light in this world.

An ambassador.

A Christian should respond by:

Loving God and loving people.

Walking humbly with God

Worshiping the Lord continually.

Treating others appropriately.

 

^…. anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.

The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

(2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

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Francis Scott Key describes America as “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. 

July 4^th is a day set aside each year to celebrate our nation’s birth. July 4^th is a time to celebrate America’s independence.  July 4^th is a time to be reminded of the fact that freedom came with a price.  Many people fought and died for the freedoms we now experience.

July 4^th is also a good time to be reminded that genuine freedom comes from God, not from government.

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.       (2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence

“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor”               -President George Washington

“I believe with all my heart that standing up for America means standing up for the God who has so blessed our land. We need God’s help to guide our nation through stormy seas. But we can’t expect Him to protect America in a crisis if we just leave Him over on the shelf in our day-to-day living.”   -Ronald Reagan

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  (John 8:36 NLT)

³¹ Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. ³² And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  (John 8:31-32 NLT)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD … (Psalm 33:12 ESV)

Enjoy your Independence Day Holiday.

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What do You See When You Look at Your Selfie?

What should you be seeing if you are a Christian?  Is your true identity being revealed?

What does God see when He looks at you?

What does God see when He looks at any Christian?

What is true about all Christians?  Part three.

A Christian is a person who is: (from previous posts)

Loved by God.

Chosen by God.

Adopted into God’s family.

Filled with the Holy Spirit.

Called by God.

Given faith to believe.

Favored by God.

Eternally saved.

What else is true about Christians?  What else is true about you, if you are a Christian?

A Christian is a person who was created by God to do good works.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

A Christian’s life has purpose and meaning.  God has given Christians important responsibilities to carry out.

A Christian is a person who is called to be a light in this world.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT)

 A Christian is an ambassador.

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT)

 

A Christian is a person who is:

Created by God to do good works.

A light in this world.

An ambassador.

 

^…. anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.

The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

(2 Corinthians 5:17NLT)

 

“Have You Taken Any Selfies Lately?” will be continued in future posts.

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Our Father in heaven,
   may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
   as it is in heaven.

  

 

 

 

Give us today the food we need,
   and forgive us our sins,
   as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
   but rescue us from the evil one.  (Matthew 6:9-13 NLT)

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!                                                                                                                   (1 John 3:1 NLT)

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