Thank You! These two words are the most powerful words in the English language, or any language for that matter.

Saying “thank you” can never be overrated.

One of the first casualties in a “Me First” generation is the loss of a heartfelt expression of gratitude and appreciation. Mom knew what she was talking about; a simple thank you does go a long way. I read in an article recently about a 10-year study of 200,000 managers and employees unearthed that a simple “thank you” in normal business life can have profitable results. People work harder and are more motivated when they are thanked. This results in higher productivity and more profits for businesses. One article offers a list of 28 expressions of gratitude for those leaders who are too “thanksgiving” challenged to come up with their own.

With such phrases, as:

“I’m truly grateful,”

“Your contribution is important”

 “You make my job so much easier.”

It should go without saying; our motive for expressing gratitude shouldn’t be about the bottom line. It should be about putting people first.  

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Philippians 1:3 (NLT) 

This Thanksgiving season, I’m thankful to God for my Savior, my wife and sons, friends, my wonderful church and Christian school that I belong to and all the wonderful members and employees of Trinity Church and Christian School.  

Just a thought,

Carl

What are some of the things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving season?

 Paul said, “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:8).

 Consider some of these statistics:

♦ If you have food, clothing, and a roof over your head, you are better off than 75 percent of the rest of the world.

♦  If you have some money in the bank, a few bills in your wallet, and spare change lying around somewhere, you are part of the elite 8 percent of the wealthiest people living.

♦  If you are not battling terminal illness today, you are faring better than the one-million people who will not finish out this week among the living.

♦  If you have avoided war, imprisonment, and famine, you are faring better than the other 500 million people on earth.

♦  And finally, if you can attend worship service this weekend without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are ahead of the 500 million people in the world.

  But does this mean…if we didn’t have the above-mentioned blessings, we wouldn’t have anything to be thankful for? Absolutely not!

 Paul said,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

We can give thanks for nothing. Nothing material that is. We have “spiritual blessings” such as, faith, hope, love and forgiveness to name a few.

These spiritual blessings are of far greater value and worth than any monetary blessings – which are only temporary. Don’t get me wrong—we should be thankful for all blessings both material and non-material, but our grandest blessings are otherworldly.

As someone has said, “Some count their blessings on their fingers and their miseries on a calculator.” In Christ we have been given a Grand Faith, a Glorious Inheritance and a Great Power.

Come here more on this topic this weekend here at Trinity Church or listen online next week at www.trinitytoday.com

Seven times a day I praise You…” Psalms 119:164

Just a thought,

Carl