EXTRAVAGANT THANKSGIVING TO AN AWESOMELY EXTRAVAGANTLY GENEROUS GOD
Howdy Blessed Beings?
So today was Thanksgiving Sunday across all Baptist Churches and our own theme was 'Extravagant Thanksgiving'
In the months leading to this thanksgiving, my pastor and the leading members of the thanksgiving committee had been singing the recurrent song of us all coming to offer God more than we ever have offered before now. The Reverend had been charging all that cared to listen to come with the mind of being extravagant with their possessions before God, even if whats on offer is all that is left - the crux is that the giving must exceed what had ever been given before now and of course he added the truth that God will surprise us accordingly.
Now, my '20 kobo' on the topic under discussion goes thus. It is trite to state that we are not as buoyant as we used to as a nation, as firms, businessmen and even individuals. This constriction or limitation extends even to the looters who can't siphon the nation's funds as they used to before. Its so evident that we are at the time of little as can be attested by every facet of the economy and to worsen things further is the damming truth that we are earning less but buying at prices that continues to rise. There are of course two ready groups this days: the group that has but are finding things difficult because they can hardly afford life's essentials with what they have and the other group is that of those that don't even have and must still buy this exorbitant essentials of life. A sizable number of the people being charged as surmised above fall under one of this two categories - then how rational is it to give extravagantly at such a time as this?
There is a saying that no one has what he or she hasn't first received and in the same wise another saying goes that no one can give what he doesn't have. In consideration of these two sayings, is it not just so obvious that we sometimes think too much in terms of what we have and do not have? Today arrived and it was glorious. While I had no means of knowing if people increased or gave extravagantly in terms of money; I saw joyful dancing, radiant smiles and gorgeous dressings. The decorations in the church, the celebratory mood, the gay laughter, toothy smiles here and there, and the loud voices used to sing hymns spoke, conveyed, and demonstrated extravagance. I could start giving reasons to really offer extravagant thanksgiving despite the gloom painted above, but the main reason I will give is because we just can offer extravagant thanksgiving - our ability to do so. Quite a number of us are so stuck on the negatives around us that we refuse to see the positives that envelope us.
God has really being awesome to us so far, lay down all your complains and write them out in block letters but your being able to read this alone, considering the many things that simple action requires (i.e. sight, cognition, wellness, e.t.c.) besides your smart or internet enabled phone and data to do so. How much do you think your sight cost? or your faculties? or your sound health, just to mention a few?
I intentionally refused to use that word people so easily bandy about lately but then why not just stop listening and identifying with the submissions of experts whose highfalutin postulations is yet to aid or push the nation out of the figurative hole they say we are in. People are buying houses and cars and still travelling abroad despite the exchange rate, the same way some are unable to afford pure water to soak the garri they got on credit - its as is now, how it had once been before and like the wise King Solomon said '...there is no new thing under the sun' Our perception is however essential to which of the two extremes we find ourselves.
My charge for us today is to really see God as that Awesomely Extravagantly Generous God and so offer befitting thanks accordingly not just at a particular moment, but always. Afterall, even secular success coaches preach gratitude as a key element to advancement. So be grateful simply because you have every capability to do so!
Peace, love, and wisdom to you all.
So today was Thanksgiving Sunday across all Baptist Churches and our own theme was 'Extravagant Thanksgiving'
In the months leading to this thanksgiving, my pastor and the leading members of the thanksgiving committee had been singing the recurrent song of us all coming to offer God more than we ever have offered before now. The Reverend had been charging all that cared to listen to come with the mind of being extravagant with their possessions before God, even if whats on offer is all that is left - the crux is that the giving must exceed what had ever been given before now and of course he added the truth that God will surprise us accordingly.
Now, my '20 kobo' on the topic under discussion goes thus. It is trite to state that we are not as buoyant as we used to as a nation, as firms, businessmen and even individuals. This constriction or limitation extends even to the looters who can't siphon the nation's funds as they used to before. Its so evident that we are at the time of little as can be attested by every facet of the economy and to worsen things further is the damming truth that we are earning less but buying at prices that continues to rise. There are of course two ready groups this days: the group that has but are finding things difficult because they can hardly afford life's essentials with what they have and the other group is that of those that don't even have and must still buy this exorbitant essentials of life. A sizable number of the people being charged as surmised above fall under one of this two categories - then how rational is it to give extravagantly at such a time as this?
There is a saying that no one has what he or she hasn't first received and in the same wise another saying goes that no one can give what he doesn't have. In consideration of these two sayings, is it not just so obvious that we sometimes think too much in terms of what we have and do not have? Today arrived and it was glorious. While I had no means of knowing if people increased or gave extravagantly in terms of money; I saw joyful dancing, radiant smiles and gorgeous dressings. The decorations in the church, the celebratory mood, the gay laughter, toothy smiles here and there, and the loud voices used to sing hymns spoke, conveyed, and demonstrated extravagance. I could start giving reasons to really offer extravagant thanksgiving despite the gloom painted above, but the main reason I will give is because we just can offer extravagant thanksgiving - our ability to do so. Quite a number of us are so stuck on the negatives around us that we refuse to see the positives that envelope us.God has really being awesome to us so far, lay down all your complains and write them out in block letters but your being able to read this alone, considering the many things that simple action requires (i.e. sight, cognition, wellness, e.t.c.) besides your smart or internet enabled phone and data to do so. How much do you think your sight cost? or your faculties? or your sound health, just to mention a few?
I intentionally refused to use that word people so easily bandy about lately but then why not just stop listening and identifying with the submissions of experts whose highfalutin postulations is yet to aid or push the nation out of the figurative hole they say we are in. People are buying houses and cars and still travelling abroad despite the exchange rate, the same way some are unable to afford pure water to soak the garri they got on credit - its as is now, how it had once been before and like the wise King Solomon said '...there is no new thing under the sun' Our perception is however essential to which of the two extremes we find ourselves.
My charge for us today is to really see God as that Awesomely Extravagantly Generous God and so offer befitting thanks accordingly not just at a particular moment, but always. Afterall, even secular success coaches preach gratitude as a key element to advancement. So be grateful simply because you have every capability to do so!
Peace, love, and wisdom to you all.
Lord I thank you for the gift of life.
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