OHL Thanks2012 Inside rEVISED 4.1

7/30/2019 OHL Thanks2012 Inside rEVISED 4.1

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Thanks Aloud!

Most Bible students call the last 5 Psalms the Hallelujah Psalms because they

all start and end with the Hebrew word "Hallelujah" Praise the Lord! The Jews

spoke the Hebrew language and wrote their psalms in Hebrew. "Halel" means

"praise", or "tell someone that they are very great". The "u" means "you" ... all

of you! "Jah"is one of Gods names. So it is fitting to use these passages for our

2012 thanksgiving campaign.

There are four significant aspects of thankfulness that we will extract from

Psalm 145-150.

Remembering what God has done.

Telling others about it.

Showing Gods glory to others, and

Offering gifts of self, time, and resources.

If you are truly thankful, your life will show it. So our 2012 THANKSGIVING

campaign will be filled with praise and thanks. THANKS ALOUD!

Why 21 Days

Research shows that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. 21 days is what it takes

to break a bad habit or form a new and good one. The focus of this material is

not just to help you meditate for 21 days but help you change your perspective

in giving God the best thanks that He alone deserves. This special 21 Day Devo-

tional Reading (from November 11 to December 2 this year) will guide you to

look into God's Word and will challenge you to develop a grateful heart even

after the campaign is over. Just start with just 21 days--3 weeks, or less than amonth--and see how quickly you will create the habit ofThanking God Aloud.

Join us in our journey of thanks for who He is and what He has done. As you

read the selected passages from Psalm 145-150 in this Daily Reading Guide,

dont forget to share your thoughts in the things to ponder and be eager to

share it with your Life Group as you gather each week. Also, take time to write a

few reflections in your prayer journal portion as you read along and also

remember the Thanks Giving and Stewardship tip that will help you under-

stand that God provides everything you need. We pray that you apply the things

you learn in this guide. This will really change the way you believe in God and

His promises.

LET USTHANK GOD ALOUD! . From your ONE His Life Ministries TEAM


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Day 1 Passing On to the Next GenerationPsalms 145:4

4 One generation will commend your works to another;

they will tell of Your mighty acts.

We have heard many times in evangelistic teachings or gatherings that this is the

only generation that you can reach. As much as this quotation is true, still we

must prepare this generation for the next as we share the importance of passing

the joy, the blessings and the greatness of the Lord on to the next generation.

Remember that we have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and the grace of

God in our lives because of faithful men and women of the past who shared to us

the message across the centuries.

And as you prepare to pass it to the next generation, think along these lines:

5

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate onyour wonderful works.

6They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I

will proclaim your great deeds.7

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and

joyfully sing of your righteousness.Psalm145:5-7

Things to Ponder

Do you share with your children or other young people the excitement of

your relationship with God?

Read the following verses. Think and pray about the verse that applies the

most to your life.

Psalms 145:5-7

Thanks Giving Stewardship Tip

TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO GODColossians 1:16-17

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and

invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were cre-

ated by him and for him.17

He is before all things, and in him all things hold to-

gether.

1 Chronicles 29:11-1211

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty

and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is

the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.12

Wealth and honor come from

you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt

and give strength to all.

Prayer Journal (Share your thoughts as you pray and write down below)

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Day 2 The Authors TouchPsalms 145:8-98The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

9The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

We spend thousands of pesos to buy books about self-improvement, ful-

filling our dreams, setting our goals and many objective driven books, but

non- of these books authors come to rescue or help us when we are in

trouble. But God does. That is the uniqueness of our Bible. God not only

provides the rules and guidelines but comes with us personally each day

to strengthen us so that we can live according to those guidelines. All we

have to do is invite Him into our lives and obey His direction.

Things to Ponder

How much time you are investing reading these self-improvement

books compared to your time given to study the Bible?

Read again the verses and think and pray and write down what ap-

plies the most to your life.


HUMBLY ADJUST YOUR LIFESTYLE TO LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS

Proverbs 6:6-8

6

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!7

It has no

commander, no overseer or ruler,

8

yet it stores its provisions in summerand gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 21:20

20

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish

man devours all he has.21

He who pursues righteousness and love finds

life, prosperity and honor.

Prayer Journal (Share your thoughts as you pray and write down below)

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Day 3 As God Reveals

Psalms 145:10-1210 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.11

They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,12

so that

all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your

kingdom.

In these verses, David meditates on Gods creation, and as Gods people un-

derstand it they will give praise and tell about His glory. As God reveals

Himself through nature we can learn about His power and our weakness and

our limits. Our God reveals Himself through the Bible. We learn about His

glory and His majesty. As God reveals Himself through our daily experiences,

we learn about His gracious forgiveness and our freedom from sin.

Things to Ponder

What is the latest revelation (or revelations) God has shown you during

your quiet time as you prayed and read your Bible?


YOUR ROLE IS TO BE THE TRUSTEE, MANAGER AND STEWARD OF 100% OF

WHAT GOD ENTRUSTS TO YOU DURING YOUR LIFETIME.

Colossians 3:17, 23-24

Whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Je-

sus.Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,

not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lordas a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Romans 14:7-8

None of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.

If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.

It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful

1 Corinthians 4:2

Prayer Journal (share your thoughts and write down below)

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Day 4 God satisfy the desires of our heart

Psalms 145:15-1615 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time

.16

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

NBC TV reporter asks, Does God want you rich? (story by Brian Kluth, bor-

rowed with permission from the author Brian Kluth GiveWithJoy.org )

After my (Brian) 40-Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life book

became an unexpected bestseller, I was contacted by NBC to do a TV news story.

When the TV reporter interviewed me, she asked, So, you think God wants eve-

ryone rich? I said, No, I dont believe that. She was a little surprised by my an-

swer and then asked, Well, what do you believe? I responded, I believe that

everyone needs to learn to become more generous with whatever God has given

them. She then asked, Well, didnt your book becoming a bestseller make you

rich? I replied, No, it helped me become more generous! The truth is--everyone of us in America is rich when you compare us to the rest of the world. What

each of us needs to learn is how to become more generous with whatever God

entrusts to us.

The reason why God looks at you and give you your food at the proper time

and satisfy your hearts desire is for you to know His goodness and provision. He

wants you to realize that you lack nothing and can even give more to others.

Things to Ponder

Does the desire in your heart to be satisfied by our loving God also involve

others?

Read the rest of Psalms 145. Think and pray about the verses that applies the

most to your life.


THE LORD WATCHES YOUR GIVING

Mark 12:41-44-Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put

and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.

Luke 21:1-Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.

2 Corinthians 8:12-For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according

to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

With the price of everything else going up these days,

arent you glad the Lord hasnt increased the tithe to 15%?

Prayer Journal (share your thoughts as you pray and write below)

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Day 5 The God that we Still Trust

Psalm 146:3-53 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.4

When their

spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to

nothing.5

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the

Lord their God.

You usually read in God we Trust mark written at the back of a dollar bill. We

may not know the reason or the motivation why it is written in a dollar bill, but we

know what the dollars represent, from trade to power. As someone said; money

makes the world go round and usually the one who has more money has more

power and influence and we tend to put our trust in these people.

Do not trust your life to any men; rely only God. There is a work of protection

and salvation which no man can perform for you; a work which God alone, who is

the Maker of all things, can accomplish. Realize and accept what God wants togive to you -- complete forgiveness, a brand new start, a help for your problems,

the ability to forgive, and a home in heaven. If you recognize your need for these

things, pray and invite Jesus Christ to bring these things into your life.

Things to Ponder

Have ever trusted your life, your needs to anybody but God?

Can you think of a time that God has disappointed you?


DO NOT BECOME PRIDEFUL ABOUT ANYTHING GOD HAS

ENTRUSTED TO YOU.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18-You may say to yourself, My power and the strength of

my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the LORD your

God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Psalm 62:10-If your riches increase, dont be proud.

Deuteronomy 8:11-14 -Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God

Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and

settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and

gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become

proud and you will forget the LORD your God.

When a man becomes rich, either God gains a partner or

the man loses his soul. Brian Kluth



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Day 6 God is the Owner of EverythingPsalm 146:66

He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them

he remains faithful forever.

Read the following verses. Think and pray about the verse that applies

the most to your life.


Everything in heaven and earth is yours (O Lord)Wealth and honor come from

you; you are the ruler of all things.

Psalm 50:10-12 (God says)

Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hillsand the

creatures of the field are minethe world is mine, and all that is in it.Haggai 2:8

The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the LORD Almighty.

Leviticus 25:23 (God says)

The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.

Things to Ponder

Have you ever considered your money or possession belongs to you alone?


If we belong to Christ, its logical that everything we have truly belongs to Him.

When we give to God, we are just taking our hands off what already

belongs to Him.

Prayer Journal (Share your thoughts as you pray and write down some of it in

the line provided below)

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Day 7 We are restored to the favor of God

Psalm 146:7-87He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free,8

the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up

those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.

We can find peace in knowing that we have God's favor on our side when we

completely put our trust in Him. He is the restorer of everything thing that the

enemy has taken from us. We can have the confidence that He upholds our cause

when we are about to give up. He never leaves us alone to look for food for

ourselves. On top of all these, He sets us free from the routine of life and gives us

direction and purpose, opening our eyes to see the beauty of His wonders and

grace. So let all sing aloud His praise and say Hallelujah to our great God, in the

Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Things to Ponder

Now that your spiritual eyes are opened to the truth of life, what do you

usually see and how can you respond to what God wants you to see?

Can you think of a time when you felt that you were a prisoner and needed

to be set free by the love of God?


GIVING COMES FROM RECEIVING

If you are NOT a Christian: Dont worry about giving to God. Instead, realize and

accept what God wants to give to you -- complete forgiveness, a brand new start,

the power to be good and to do good for others, help for your problems, the abil-ity to forgive, and a home in heaven. If you recognize your need for these things,

pray and invite Jesus Christ to bring these things into your life.

The most important thing before giving is having, so first receive the

greatest gift that you can receive and that is a personal relationship with

Jesus Christ. Ask your Life Group leader how this is done

ptr. ejn

Prayer Journal (Share your thoughts as you pray and write below)


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Day 8 The LORD will always be King!

Psalm 146:10The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations .

Praise the Lord.

The LORD Jesus will always be king reigning forever! So for us who put our

trust in Him, means Jesus will continue to reign forever and one day, everybody

will see that this psalm is true. So what should we do? Always trust the Lord; not

human leaders. Tell God that you want Him to be your Lord and King as well. This

also means that He is the Lord of everything that we have. Gods ownership of

everything may seem an unfamiliar belief to most of us. We like to think of our

money and our possessions. Yet the Bible makes it clear that God owns every-

thing. All things were created by Him and for Him - Colossians 1:16. Everything

belongs to Him, for the simple reason that He is the king.

Things to Ponder

It may be true that you put in long hours to get where you are. Yet it is God

who created you in the first place and gave you the strength and talent to

make money.


Just THANK God using these scripture ALOUD and write down your

thoughts


Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty

and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is

the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all.12

Wealth and honor come from

You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt

and give strength to all.13

Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your

glorious name.14

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able

to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You

only what comes from Your hand.15

We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as

were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.16

O

LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building You a

temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to You.


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Day 9 Only God Can

Psalm 147:4-54 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.5

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

This address is directing you to the one and only one who can make things

happen for you, your family and your situation as you know and thank Him who is

able. Add to this Ephesians 3:20 that If you read the passage carefully you will

notice that verse 20 is an extension of a prayer that started on verse 14 (please

read these preceding verses). This will help you understand that God wants you to

be rooted in Him first for you to understand how wide and long and high and

deep is the love of Christ, for you. This is the first step that will help you praise to

Him as you THANK Him ALOUD. We should always be expressing thankfulness

aloud.

Praise and thanksgiving should be a regular part of our routine,

not reserved only for celebrations. Praise God continually,

and you will find that you wont take his blessings for granted. (ejn)

Things to Ponder

Additional Reading Ephesians 3:14-19

God has more things in stored for you, and He wants you discover it

through His word.


Just THANK God ALOUD using these scripture and write down your

thoughts



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Day 10 More Than you can Imagine

Psalm 147:8-118

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grassgrow on the hills.

9He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when

they call.10

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in thelegs of a man;

11the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in

his unfailing love.

Many times in our moments of weakness or forgetfulness, we allow our cir-

cumstances to dictate our decisions and even the content of our prayer. If we are

honest enough, we have to admit that we only come to God as our last remedy or

recourse, right? I know that because there were times that I caught myself in the

same kind of situation.

But I have come to realize that, in whatever situation we are in, it will not

change the plan of God for us. As Hecovers the sky with clouds; and He supplies

the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills and provides food for the

cattle and for the young ravens when they call God is able to make all grace

abound to you, so that in all things; at all times, having all that you need, you

will abound in every good work. One time in our Sunday celebration service I

asked the congregation the meaning of word ALL and what I received were

different translations (even pronunciations) , but the emphasis was the same

ALL.

In this time ofthanksgiving, thank God through our Lord Jesus for providing

us ALL our needs, for He is able to do it even measurably more than all we ask

or imagine. It is not uncommon for Apostle Paul to utter an acknowledgment of

praise because God communicates to his people such blessings - that they may be

filled with all His fullness. If God can provide for all, what do I lack?ptr.ejn

Things to Ponder

Was there a time that you questioned the provision of the Lord? In what way

and what happened? Just THANK God ALOUD using these scripture and

write down your thoughts... Acts 20:24-32 and 2 Corinthians 9:8


EVEN THE POOR ARE TO GIVE TO GOD FROM WHAT THEY HAVE.

Deuteronomy 16:16-No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed.2 Corinthians 8:2-4-Though (the Macedonian Christians) have been going through

much trouble and hard times, they have mixed their wonderful joy with their

deep poverty, and the result has been an overflow of giving to others. They

gave not only what they could afford but far more; .because they wanted to

They begged us to take the money so they could share in the joy of helping the

Christians in Jerusalem.If a pauper gives to God, hell feel like a prince.

If a prince doesnt give to God, hell feel like a pauper.

Prayer Journal (share your thoughts as you pray and write on extra pages)


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Day 11 Thanks Aloud at All Times

Psalm 147:12-1412 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, 13 for he strengthens the

bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.14

He grants peace to your

borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

Thanks Aloudat All Times. You may say WOW it is easier said than done.

Its very easy to thank God when everything are right and the circumstances are

favorable to you, but whenever we face challenging circumstances in our life, our

natural tendency has been to question God and His will. I can imagine that you

have done it, too. We all know that God is always with us to guide us throughout

our lives and for that we are thankful to Him.

14He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of

wheat. God just want us to hold-off our dependence to other things for God

loves to meet our needs in the midst our insufficiency for this is just the rightatmosphere for God to work mightily. His greatest desire is for us to learn to turn

to Him. Thanksgiving is meant to inspire all of us to remember the Lord and give

Him thanks for all that He has done for us. As we remember to give thanks with a

cheerful heart, God fills us with his strength, even in the most difficult

circumstances.

Give Thanks at All Times and do it loudly

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that

would suffice. By:Meister Eckhart

Things to Ponder

Was there a time that you felt that it was very hard for you to thank God

because of what you were going through? What and Why?

Have you ever overcome negative feelings and start seeing God as He haspromised?


SET UP A PLAN TO FAITHFULLY GIVE 10% OR MORE

OF YOUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO THE LORDS WORK.

Deuteronomy 14:22, 23- Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields pro-

duceThe purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your

lives.

2 Chronicles 31:5, 12- The people responded immediately and generously with the

first of their crops and grain, new wine, olive oil, money, and everything else --

a tithe of all they owned. They faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and

dedicated gifts.

Giving 10% isnt the ceiling of giving; its the floor.Its not the finish line of giving; its just the starting blocks.

Prayer Journal (Share your thoughts as you pray and write on extra pages)


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Day 12 Thanks Aloud Spirit

Psalm 147:15-1815 He sends His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly. 16 He spreads the

snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.17

He hurls down his hail like peb-

bles. Who can withstand his icy blast?18

He sends his word and melts them; he

stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

Peter Austin wrote: A few years back on one Thanksgiving Day, I went to the

store to buy turkey with my parents. After buying it, on the way back home, we

saw an accident. A car hit a young girl and fled away. The poor girl was slightly

injured and needed help. We took her to the doctor and then dropped her home.

Her mother thanked us again and again. That day I realized the true spirit of

thanksgiving.

This reminded me of a sister in our church that survived an accident few

years back that almost took her life. Even after a few years have already passed,

when ever this sister remembers the incident or anyone else for that matter who

knew of the accident; they could not help but give thanks to the Lord.

Have you ever paused for a while and counted the blessing that God has

given you? The Psalmist said that is too many to declare and it is true. Come to

think of it, 24 hours are not enough. It may not be a life and death situation but

still we cant afford to thank God and fail to honor and thank Him. He is worthy of

it all.

Things to Ponder

Have you ever paused for a moment and thanked God for all that He has

done for you? Start with your life!

Have you ever testified to others His goodness to you?

Thanks Giving Stewardship TipDONT TRUST IN YOUR RICHES, BUT TRUST IN GOD.

Proverbs 11:28- Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive

like a green leaf.

1 Timothy 6:17- Command those who are rich in this present world not to be

arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put

their hope in God.

Job 31:24-28 (Job said)- If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, You

are my security, if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my

hands had gainedso that my heart was secretly enticedthen these also

would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.


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Day 13 His Great Love for You is Revealed

Psalm 147: 19-2019

He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.20

He has

done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.

Like any other expression, Gods love is expressed by His revelation, and as He

revealed His word to Jacob and His law and to Israel, God continued to reveal His

great love for us through our Jesus Christ. Thankfulness can take on a variety of

effective expressions as well by extending His love to others. Gods intention is

that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our

own benefit, but to serve Christ and build up the church (Ephesians 4:12). And one

way of doing it is to bless the goal and the vision of the church and be a blessing to

others.

Thankfulness ought to be our main characteristic as a Christian. As Christians

we should live a life of gratitude for His free gift. We should seek not only to giveback to God what is due Him, we should also seek to help and serve others with

kindness, love, and gentleness.

Things to Ponder

Have you ever paused look out of your window and pray for the people you

are just passing by your place? Try it just one time and see how it will

change your view about other people.

Thanks Giving Stewardship Tip(Borrowed with permission from the author Brian Kluth GiveWithJoy.org )

ANY WEALTH GAINED BY THE WRONG MEANS

HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES

Proverbs 11:1-5- The Lord hates cheating and delights in honesty. Proud men end

in shamethe evil man is destroyed by his dishonesty. Riches wont help you

on Judgment Daythe wicked shall fall beneath their load of sins.

Job 27:19-20- (The wicked) goes to bed rich but wakes up to find that all his

wealth is gone. Terror overwhelms him, and he is blown away in the storms of

the night.

Jeremiah 17:11- Like a bird that fills her nest with young she has not hatched and

which will soon desert her and fly away, so is the man who gets his wealth by

unjust means. Sooner or later he will lose his riches and at the end of his life

become a poor old fool.

How much better to be honestly poor than questionably rich.



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Day 14 The Day of Thanksgiving

Psalm 148:5-65 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were

created.6

He set them in place forever and ever; He gave a decree that will never

pass away.

Thanksgiving is the time when we intentionally sit back and reflect upon the

good things that happened in our lives and remember why we should be grateful

for what we have. This should not be done only when there is a call for thanksgiv-

ing celebration or the holiday season. We should praise God on a regular basis

not just on Sunday to show our gratitude. For He set it in place forever and ever

and this decree will never pass away.

Thankfulness ought to be a major ingredient of our life as Poet/ Journalist

Edward Sandford Martin said: Thanksgiving Day comes, by decree, once a year;

but to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will al-low.We usually gather our family and others to give thanks to God during a spe-

cial designated occasion, but thanksgiving should be on our lips every day. When

thanksgiving becomes an integral part of your life, you will find that your attitude

toward life will change. You will become more positive, gracious, loving, and

humble.

Things to Ponder

Praise and thanksgiving should be a regular part of our routine, not reserved

only for celebrations. Read the following passages Psalms 1:1-15 &

Psalm 92:1-2


RECORD YOUR THANKS.

Take a moment during the day to write down three things that happened

that day for which you are grateful. Anything that made you feel uplifted, that

brought a smile to your face or your heart, or will contribute toward your future

happiness, works. After each situation or event for which you feel thankful, write

down why this was good for you. Then start to bring it back to God in prayer, and

tell God how you are thankful for His grace and love

Psalm 92:1-2, TLB- It is good to say thank you to the Lord, to sing praises to the

God who is above all gods. Every morning tell Him, Thank you for your kindness,

and every evening rejoice in all His faithfulness.


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Day 15 Do not forget to say thanks

Psalm 148:1313 Let them praise the Name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted;

His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

How depressing will it be if we forget to thank God! If you read Romans 1:21

you will notice that one of the first marks of rejecting God is forgetting to thank

Him. Can you imagine how an intelligent person can turn to idolize himself or oth-

ers in exchange to the beauty and Glory of God? No matter how much we want to

reject the hands of God in our lives we know by conscience that there is some-

body greater than ourselves. We may avoid or try to escape it, but we know deep

in our hearts that we cannot deny it.

One study said that: Idolatry begins when people reject what they know

about God. Instead of looking to Him as the Creator and sustainer of life, they see

themselves as the center of the universe.From our text it says:

13

Let them praisethe Name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the

earth and the heavens. The most common characteristic of this is we worship the

things ofGod rather than God Himself Dont forget to thank God, as in the poem

ofRalph Waldo Emerson:

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

Things to PonderIs there any priority greater than God? Do you have a dream you would sacri-

fice everything to realize?

Does God take first place? Do you worship God or idols of your own making?

Thanksgiving and Stewardship Tip

STEWARDSHIP 101

God never uses money to build egos. Frequently, Christians are trapped by

financial ego in that they use money in an attempt to build self-worth and ego.

However, in Christ all are financially equal because all wealth will pass away. What

will remain will be those things that have been laid up in heaventhe true wealth.

(Read Mathew 6:20) .



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Day 16 Praising God with a Song

Psalm 149:1-31 Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the

saints.2

Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their

King.Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with

tambourine and harp

It is a custom for us to sing when we are happy, we utter words of joy and

thanksgiving, humming to express whats in our heart. The Psalmist encourages

us to praise the Lord, to sing a new song not only alone but all the more in the

company of other believers in the assembly of the saints Its good to give

thanks to God not only in good times but also in bad times. For when you start

singing, you change your focus from yourself to God. Rejoice in your maker and

be glad of your King.

Things to PonderWhat usually makes you sing and why?

In bad times do still sing praises to God?


(Borrowed with permission from the author Brian Kluth GiveWithJoy.org )

HE KNOWS YOU WELL SO RELAX

A Single Moms Grocery Money

Nancy was a single mother with young children. Her ex-husband sent her

only a small amount of grocery money every week--so small it couldnt even feed

one person, much less her family of 4. But Nancy decided to begin giving to God

from her little bit of grocery money and trust Him to provide. Shortly after, she

got a job with a cookbook company. The company paid Nancy to go groceryshopping and prepare meals so they could take photographs for their cookbooks.

When they were done taking pictures, Nancy could keep the food she had pur-

chased and prepared. Isnt that an amazing story of Gods goodness? Nancy

learned that even if youre poor, you still need to learn to give from whatever you

have.

Psalm 24:1

The earth is the LORDs, and everything in it, the world,

and all who live in it.


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Day 17 Sing Joy in your Bed

Psalm 149:4-54 For the LORD takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble

with salvation.5

Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

God wants to inspire you with His word that He delights in you and crowns

you with salvation On top of this, He had made promises of provision and

prosperity and He wants to instill it in your heart and one way of thanking God is

by maintaining your focus on God's character, not on your circumstances. There

are times and even many times, it is easy to give thanks to God when everything is

ok, or the situation or circumstances are good, but how about during challenging

times? Can you still sing joy in your bed? Whenever we face challenging

circumstances in our lives, our natural tendency has been to question God and His

will.

If you're wondering what the will of God is for you in any given situation don't

dwell on the situation focus on God. Focus on His promises for He delights in you.

As we give thanks to God with a cheerful heart, God fills our hearts with joy.

Things to Ponder

Have you ever tried to learn from your circumstances, like what will happen

if you give up and what will happen when you hold on to God?

Thanksgiving and Stewardship Tip

HE WHO GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE WEALTH

God uses money to demonstrate His faithfulness. Moses reminded Israel (and

us to) that it was God who would give them the power to make wealth. (Read

Deuteronomy 8:17-18) Our security is in God, not in our bank accounts.

Discovering His faithfulness though financial needs encourages reliance on Him.



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Day 18 You will give God His victory

Psalm 149:5-75 Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. 6 May the

praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands,7

to

inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples...

As you think of the plan of God in your life there are things that God has

called you to do, and He will help you accomplish these objective. You will give

God the victory that He deserves as you carry His double-edged sword His word

- in your hands. Your responsibility is to remain focused on His will. God wants

you to bring healing, comfort and encouragement to the nation, but those who

will reject it will be punished.

God gave us His Holy Book the double-edged sword- The Bible to be our

guide and to give us the basic principle to live by. If you never discover how to

hear His voice, you will never be able to trust Him fully or grow as a result of whatHe is doing in your life. Daily, get in the habit of reading encouraging bible verses

and daily devotions. God desires that we know His will and plan for our lives.

Things to Ponder

Have you ever asked God His will and plan for your life?

Have you ever asked others what they think about your life? How did they

answer you? Is it encouraging?

Thanks Giving and Stewardship Tip(Borrowed with permission from the author Brian Kluth GiveWithJoy.org )

GOD USES MONEY TO STRENGTHEN OUR TRUST IN HIM

It is often through money that God can clearly and objectively show us thatHe is in total control, if we will trust Him and accept our positions as stewards

and managers of His possessions. Once we understand how God uses money and

why He chooses to use it in a particular way, we generally become more familiar

with His plans and purposes for our lives and are able to recognize and

understand His directives.


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Day 19 Even the Nature give Him Praise

Psalm 150:1-21

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.2

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

This final chapter of this great book of Psalm Tell everyone about God's

power. His majesty shines down on us from heaven; His strength is mighty in the

heavens.Praising Him for His acts of power and surpassing greatness. This is the

God that we worship, the God that knows our very being and still promises us to

be there with us in the times of our needs and troubles. Often in bad times we

forget about the past blessings that God has done for us. We focus on present,

negative circumstances that pull us down that we may not even see any positives

outcome in our situation. God always gives blessings even though they may not be

readily seen.

I encourage you to deliberately find things to be thankful for everyday. SeeGods hand at work in your life and praise Him. Remember that daily He gives

multiple blessings. Yes, face lifes difficulties, but focus on the load of blessings

that surround you and thank God for them. Remember, a thankful heart is a joyful

heart!

So many, so weighty are the gifts of Gods bounty,

that we may be truly said to load us with them. Matthew Henry

Things to PonderHow do you view plenty and how do you view lack?

How do you usually react when you think that you are in a difficult situation?

Thanks Giving and Stewardship Tip(Borrowed with permission from the author Brian Kluth GiveWithJoy.org )

GOD IS THE PROVIDER OF EVERY GOOD THING IN YOUR LIFE

African Man Saves Children Going Blind

While ministering in Africa, I met a Christian worker who raised his 6 children

on $10 a month. He told me the story of how children in his village were going blind

because of a disease that could be prevented with medicine that only cost 50 cents.

He began to pray and ask God to send a rich person to their village to help give the

money for the medicine, but no one ever came. As he kept praying, the Lord told

him he should give the money to buy the medicine. But with 6 children and only a

$10 a month salary, he couldnt see how he could do this. But he and his family

prayed and decided that every month they would buy the medicine to help one

child. When I last spoke with him, he'd been doing this for 7 years and had saved 84

children from going blind. And his family saw God meet all of their needs.

James 1:17- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down

from the Father of the heavenly lights.

Prayer Journal (Share your thoughts as you pray and write on extra pages)


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Day 20 Thank Him Aloud

Psalm 150:3-43 Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,4

praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,

Praise Him Aloud, louder and louder as you affect your whole neighbors,

family members, office friends and sphere of your influence . Thank Him Aloud.

Let the people know the joy that is in you. Sing constantly of His goodness, speak

of His promises in the morning at the breakfast table, in the evenings around the

dinner table, at night before bedtime, continually dwelling on the good things of

God.

Just say; I will sing to God not just about Him but to HIM.

Psalms 57:9-10 (NIV) 9I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing

of you among the peoples.10

For great is your love, reaching to the heav-

ens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Things to Ponder

Are you excited to give and thanks aloud on the D-Day.

Is your whole family as excited as you are?

Thanks Giving and Stewardship Tip

(Borrowed with permission from the author Brian Kluth GiveWithJoy.org )

THE LORD WATCHES YOUR GIVING

A Middle-Class Family Becomes Millionaire GiversSteve owned a small business and had an annual salary of $50,000. He went

to a conference where Dr. Bill Bright challenged people to give a million dollars to

the LORDs work. Steve told Dr. Bright it would be impossible for his family to give

a million dollars. Dr. Bright asked, How much money did you make last year, andhow much did you give? Steve said, My salary is $50,000 and we gave $15,000.

Dr. Bright said, Next year, trust God to help you give $50,000. But Steve said,

Thats my entire salary! Dr. Bright said, Trust God and see how He provides.

With Gods help, Steves business did well and his family joyfully gave $50,000.

The following year, God helped them give $100,000. Each year, his family lived on

his $50,000 salary and gave all their extra income to the LORDs work. Within

several years, they gave over a million dollars!

Luke 21:1

Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.


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EXTRA PRAYER JOURNAL PAGES.

Do you have days where you ran out of space to write down what Godis telling you? Write it here

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WELCOME

Welcome one another. [Ice Breaker] What do you consider your

most valuable possession? Why?

WORSHIP

1. Welcome and thanks giving prayer.

2. Sing one song of Thanks Giving (optional depending on the

place of meeting but highly recommended.)

WORD

TEXT Psalm 145:1-3

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.2

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.3

Great is the

LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

I will exalt You, my God the King. Do you spend more time asking God forthings or thanking God for who He is? Praise is the address of God, if you want to

find God, start to praise His Name and He will show Himself to you.

WHO BENEFITS FROM YOUR THANKFULNESS?

1. The LORD. He is magnified, glorified and pleased when we thank Him.

Psalm 60:30-3130

I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with

thanksgiving.31

This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull

with its horns and hoofs.

2. The People who observe our thankfulness. They will be encouraged to see

us put our faith and trust to God and they do so too.Psalm 145:5-65 They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty,

and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.6

They will tell of the power of


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your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.

3. Us too. We benefit because expressing thanks strengthen our faith by

calling to mind His blessings.

Psalm 103:1-21Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise

His Holy Name.2

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION

Why do you think giving 100% of yourself to God is the most

important step in learning to become a generous person?

How do you think looking back each week, writing down all of Gods provi-

sions, and setting aside money as a thank-you offering to God would help

you be more generous?

What does It means forget not His benefits?

PRAY TIME

Take a minute and thank God for His love and grace He has given you and

how He touched your life.

Thank God for the benefits that you received and ask God to use you to

touch the lives of others.

Get one or two prayer items from our THANKS ALOUD campaign prayer

request guide. (p34)

WORKS

REMINDER: THINGS TO DO DURING THIS CAMPAIGN

(read on page 24)

MEMORY VERSE

Psalm 103:1-2

1Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being,

praise His Holy Name.2

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits--


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WELCOME

1. What was the funniest movie you have ever seen? Why?

2. What usually gives you joy? Why?

3. How do you define joy?

WORSHIP


2. Sing one song of Thanks Giving (optional depending on the place of

meeting but highly recommended.)

WORD

TEXT Psalm 47:5-6

5 God has ascended with a mighty shout. The LORD has ascended with trum-

pets blaring. 6 Sing praise to God, sing praises; sing praise to our King, singpraises!

When we consider all God has done for us, we should feel great sense of

admiration as we sing song of praise and thanks giving to our King. Nature

surrounds us with countless signs of Gods wonderful power. His unlimited

power and unspeakable majesty leave us breathless in His presence. How

blessed we are that God only wants us to thank Him for these.

HOW AND WHEN ARE YOU TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO GOD?

1. Praising His Name. Each of Gods Name represent who He is, His nature and

His character. So, it is good to know and meditate on His Names this thanks-giving .

Psalm 92:1-2-1It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the


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Most High. 2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your

faithfulness in the evening,

2. Playing Music. Using instrument and playing music as one way to offer

praise and thanksgiving whether corporate (public) or private.

Psalm 92:3-43 accompanied by the harp and lute and the harmony of the

lyre. 4 You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy be-

cause of what you have done.

3. Generosity to others. Generosity is an expression of not focusing on one

self but also for the joy of others.

2 Corinthians 9:12-1313You will be glorifying God through your generous

gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the

Good News of Christ. 14And they will pray for you with deep affection be-

cause of the wonderful grace of God shown through you.


What did you learn from this lesson and how will you put

it into practice? In what way do you think you can develop a habit of

cheerful giving or generosity? Give at least two answers each.

If someone asked you how much money you would need to have finan-

cial freedom, what amount would you say?

PRAY TIME

Pray for opportunities to be a blessing.

Get one or two prayer items from our THANKS ALOUD campaign

prayer request guide (p 34)

Close by praying for any requests your group might have.

WORKS

REMINDER: THINGS TO DO DURING THIS CAMPAIGN (read on page 24)

MEMORY VERSE

2 Corinthians 9:7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart

to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.


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WELCOME

1. When you are preparing or planning to give to a friend, how

do you decide what to give them?

2. What makes you sure that, thats what they need?

WORSHIP




WORD

TEXT Psalm 100:4-5

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give

thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his

love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Why do we attend church? There are many answers to this question but Ill just

give you two most popular answers. 1. They go just for the sake of going

(routine) and 2. They are going to worship God. Which one are you? The

Psalmist say that we must enter the gates of God with the readiness to

thank Him and praise His name. Are you ready to do this, this Thanks Aloud

Campaign? GO! GO!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING?

1. Thanksgiving read adjusts our focus from ourselves back to God. It reminds

us of our dependence upon Him for everything.

Psalm 64:9-109 All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God

and ponder what he has done. 10 Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and

take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart praise Him!

2. Praise and Thanksgiving releases us from our anxiety. God refreshes our


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intimacy with God, and renew our trust and confidence as we delight in

Him.

Psalm 37:3-43 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and en-

joy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the de-

sires of your heart.

3. It rejoices our spirit. Offering thanks reinforces our faith by reminding us of

the past blessings while strengthening us for what He wants to do for us in

the future.

Psalm 91:1-21 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in

the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is

my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."


What did you learn from this lesson and how will you put it into practice?

Since God wants us to be a channel of blessings to others, in what ways has giving

been a privilege for you?

PRAY TIME

Think of somebody that your group can pray for. Not necessarily part of

your life group. Bring their needs before God and ask God to prosper

them.

Get one or two prayer items from our THANKS ALOUD

campaign prayer request guide. (p34)


WORKS

REMINDER: ENCOURAGE EVERYONE to PREPARE for THANSKGIVING DAY CAST-

ING on DECEMBER 2 and CONTINUE with THINGS TO DO DURING THIS CAM-

PAIGN (read on page 24).

MEMORY VERSE

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have

produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God,

for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms

his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today."


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WELCOME

1. How do you define STEWARDSHIP?

2. What is the most valuable thing that was entrusted to you?

What happen?

WORSHIP




WORD

TEXT 1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV

"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

After we realize that God really is the Owner of everything, we need

to take a new fre way of seeing and handling Gods resources that were en-

trusted to us. God urges us to be good stewards in earning, spending, saving

and giving our money. Our role is to be a faithful steward, the caretaker or

the manager of Gods resources. We as Gods stewards do not own what we

have. What we have are just entrusted to us.

WHAT DOES STEWARDHIP REMIND US?

1. God blesses those who are faithful in little things. When we really under-

stand God's ownership of us as believers, we become joyfully obedient in

giving back to Him our time, abilities, and money, because they are really His

to begin with.

Luke 16:10 10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted

with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest

with much.

2. God is looking for faithful stewards. We are called to be faithful, not to be

successful, but if you can be trusted as a steward then you will be successful.

Luke 16:1111 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly


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wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been

trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you

property of your own?


1. Discuss this quote from Chinkee Tan

If God cannot trust you with His time, He cannot trust you with His

money. If I am not faithful with the time God has entrusted to me, how

can I be entrusted with true riches?

2. What has God entrusted you that you have taken for granted and have

not been faithfully handling - so much so that in the process you lost it?

3. Would you be willing to pray and, with Gods help, determine how

much is enough? If God gave you extra money beyond this amount,

how would you want to use it for Gods work?

PRAY TIME

Pray as God reminds you of your faithfulness as His steward.

Pray that the church leadership will be faithful to the flock that are en-

trusted to them.

Get one or two prayer items from our THANKS ALOUD campaign prayer

request guide (p34)


WORKS

THINGS TO DO DURING OUR SERIES

Encourage everyone to attend our Thanksgiving Sunday on

December 2 HLM wide.

Have a simple Life Group party to celebrate Gods goodness to your Life

Group.

Bring friends to our victory celebration on December 9.

Prepare a special thank you gift for your life group leader and new friends in

your Life Group.

Thank the Lord for answering our THANKS ALOUD campaign prayer re-

quests.

THE PROMISE OF GOD

Deuteronomy 12:77 There, in the presence of the LORD your God,

you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your

hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

Happy Thanks Aloud 2012 and let us Adore Him.

Prepare to celebrate Jesus Christ the greatest gift of all this Christmas!


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