{"id":563,"date":"2020-11-24T20:27:17","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T20:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/roycypher\/?p=563"},"modified":"2020-11-24T20:27:17","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T20:27:17","slug":"being-thankful-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/roycypher\/2020\/11\/24\/being-thankful-in-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Being Thankful in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">Being Thankful When Times are Difficult, Desperate, Dire, Disappointing<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_88002\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_8hCDsK2JJk?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&rel=1&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">i.e. Being Thankful in 2020<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">I. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 directs us to give thanks in everything, as this is the will of God for us<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">A. Focus on the 1st 4 words<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 1. The preposition &#8216;IN&#8217; makes it clear that it means location or place<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 2. The noun &#8216;EVERYTHING&#8217; means all, as all situations, environments, conditions<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 3. The verb &#8216;GIVE&#8217; is to freely transfer from self to another; implicating a release <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> and causing another to take control and possession<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 4. The noun &#8216;THANKS&#8217; is an expression of gratitude which is often, but not <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> restricted to words; actions and posture and emotions are such expressions<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">B. So what this command is telling us is to express gratitude in all situations, environments, or conditions that we find ourselves in<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">C. What it is NOT telling us is to give thanks for the situation, environment or condition that we find ourselves in<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">II. What about giving thanks when there is a year like 2020 with pandemic, politics, social unrest, economic woes, civil distress?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> A. We are not likely thankful for these events<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> B. We are, however, need to give thanks<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 1. To whom?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 2. For what?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">III. To give thanks when the situation is dire<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> A. It helps to know to whom we are giving thanks<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 1. Psalms136: 1-3<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 2. God who is good<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 3. Lord of lords<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 4. God of gods<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 5. God whose mercy towards us endures forever<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> B. For what are we thankful?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 1. His mercy endures forever<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 2. For all that HE has done<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 3. For all that He is doing<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 4. For all that He is going to do<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">C. How do we give thanks? With words, songs, actions, posture and without an agenda or expectation or strngs attached&#8230;see giving definition above.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">IV. How do we give thanks when we can&#8217;t<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">A. It is a choice &#8211; choose to, despite circumstances; that is a sacrifice&#8230;therefore a sacrifice of thanksgiving<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">B. Colossians 3: 15-17<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 1. Let (allow, chose to surrender to) the Peace of God rule in our hearts<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 2. be thankful for this<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 3. Let (allow, choose to surrender to) the Word of Chris richly dwelling in us<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 4. Singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 5. Whatever we do in word or in deed, let it be done in the name <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">(under the authority of , being a representative of, being responsible to, responding to) Christ<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 6. Giving thanks to God through Lord Jesus<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">V. Habakkuk 3: 17-18<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> A. Know that Habakkuk is looking at a nation oppressed by unrighteous evil leadership <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">1. he complains to God about the bad guys prospering<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">2. God tells him that they will not go unpunished<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">3. Habakkuk sees that things will get worse for the people as God addresses the wickedness through captivity to Babylon<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">B. Yet, Habakkuk lets the people know that though things get worse with loss of harvest and shortage of food and loss of income:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #004dbb;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"><i>Yet I will <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #004dbb;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"><i><u>rejoice<\/u><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #004dbb;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"><i> in the Lord,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #004dbb;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"><i>I will <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #004dbb;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"><i><u>joy<\/u><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #004dbb;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"><i> in the God of my salvation.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 1. Hebrew word for rejoice is <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #004dbb;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"><i>alaz<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> (Strong&#8217;s Hebrew #5937) exuberant joy <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">jumping for joy, exulting triumphantly<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> 2. Hebrew word for joy is <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #004dbb;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"><i>giyl<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\"> (Strong&#8217;s Hebrew #1523) to spin in overflowing<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> <span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">emotion expressing depth and strength of joy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">C. Habakkuk has chosen to give, expressing, showing thanks to the God of his salvation in spite of the forecast of hardships and disruption of life. He will do this with physical action. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">D. Perhaps when we don&#8217;t feel like giving thanks in a situation, we should get physical!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en\">VI. I will remember it is God that I am giving thanks, regardless of my situation or the circumstance. Let the Peace of God rule in my heart; Let the Word of Christ richly dwell in me. I choose to give Him thanks with my word, my deed&#8230;with my song and with my body leaping for joy because HE is the GOD of my Salvation. Amen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Being Thankful When Times are Difficult, Desperate, Dire, Disappointing i.e. Being Thankful in 2020 I. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 directs us to give thanks in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,18,22],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-house-church","category-teaching","category-tom-and-lalla-goka","wpcat-13-id","wpcat-18-id","wpcat-22-id"],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/roycypher\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/roycypher\/feed\/podcast\/roy-cypher","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"vC4lkVNQLP\"><a href=\"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/roycypher\/2020\/11\/24\/being-thankful-in-2020\/\">Being Thankful in 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/roycypher\/2020\/11\/24\/being-thankful-in-2020\/embed\/#?secret=vC4lkVNQLP\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Being Thankful in 2020&#8221; &#8212; Roy Cypher\" data-secret=\"vC4lkVNQLP\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! 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