Thankful for God

This is the week of Thanksgiving, 2009. It is a time of cooking and baking, getting together with family and friends, feasting and football, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and last, but definitely not least, being thankful.

This year, as in all previous years, I have much for which to be thankful. Today, I want to look at the most important person in my life, Jesus Christ.

Without His sacrifice of death on the cross that covered my sins in His rich, red blood, I would not be assured of eternal life. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, when my spirit leaves my body it will immediately be in heaven with the other saints and angels, praising God! What a glorious day that will be! Maranatha!

His death on the cross not only means eternal life in heaven, it also means abundant life here on earth. The Bible says in John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” I believe that abundant living can be found in knowing who God is and walking in that knowledge every day. Here are just a few of God’s names and their meanings as just one way to get to know Him better:

 El Shaddai – Lord God Almighty

 El Elyon – The Most High God – above Him there is no other!

 El Olam – The Everlasting God – ageless, eternal, from age to age still the same, and forever!

 Elohim – God

 Qanna – Jealous – He is jealous for me and for you.

 Adonai – Lord, Master – as we allow Him to be Lord in our life, He blesses us and enriches our lives

 Yahweh – Lord, Jehovah

 Jehovah Nissi – The Lord My Banner – Exodus 17:15 “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is My Banner.”

 Jehovah Raah- The Lord is My Shepherd – Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want.”

 Jehovah Kaddesh – The Lord Who Forgives – Psalm 103:3a “who forgives all your sins”

 Jehovah Rapha – The Lord That Heals – Psalm 103:3B “and heals all your diseases”

 Jehovah Shammah – The Lord Is There – From Ex. 48:35 and understood to mean that God will not abandon us.

 Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness – Psalm 103:6 “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.”

 Jehovah Mekoddishkem – The Lord Who Sanctifies You – The Lord Who Sets You Apart

 Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide – Psalm 103:5a “who satisfies your desires with good things”

 Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is Peace – From Judges 6:24; peace is translated as “absence from strife”

 Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts – This name denotes His universal sovereignty over every army, both spiritual and earthly. The Lord of Hosts is the king of all heaven and earth. (Psalm 24:9-10; Psalm 84:3; Isaiah 6:5)

How can I not be thankful when I realize that God is all of the above names to me and more? He is my Peace, my Righteousness, my King, my Master, my Healer, my Forgiver, my Savior.

My heart is overwhelmed. There are no words in the English language that could adequately describe my thankfulness.

Maranatha!