Giving Thanks
Home
Collections
Giving Thanks
Back to Collections

Giving Thanks

This personal Collection page is inspired by my wife, Sarah's, battle with breast cancer in 2004. Despite the uncertain outcome, she gave thanks to God. Displaying "IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS" in our kitchen served as a daily reminder. Anchored in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we questioned how to give thanks in the face of fear and helplessness. Sam Ericsson, founder of Advocates International, lived a life of thanksgiving, partying in victory and defeat. Explore this collection to uncover the power of gratitude and life-changing "coincidences".

Chevron
Read More
Chevron

Articles

Have You Thanked God Today for Your Vulnerabilities?

Have You Thanked God Today for Your Vulnerabilities?

Consider the following Scripture passages that use bride and groom analogies to describe Jesus’ relationship with the body of Christ: And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. (2 Corinthians 11:2) As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)

Have You Thanked God Today for Your Vulnerabilities?
Marriage
Image duration icon
4
min read
What I Am Grateful for This Year

What I Am Grateful for This Year

In the larger scheme of things, what I'm particularly grateful for this year is no big deal to many. And that’s actually my point. I had cataract surgery. In addition to the cataract, I had an astigmatism that made it difficult for me to see through eyeglasses.

What I Am Grateful for This Year
Christian Life
Image duration icon
5
min read
Have You Learned Yet What a “Sacrifice of Thanksgiving” Is?

Have You Learned Yet What a “Sacrifice of Thanksgiving” Is?

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the apostle Paul reminded the church in Thessalonica, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (5:18). This is one of four times in which Scripture clearly tells us what the will of God is. I call these the four universal wills of God, and I have written about them extensively in my book, The Four Wills of God, and how our following these four universal wills of God can lead to learning His unique will for us in our individual lives.

Have You Learned Yet What a “Sacrifice of Thanksgiving” Is?
Christian Life
Image duration icon
6
min read
Give a Sacrifice of Praise to God This Thanksgiving

Give a Sacrifice of Praise to God This Thanksgiving

The Bible commands us to give thanks as a sacrifice of praise. The writer of Hebrews penned, "let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name . . . for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Hebrews 13:15–16).When our prayers are answered, when healing comes, when financial blessings rain down upon us, most of us are liberal to give thanks and praise to God (as we certainly should). But that is not what is meant by a “sacrifice of praise.” Hopefully, it is not much of a sacrifice to give praise for the great things in your life.

Give a Sacrifice of Praise to God This Thanksgiving
Christian Life
Image duration icon
3
min read
A Thankful Heart Forgives

A Thankful Heart Forgives

Forgiving, as hard as it is, is not an option for the believer. Jesus prayed, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). John made it clear that forgiveness is evidence of God’s work in us. In 1 John 4:19-21, he wrote: “We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

A Thankful Heart Forgives
Christian Life
Image duration icon
5
min read
The Difference Between Saying "Thanks" and Being Grateful, Part 3

The Difference Between Saying "Thanks" and Being Grateful, Part 3

In part 2, we discussed the need to focus on the tangible things that we do have instead of on what we do not, in order to help develop a more grateful heart. But there is one more suggestion on what our focus should center in on. Two, focus on the intangible things that we do have instead of fixating on the tangibles we do not have.Those of us who lack material goods could whine, "Well, I cannot be grateful for tangible blessings since I have so few."

The Difference Between Saying "Thanks" and Being Grateful, Part 3
Christian Life
Image duration icon
8
min read
Should You Read a Letter Like This to Your Family This Thanksgiving?

Should You Read a Letter Like This to Your Family This Thanksgiving?

A wife shared with me the following letter that she read aloud to her family on Thanksgiving 2007: “Every Thanksgiving we usually go around the table and say what we are thankful for before saying grace. This is usually a very easy task for me because God has blessed me so much, with three healthy children that I am able to stay home with, a beautiful home, my own health, good relationships with all of my family members, and the list could go on and on.

Should You Read a Letter Like This to Your Family This Thanksgiving?
Parenting
Image duration icon
4
min read
The Difference Between Saying "Thanks" and Being Grateful, Part 2

The Difference Between Saying "Thanks" and Being Grateful, Part 2

In part 1 of this Thanksgiving-themed article, we discussed the idea of being like a parrot in our giving thanks: we say the words with our mouth but have no heartfelt understanding behind the words and do not truly have a grateful heart. But I have two suggestions for you on how to live your life more with a grateful heart.One, focus on the tangible things that we do have instead of fixating on what we do not have.

The Difference Between Saying "Thanks" and Being Grateful, Part 2
Christian Life
Image duration icon
8
min read

Podcast

Saying "Thanks" Versus Being Grateful - Part II

Saying "Thanks" Versus Being Grateful - Part II

We can say "thanks" but not be grateful. We can mouth words but our hearts are elsewhere. We are fixated on ourselves. We have probably all seen this in ourselves. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:2 that people can be "lovers of self... ungrateful." We can even sing a song of thanks while in a worship service at church but inwardly dwell on the hurt and offense we feel toward someone who wronged us the day before. Join Emerson and Jonathan in part 2 this week as they continue the conversation about gratefulness, but focusing on the intangible.

Christian Life
Episode Number Icon
Episode
125
Image duration icon
36:06
Saying "Thanks" Versus Being Grateful - Part II
Saying "Thanks" Versus Being Grateful - Part I

Saying "Thanks" Versus Being Grateful - Part I

We can say "thanks" but not be grateful. We can mouth words but our hearts are elsewhere. We are fixated on ourselves. We have probably all seen this in ourselves. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:2 that people can be "lovers of self... ungrateful." We can even sing a song of thanks while in a worship service at church but inwardly dwell on the hurt and offense we feel toward someone who wronged us the day before. Join Emerson and Jonathan this week in this two part series which starts with how we can be grateful for the tangible things in our lives.

Christian Life
Episode Number Icon
Episode
124
Image duration icon
38:40
Saying "Thanks" Versus Being Grateful - Part I
Do You Remain Thankful During The Tough Times?

Do You Remain Thankful During The Tough Times?

Are you thankful in the good times? Are you thankful in the difficult times? The Bible states that it is God's will that we be thankful, no matter the circumstances, although not necessarily for the circumstances. Join Emerson and Jonathan this week as they discuss this important topic during the Thanksgiving season.

Christian Life
Episode Number Icon
Episode
71
Image duration icon
33:57
Do You Remain Thankful During The Tough Times?
Six “Thank You” Statements to Say to Your Spouse

Six “Thank You” Statements to Say to Your Spouse

In the book, Love & Respect, “love” is spelled to a wife using the acronym C.O.U.P.L.E. and “respect” to a husband using the acronym C.H.A.I.R.S. This week Emerson and Jonathan ask listeners to consider how they might express thankfulness to their spouse in one of these six areas, asking wives to thank their husband for at least one of the ways he shows love and asking husbands to thank their wife for at least one of the ways she shows respect.

Marriage
Episode Number Icon
Episode
31
Image duration icon
29:10
Six “Thank You” Statements to Say to Your Spouse

Ask Emerson

Collections

Articles, Podcasts, Ask Emerson on a concept or theme

View More Collections
Chevron

Unconditional Love and Respect In Marriage

The Rewarded Cycle

Sexual Intimacy

Women Need Respect and Men Need Love