Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

A word of thanks from Richard (Dick) and Joy Innes

On this Thanksgiving Day (U.S.A.), Joy and I wish all subscribers a most gratifying and memorable day. There is so much we have to be thankful for, not only for God's unending blessings, but also for the affirmation and encouragement we have received from so many of you.

Thank you for reading and for thinking about my writings. We also want to thank those of you who have taken the time to send in your comments and suggestions and finally, at this very challenging time of the year a very special word of thanks to all who have supported our work with donations and purchasing our books. You are the ones who make Daily Encounter available to more than 367,000 subscribers worldwideâ€"every weekday of the year.

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"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving kindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night."¹

"Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair; I envied herâ€"she seemed so happy, and how, I wished I were so fair; When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle; she had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, a smile. Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two feetâ€"the world is mine.

"And when I stopped to buy some sweets, the lad who served me had such charm; he seemed to radiate good cheer, his manner was so kind and warm; I said, 'It's nice to deal with you, such courtesy I seldom find'; he turned and said, 'Oh, thank you sir.' And then I saw that he was blind. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes, and the world is mine.

"Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue; he stood and watched the others play, it seemed he knew not what to do; I stopped a moment, then I said, 'Why don't you join the others, dear?' He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear. Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two ears, the world is mine.

"With feet to take me where I'd go / with eyes to see the sunsets glow / with ears to hear what I would know / I am blessed indeed / The world is mine / oh, God, forgive me when I whine."²

As most readers will realize, today in the USA is Thanksgiving Day...a day when friends and family all across this land will join together in a great day of feasting, but I cannot help but wonder how many of us will be truly thankfulâ€"I mean truly thankful to God for the abundant blessings he has given to those of us who live in free countries.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give to me a thankful heartâ€"a heart to remember your loving kindness every morning and your faithfulness every nightâ€"and that your blessings are new every morning and your faithfulness is unto all generations. Grant that I will always lend a helping hand to others less fortunate than I. And above all else beside, I thank you with all my heart and soul that your gift of eternal life and salvation is available to 'whosoever will may come.' Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Psalm 92:1-2 (NKJV).
2. Source Unknown.

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