Thanksgivings 2009: For What Are You Thankful?

Happy Thanksgiving 2009! What are you thankful for in life? To whom are you most grateful?

I am extremely thankful of three most important people in my life, and am thankful for too many things to list here, but below is a rundown of whom and what I'm most thankful of.

I am thankful to the most important Person in not only my life but in the universe: Jehovah God Almighty. I would like to thank Jehovah for...

• Giving me my life. Life is the most precious present Jehovah has given to each and every one of us. When you're given life, cherish it. I cherish my life; I hold on to every moment and don't let happiness pass me by.

It's true that I've lost my eyesight and the ability to walk, but I'm never scornful. Instead, I'm simply grateful for having owned these powers before. Plus, I'm still the owner of so many other wonderful gifts. I can still talk, I can still hear; I'm still alive, so I utilize all these factors to become an award-winning author with 21 awards and a motivational speaker to touch as many people as I possibly can to bring humor, hope, healing, and above all, the Word of God.

• Letting me know Him by reading His personal profile: the Bible. I am so honored beyond words to know such a loving Being, who is the very representation of love (1 John 4:8). I am so honored to know His personal name, Jehovah, as the first step in developing an intimate, sacred relationship with Him. "The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10) I am so blessed to have the privilege to call Him "Father." I am so honored to receive His guidance, His provisions. And I eagerly await each moment when I can learn more about the most supreme Being of the universe: our Heavenly Father, Jehovah.

• Helping me to conquer fiery oceans and thorny jungles to come out with stars in my arms. Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. But I wouldn't be able to do it all without letting the hope in Jehovah haul me high!

I am able to overcome my multiple physical disabilities and blindness. Is it because of my own strength or the strength God has given me? I am able to do so not because I have the strength within myself, but because Jehovah gave me this strength. I do not rely on myself--I rely on my very Life-Giver. To say I am capable on my own is only a lie. Without Jehovah, I would be powerless. He is my strength!

• Assisting me to find and open a better door when a door is closed to me. If I hadn't lost my eyesight, I would have simply gone to college, have gotten my degrees, and become a scientist, and as a consequence, I would not bring the kind of spiritual food to others that far surpasses any other worldly achievements and influences. Indeed, Jehovah has exchanged my eyesight with a new spiritual vision.

• Bestowing me a great purpose for existence. After taking up Jesus' Great Commission, for the first time in my life, I've found my purpose of existence. For the first time, I have sight of where I'm headed, and most importantly, that I'm heading in the right direction, for there's no better guidance than that from my very Life-Giver. I'm living the life of my wildest dream, a life I never imagined I would be privileged enough to live, a life that I hope will transcend duty, beyond mere humanly accomplishments, to a life of service for the betterment of humanity, a life offered in love for Jehovah.

• Exercising my spirit and faith with life's challenges and obstacles. The Bible says, "It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22, HCSB) Challenges are exercise machines for our spirits. The loss of my eyesight is another challenge that strengthens my faith and spirit, and draws me closer to God in various ways. Like a child in need, I call on God for strength; all the while spreading the messages of God to others.

• Giving me the best mother possible: my dearest, most beloved mother Juliet Cheng, who is the cornerstone and light of my life, the foundation of my happiness, strength, and success, besides my Heavenly Father, of course!

Whenever stress threatens me, I think about my Heavenly Father and my beloved earthly mother, and I become so grateful and happy to have them that I no longer find my situation stressful; I am then able to endure the negative circumstances so much better.

• But above all, for His infinite love, grace, and the gift of salvation through His Son. Jehovah's greatest personal sacrifice is sacrificing His beloved Son, Jesus, our Messiah, in order to cleanse us of our sins and give us the chance for an everlasting life of love and fellowship with Jehovah. This Father-Son team is the epitome of selfless love and devotion, and one must be in awe of Their love for each other, and for us sinners. Could you imagine the pain Jehovah must have gone through to have Jesus suffer physically, mentally, and spiritually?

Next, I must thank Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for...

• His endless love for his Father and for us. Jesus is an obedient Son from beginning to end, even unto death. His love for his Father is beyond measure, transcending any and all known darkness. He's willing to do the will of his Father, even when that meant innocently dying in order to save us.

Can you imagine being impaled with long nails driven through your wrists and ankles while you are alive, and left there to die slowly under the blazing sun? That's exactly what happened to Jesus!

Because of his sacrifice, Jesus has opened the door that leads us to Jehovah. Without this atonement, we would all parish, without ever having the hope of a resurrection unto life.

Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

Jehovah God is the King of His Kingdom, which will be entrusted to Jesus as King for one thousand years. If we cannot connect with God, we surely cannot enter His Kingdom. So when we can have connection with God only through His Son, it means we can enter the Kingdom only through Jesus. No one can enter the Kingdom without accepting Jesus as Savior. He is the "way" to salvation. He is our eternal "life." He is the "truth" that will lead us to God and God's Kingdom. Jesus is "Yahooshua" in Hebrew, which means "Jehovah Is Salvation." "Christ" means "the Appointed One." So Jesus is the one appointed by God to provide us salvation, while salvation ultimately comes from Jehovah.

Lastly, a big "Thank you" goes to my mother Juliet Cheng for...

• Providing me with overflowing love, support, understanding, and care. If it hadn't been for my mom, I wouldn't be here today. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't be born, but it meant my life wouldn't be sustained. My mother saved my life numerous times from the grasp of death. I've had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy, and by my thirteenth month of life, I was knocking on death door. Mother took me to china for six times in a span of ten years to seek treatment, thus prolonging my life. With her constant love and care, I'm able to remain happy, content, hopeful, and faithful. Maternal love is the greatest love Jehovah has created, and I'll be forever grateful to God for bestowing this wonderful gem upon me.

My Best Gift

To narrow it down, the two best blessings I've received: that God has given me my life (which contains all the other blessings), and that I'm privileged to know Him. I wonder, which one of these two is the most wonderful? If I didn't exist, I wouldn't know God. Yet, if I lived without knowing God, my life would be meaningless. I'll leave it for you to decide.

How about you? What are you most thankful for? For what would you like to say, "Thank you, Jehovah"?

Below are some things for which people are thankful of Jehovah:

"I thank my Creator God Jehovah for blessing me with life. My mother told me she took some purgative to abort me; she wasn't ready for a second child. But it didn't work; and she was a wonderful mom who would have given her life for me. Then God gave me a creative, inquiring mind. When I asked, He gave me wisdom. He gave me the privilege of being born in America, in a wonderful time and place. He gave me family to love, church to serve, nation to respect, His wonderful instruction in the Scriptures and His handiwork everywhere!" -Barbara Roberts
http://barb-whatif.blogspot.com

"I try to remember to thank Him each day for life. I am so grateful for this wonderful earth and all the people that come into our lives to teach us lessons. I LOVE JEHOVAH!!!" -Robin Coventry

"I am thankful for being a two-year stage IIIA breast cancer survivor. Every day that I can spend with my loved ones is a blessing and for that I am most thankful." -Crystal Brown-Tatum, President, Award-Winning Public Relations Consultant, Crystal Clear Communications, www.crystalcommunicates.com

"I thank God for keeping me through these three years of law school, although I was not financially or emotionally prepared. I thank God for loving me with such an intensity, that my 'little' concerns, were always on His mind. I thank God that He continuously shows me, through my parents, that nothing is impossible. My parents vowed to stick together through the good and the bad, and by keeping this vow they have given their children the best gift we could ever ask for." -Osayi Emokpae, PR Agent, IyasoStuff

"I am grateful for being able to work from home and be with my family. It is a great blessing to wake up in freedom and opportunity to help others learn, earn, and serve. As I look out the window, my grass needs mowing. Well, I have a mower and the ability to use it! 'Dad, I love you.' I hear that unsolicited from my children as I work or play with them. I am most thankful to know that I will forever live with God as a result of what Jesus did for me on the cross." -David Kimball, Personal Financial Coach, Speaker, Author, www.household-budget-made-easy.com

"With all we have coming from Jehovah, it would seem ungrateful not to be thankful for everything. However, I am thankful for the grace that He has shown to me and everyone around me. At times I doubt and wonder about what the plan is in life and then when I look back I see that that was the best road I should have been on to get to the goal. I am thankful that God through His grace guides me on a daily basis. Life is Great! It's my task to keep it great." -Peter Mundschenk DVM, www.justforcatsvet.com

"I am grateful for my mind, which allows me to take any perspective I can imagine on my circumstances. This is freedom, and regardless of the material barrier or conundrum, my thoughts allow me to cope with anything. Sometimes, that means seeking retreat or even shutting down for awhile, but I am grateful for a mind which then emerges from its hibernation uplifted and able to feel hope and joy." -Lisa Finkelstein, Writer, www.rangeragainstwar.blogspot.com

"I have to first thank God for the challenges in my life. Without the challenges, I don't believe I would be able to fully understand or appreciate all the wonderful things He has done for my family and me. I lost my job as a financial advisor on January 6, 2009, and have been unemployed ever since. I have used the unemployment benefits to start my own ministry called the Abundant Life Institute, a non-profit financial ministry modeled after the organization 'Doctors without borders.' Instead of free medical services, we provide free financial planning services with Christian Financial professionals that we refer to as Money Coaches. I don't know what God has in store for me or our ministry, but every day we have a chance to help others who are experiencing challenges or difficulties that put our own into perspective. We think we have hit bottom until we reach our hand out to help someone else up to where we are. So I guess I'm not only thankful for the countless blessings that have graced us, but even more grateful that I can be used to be a blessing to others as a witness and provide an encouraging word to His glory." -Rodney D. Ballance, Jr. FIC, CCIA, Founder/President, The Abundant Life Institute, Financial Ministry, www.godsdollar.com

"I have so many things to thank my Father in heaven for that it is hard to put it all into words. I thank Him for a wonderful life filled with laughs and giggles from two adorable children and a wonderful husband. I thank Him for His mercy, grace, and wisdom that I pray for daily. His forgiveness, and unconditional love, is probably the things that I should thank Him most for because no matter how hard I try, on this side of heaven, I will never get everything right. He forgives me every time I ask and He never leaves my side. That never ceases to amaze me." -Marsha Louk, www.laurelforkfarm.com

"Here are some things I would like to thank Jehovah for: My wife gets to stay home with our daughters: Just the other day, I was home with the girls while Tracy was out and I enjoyed being with them. I started thinking how grateful I am that Tracy gets to do that on a daily basis and I know my girls feel the same way. I have a wonderful family: We are very family-oriented. My grandmother lives three house away from us and my parents are less than a mile down the road. We get together at least once a week and I am so grateful we have these wonderful moments together. I have a job I love: There are many people that feel trapped in their jobs because even though they may not be happy doing what they are doing, they have to stay in their job to pay for their expenses. Even though I don't make a lot of money as a teacher, I love what I do and who I work with--that is PRICELESS." -Danny Kofke, How to Survive (and perhaps thrive) on a Teacher's Salary, www.dannykofke.blogspot.com