Thankfulness … (November 2019 Update)
We listen to a lot of old songs in our family. One of our favorites is the soundtrack from “Fiddler on the Roof” (which is actually based on stories Called “Tevye the Milkman” by a Jewish Ukrainian author, Sholem Aleichem). We love all the songs but especially “To Life” (L’Chaim). One verse sums up the biblical attitude toward thankfulness: “God would like us to be joyful even though our hearts lie panting on the floor; How much more can we be joyful, when there’s really something to be joyful for.”
As believers, we have so much to be thankful for – even when things are not going well. In his book, The Godly Man’s Picture Drawn with a Scripture Pencil, Thomas Watson says, “Praise and thanksgiving is the work of heaven and he [the godly man] begins that work here which he will always be doing in heaven. The Jews have a saying – the world subsists by three things: the law, the worship of God and thankfulness. As if where thankfulness was missing, one of the pillars of the world had been taken away and it was ready to fall.” The psalmist says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2) and “it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord” (Psalm 92:1). As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday in America, it is good for us to think biblically about our thankfulness. Here are some thoughts from Thomas Watson about godliness and thankfulness.
First, Watson reminds us that Praise and Thanksgiving are marks of believers. “We find in Scripture that the godly are still called upon to praise God: “ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord” (Psa. 135:20). “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let the high praises of God be in their mouth” (Psa. 149:5,6). Praise is a work proper to a saint.” Having hearts of thanksgiving should be distinguishing marks of believers.
Watson notes: “Four sacrifices God is very pleased with: the sacrifice of Christ’s blood; the sacrifice of a broken heart; the sacrifice of alms; and the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Praise and thanksgiving (says Mr. Greenham) is the most excellent part of God’s worship, for this shall continue in the heavenly choir when all other exercises of religion have ceased.” Thanksgiving is not only the mark of believers here on earth, it will be the mark of believers for all eternity.
Second, Watson tells us that “a godly man expresses thankfulness” in every condition. “He will be thankful in adversity as well as prosperity: ‘In everything give thanks’ (1 Thess. 5:18). A gracious soul is thankful and rejoices that he is drawn nearer to God, even though it be by the cords of affliction. When it goes well with him, he praises God’s mercy; when it goes badly with him, he magnifies God’s justice. When God has a rod in his band, a godly man will have a psalm in his mouth. The devil’s smiting of Job was like striking a musical instrument; he sounded forth praise: ‘The Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’” (Job 1:21).
It is easy to be thankful when things are going well, but the testimony of a believer is that he trusts God and gives Him praise even when things are not going well. We do this because we not only remember how many great blessings and mercies God has already given us, but also because we have learned to trust God’s wisdom in all that He allows in our lives. The godly man learns to express thanksgiving in every circumstance!
Third, we should be thankful because we have much to be thankful for. In Psalm 40:5, David said,” “Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, they cannot be reckoned up in order.” Even if God would not give us another blessing in our lives, the blessing of salvation is worth more and is better than all the blessings of life combined. But God does not stop there. In Romans 8:32, Paul reminds us: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
You might know the song, “He Giveth More Grace” by Annie Flint. In it, she captures the reason we should be thankful – in all things: “…for out of his infinite riches in Jesus he giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.” But few know her story. Both of her parents died in childhood and she lived as an orphan. She dreamed of becoming a concert pianist but she developed rheumatoid arthritis that became so severe that she could not walk by age 30. But she focused on God’s mercies to her and learned to be thankful for all things.
The first verse of her song echoes her thankfulness for God’s mercies even in her sufferings:
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater
He sendeth more strength when labors increase
To added afflictions, he addeth his mercy
To multiplied trials, his multiplied peace
What are you thankful for this year? Thomas Watson reminds us that the godly man is a thankful man. But how can we be thankful “even though our hearts lie panting on the floor?”
First, we need to always remember our lowly condition. Watson reminds us:
If you wish to be thankful, get a heart deeply humbled with the sense of your own vileness. A broken heart is the best pipe to sound forth God’s praise. He who studies his sins wonders that he has anything that God should shine on such a dunghill: “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, but I obtained mercy” (1 Timothy 1:13). How thankful Paul was! How he trumpeted forth free grace! A proud man will never be thankful.
Keep a humble heart and you will keep a thankful heart. Never forget the greatest mercy and the greatest gift that we have been given – our salvation in Jesus.
Second, we need to remember that all we have comes from the hand of the Lord. The godly man looks at all God has given as undeserved and ultimately from God’s hand. Watson says this about the proud man: “If he has an estate, this he has got by his wits and industry, not considering that scripture, ‘Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth’ (Deut. 8:18). Pride stops the current of gratitude.” Even in your darkest moment, remember all that God has given you.
We have much to give thanks for. Let us praise Him with all our hearts as we celebrate Thanksgiving this season!
Thankful for Teaching Opportunities …
This past month, I had the opportunity to teach the Worship and Prayer class at Ukrainian Baptist Seminary in Lviv. In previous years, I have taught the Church Planting and Pastoral students – usually about 20 students. Last year, the dean translated for me for the first three days. Afterwards he said, this class is so important for our students that I want to have all our students take this class. They also have a Music Ministry degree and he wanted to have these students take this class also. So… I had 53 students in this class!
The class is helpful because it explores a number of important issues about worship. We begin by look at the difference between form and function. Forms change with time; functions stay the same. So worshipping God is a function done by all cultures in all ages. But the form of worship changes with the culture. We also discuss the priority of keeping songs biblical regardless of the form we use. We talk about how to evaluate songs biblically and how to plan a worship service.
Probably most helpful are the various questions about pastoral ministry. I not only had many questions in class but I also met with a number of students after classes to answer questions about personal and ministry issues. I am thankful for the many years of experience in pastoral ministry that the Lord has given me. From those years, I have a lot of examples of what to do and not to do in ministry (a lot of what not to do!). And I am grateful for the patience of the churches that I have served over the years!
Also, I have been teaching worship now for 5 years. To begin with, I taught this class because the seminary didn’t have anyone else to teach it. I am not a musician and I have never been a worship leader. So I learned a lot by reading various books on worship but most of the class comes from my experience in working with some of the best worship leaders possible over the years. I have learned about worship in every church I served – from Will Parker and Harry Layden in CT, from Lewis Clark and Kathy Burns in AR. All of them had a love for Scripture, a love for the Lord and love of worship that taught me much that I am now able to pass on to these students here in Ukraine. What a blessing to be so many years in churches with leaders that valued worship so highly! I am thankful for them every time I teach this class!
Thankful for Family ...
We the girls are continuing to grow mentally, physically and spiritually. And they are a great joy to teach at home. Katya continues to be impressed with the Homeschooling approach. She constantly talks about how much easier this approach is than teaching in a classroom setting (her degree is in early childhood education) and especially how much more fun the lessons are! And the girls are loving it too!
Schooling at home gives us a number of great memories. Katya was teaching math and asked Kristina, “What will it be if we take 1 from 6?” Kristina replied, “6 will be crying!” Now that’s personal and practical application! Also, they are memorizing bible verses every week (Katya also teaches them some sign language as they memorize the verse). They recently learned Proverbs 10:5: “He who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a disgraceful son.” We were putting up preserves from our final harvest and we were able to talk about the important of working now to have something for the future. We are also glad that the girls are willing helpers when it comes to yard work. They loved working with the leaves and cleaning up our garden for next year. We are especially thankful for our summer harvest and for a full pantry to get us through the winter!
It is fun to see them growing up and beginning to think logically too. Nadia recently asked Katya why she called her “sweetie.” Katya explained that when we love someone we often say sweet things about them. Now Nadia is the compliment queen! She compliments us for everything. And she has also developed her own compliment language. Often she will say, “You are my gummy bear,” or “you are chocolate ice cream with sprinkles.” The sweeter the combination, the higher the compliment!
Recently they watched an animated movie, Gnomeo and Juliet, which uses garden gnomes to tell the story of Romeo and Juliet. After the movie, we explained that this was based on a story about two people whose families did not like each other just like in the movie. Nadia quickly asked, “You mean gnomes wrote the story???” So we talked about Shakespeare and how they adapted the story to the gnomes.
During some break times, we have been able to have some great family times. This fall, we visited the botanical gardens with its unique wooden animal statues. The girls love them! We also were able to see a Jewish musical and a children’s opera Borateno, which is the Russian version of Pinocchio. One advantage of living in Ukraine is that we can go to events like these for very little money.
Praying for Ukraine …
Keep praying for Ukraine. We continue to be in a “ceasefire” with Russian-backed troops so that means they attack 20 plus times a day and kill 1-2 Ukrainian soldiers while Ukrainian troops hold back to keep the ceasefire. Russia continues to send more and more weapons across the border so it is hard to know what will happen next.
We are thankful that our ministry allows us not only to prepare ministers for the future of Ukraine but it has also allowed us to be involved in financially supporting ministries and missionaries here in Ukraine. We continue to help with support for some Campus missionaries, some Word of Life missionaries and for the Christian camp that we worked at this summer. We are thankful to be partners with others in their ministries here in Ukraine!
And we are thankful for you all! Your prayers and your gifts continue to help us to do this important ministry here! I love what Paul says about giving in 2 Corinthians 9. He is thankful for their eagerness to help and grateful for how the generosity of their gifts even motivated others to give too (9:1-5). Then he talks about how God abundantly blesses and supplies for those that “sow generously” (9:6-11). But my favorite part is in verses 12-15. There he reminds them that their giving not only supplies “the needs of the Lord’s people” but that it causes others to “praise God” for “your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” We usually think of thanksgiving as in being thankful for what we have been given. But here Paul also reminds us that our giving to others results in them giving thanks to God also! So this Thanksgiving, be thankful. The godly man is a thankful man. But also think about how your giving to others “abounds in many expressions of thankfulness to God.”
By His Grace,
Jim and Katya
Kristina and Nadia
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