A GREATFUL HEART PLEASES GOD

In John 12: 1~3, it recorded Mary Pours Perfume on Jesus
1 It was six days before the Passover Feast. Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived. Lazarus was the one Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was given at Bethany to honor Jesus. Martha served the food. Lazarus was among those at the table with Jesus.
3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard. It was an expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the sweet smell of the perfume.

• Mary used the most expensive perfume which supposed to be her dowry to wipe Jesus feet. She did it to show her gratitude and love towards Lord Jesus.
  She was willing to forfeit this expensive dowry because to her Jesus is more precious than the perfume and her future. She was willing to give her future to the Lord.
• This fragrance of love not only filled the whole house, it also filled the Lord’s heart and He was pleased with her.
  
  

2 Chronicles 20
21 Jehoshaphat asked the people for advice. Then he appointed men to sing to the Lord. He wanted them to praise him because of his glory and holiness. They marched out in front of the army. They said, "Give thanks to the Lord. His faithful love continues forever."
22 They began to sing and praise him. Then the Lord hid some men and told them to wait. He wanted them to attack the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. They had gone into Judah and attacked it. But they lost the battle. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir. They destroyed them. They put an end to them. When they finished killing the men from Seir, they destroyed each other.

• When King Jehoshaphat called the nation to praise the Lord while enemies, much stronger than themselves, hemmed them in on every side.
• As the result, His greatful heart and the praises of his people touched the heart of God and it caused the Lord to change the whole situation from being a victim to victory.
  

Mark 8
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke them and gave them to his disciples. They set the loaves down in front of the people. 7 The disciples also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for them too. He told the disciples to pass them around. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. After that, the disciples picked up seven baskets of leftover pieces. 9 About 4,000 men were there..

• This chapter recorded Jesus fed the 4 thousand people after 3 days of sermon. He asked for anyone could offer food.
• Jesus was thankful for the 7 loaves of bread and he gave thank to God. His act of gratitude caused miracle to happen. The 4,000 people were fed with the 7 loaves which was multiplied and even have 7 baskets left over.
• When we offer thanks giving with a greatful heart, miracle happen!

Luke 17:11-19
11 Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. He traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men met him. They had a skin disease. They were standing close by. 13 And they called out in a loud voice, "Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!" 14 Jesus saw them and said, "Go. Show yourselves to the priests." While they were on the way, they were healed.
15 When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back. He praised God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Weren't all ten healed? Where are the other nine? 18 Didn't anyone else return and give praise to God except this outsider?" 19 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up and go. Your faith has healed you."

• Jesus healed ten men with skin disease.
• Only one man who is a Samaritan (an outsider) came back to give thanks to God. As a result he was not only healed but was also made whole.
• As believer we often take God’s Grace for granted and forget to give thanks to Him.
• When we have a thankful heart, it bring healing to our whole being.
  

2 Chronicles 5:11-14
11 The priests left the Holy Room. All of the priests who were there had set themselves apart to the Lord. It didn't matter what group they were in. 12 All of the Levites who played music stood near the east side of the altar. They included Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives. They were dressed in fine linen. They were playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were joined by 120 priests who were blowing trumpets. 13 The trumpet players and singers made music together as if they were only one voice. They praised the Lord. They gave thanks to him. Some of them played their trumpets, cymbals and other instruments. The others raised their voices to praise the Lord. They sang, "He is good. His faithful love continues forever."
Then a cloud filled the temple of the Lord. 14 The priests couldn't do their work because of it. The glory of the Lord filled God's temple.

• Solomon Brings the Ark to the Temple and celebrated the delication of the temple. When the whole Isreal sing praise to God in unity and gave thanks to God for His goodness. The Glory of God filled the whole temple.
• God is pleased when we gather in unity to praise Him and give thanks to Him, He will fill us with His divine presence.
  

In good times, in bad times; in victory or in trials, let us learn to maintain a grateful heart toward our God, who is faithful and righteous and His love endure forever. Amen!
“No matter how devastating the circumstances were, they were seemingly insignificant in the light of His abiding presence.” – Patricia King

Halleluah! Let’s offer this song to our God:
“Give thanks with a greatful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One.
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ His son.
And now let the weak says I am strong; let the poor says I am rich.
Because of what the Lord has done for us. Give thanks. We give thams.”
Amen and Amen!