Give Thanks

Binhi sang Pagtuo

November 22, 2010

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

Yesterday we were in Ajuy, Iloilo to join the Thanksgiving Celebration of two churches – the Espinosa Rice Mill Baptist Church and the Ajuy Evangelical Church. Next week we will be joining Jaro Evangelical Church in their Thanksgiving Celebration.

The Greek word “thanksgiving” is eucharistía and it comes from two Greek words – eu which means “well” and cháris which means “grace.” This means that when we consider God’s cháris “grace” we are compelled to have eucharistía “thanksgiving.”

Mrs. Felina Silencino emphasized in her sermon delivered in Ajuy that we can live for 60 days without food, 6 days without water but not 1 second more without the grace of God. Indeed, we must acknowledge our indebtedness to God for the gift of life itself and for His mercy in sustaining us.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul encourages us that we must “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” The duty of thanksgiving must be evident in our prayers.

We must thank God for blessings that are granted. We must also be thankful for prayers that are deferred for they are delayed only until a more favorable time when we can fully appreciate the value of the blessing. And we must still be grateful for the petitions that are denied because God knows that what we have asked is not beneficial and can only hurt us. Soon, God will bestow to us something better than what we have prayed for.

I remember one instance a few months ago when we decided to buy tiles for our house. To my disappointment, the tile that we have chosen was out of stock when we decided to buy it. Somebody bought it a day before. My wife, Hermely, reminded me that since we committed to God our plans, He will give us something better. I was skeptical with her reassurances. She urged me to visit another store. And behold the tile what we like was available and, to make it sweeter, the tile was for sale at a discounted price.

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on