Lighthouse Baptist Church
and Christian Academy
To The People Who Have Influenced You
Lets Give Thanks, Part 1
Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time... each of the two men - the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison - had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own... [Joseph said after he had interpreted their dreams] remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison... When two full years had passed... Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings."
Genesis 40-41 (NIV)
- Who was the first person to influence you toward recovery?
- Who was the first person to influence you to become a Christian?
- Who first stood by you when you were trying to stay sober?
- Who first stood by you during your divorce?
- Who stayed with you through the toughest experiences?
- What people have reached out to you at a particularly difficult time?
Do you keep in touch with them?
Do you remember them?
Do you help them when they need you?
Why should you give thanks for people who helped you get through tough experiences? Because God put them in your life and God stayed with you.
[Jacob's sons], "boiling with envy and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him"
Acts 7:9 (AMP)
the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and loving-kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison.
Genesis 39:21 (AMP)
1. God says relationships are what my life is all about.
Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)
Relationships, not achievements or the acquisition of things, are what matters most in life. Why do you allow your relationships to get the short end of the stick? When your schedules become overloaded, you start skimming relationally, cutting back on giving the time, energy, and attention that loving relationships require.
What's most important to God is displaced by what's urgent.
Don't wait until you're on your deathbed to figure out that nothing matters more.
Let's be more specific:
WHO HELPED YOU THROUGH:
- ALCOHOL
- RAISING ADOLESCENTS
- ENGAGEMENT
- REMARRIAGE
- RAISING STEP CHILDREN
- SEPARATION, DIVORCE, THE PERIOD BETWEEN MARRIAGES
- AN AFFAIR
- SINGLE PARENTING
- SINGLE ADULTHOOD
- WIDOWHOOD
- RETIREMENT
- GRAND-PARENTING
- DEATH OF PARENTS
- CHILD ABUSE
- HOMELESSNESS
- INFERTILITY
- CHILD CARE
- EXPECTATIONS VERSUS REALITY
- DRUGS
- GRIEF AND MOURNING
- DISTANCING FROM YOUR PARENTS
- TEENAGE PREGNANCY
- BOUNDARY NEGOTIATIONS
- CHANGING JOBS
- BUYING A HOME
WHO HELPED YOU THROUGH AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP OF POWER AND CONTROL
Emotional Abuse: Putting her down, calling her names, making her think she's crazy, playing mind games, stonewalling
Intimidation: Putting her in fear by looks, actions, gestures, loud voice, smashing things, destroying property, stalking, driving your car at excessive speeds
Physical abuse: slapping, shoving, choking, biting, pushing, entrapment, punching, beating, kicking, grabbing, pulling hair, stabbing, shooting, or killing
Isolation: controlling what she does, whom she sees and talks to, where she goes, denying access to car, deliberately removing her from her support system
Threats: making and or carrying out threats to hurt her emotionally, threats to divorce, have an affair, commit suicide, report her to welfare, take away children, or emotional support system, or disclose her to HIV status
Using Male Privilege: treating her like a servant, making all the big decisions, acting like the Master of the House, Neglecting second shift: parenting, housework, or home responsibilities
Economic Abuse: trying to keep her from getting or keeping a job, controlling her access to money or knowledge about money, hiding investments
Using children: Making her feel guilty about the children, using the children to give messages, using visitation as a way to harass her, under-responsible parenting, abusive and controlling behavior with children
Sexual Abuse: abusive patterns of seduction, making her do sexual things against her will, criticizing her for sexual performance, indulging in outside relationships
Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
Romans 8:37 (AMP)
When you begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, He helps you through any experience you will ever go through. Because He loves you, He will never abandon you.
DO YOU BELIEVE: No matter what you've experienced, God has gone through the experience with you.
For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels won't, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are - high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean - nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.
Romans 8:38-39 (TLB)
2. God says I need to treasure the wonderful memories where people helped me.
Paul said,
I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion. That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith - and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you!
2 Timothy 1:4-5 (MSG)
The importance of things can be measured by how much time you are willing to invest in them.
The more time you give to something, the more you reveal its importance and value to you.
QUESTIONS
- Where would you be today if God had not put special people in your life to help you?
- How would you have gotten through difficult times if God had not intervened?
Timothy said that you always have happy memories of us and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.
1 Thessalonians 3:6 (CEV)
This week write a letter of gratitude, send an email, or call to share your happy memories. Let them experience your wonderful memory and heart of gratitude.
A cheerful heart is good medicine.
Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)
You may help someone by lifting their spirit and remind them to keep helping others.
For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my [KINGDOM] power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Romans 9:17 (ESV)
3. God says I need to express kindness to them for what they have done for me.
always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (AMP)
Even before time began God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us. Now Christ Jesus has come to show us the kindness of God. Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us the good news. It shines like a light and offers life that never ends.
2 Timothy 1:9 (CEV)
How many times do you thank God for saving your soul?
How many times do you thank God when He answers your prayers?
How many times do you thank God for eternal life?
When someone does something to better you, you should express kindness to them.
In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
2 Samuel 10:1-2 (NIV)
[Joseph said after he had interpreted their dreams] "remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison... When two full years had passed... Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings."
In a survey of ministry staff - "how do you feel when you do something for someone and they don't show kindness in return or say thank you?"
- Ashamed
- Confused
- Disappointed
- Foolish
- Guilty
- Hopeful
- Hurt
- Sad
- Shame
- Pessimistic
- Bashful
- Distant
- Embarrassed
- Nervous
- Rejected
- Tender
- Upset
- Worried
- Used
- Annoyed
- Puzzled
135 times you are told to remember one another
165 times you are told to encourage one another
431 times you are told to show kindness
Its possible that the people in your life may have felt some of these same feelings. Instead of being like Pharaoh's cupbearer or feeling like Joseph did in prison, lets remember the people God has put in your past and give them thanks.
4. God says I need to mention their act of kindness to others.
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given... you the gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them... Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 12:6-10 (NLT)
Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone
Galatians 6:10 (NLT)
Use every chance you have for doing good.
Ephesians 5:16 (NCV)
Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.
Proverbs 3:27-28 (TEV)
Why is now the best time to express thanks? Because you don't know how long you will have the opportunity.
How will you explain those times when projects or things were more important to you than people? Who do you need to contact today? What do you need to cut out of your schedule this week to make sharing kindness possible?
For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Romans 9:17 (ESV)
Prayer: God I know you are always with me and starting today, I will treasure the people who have helped me, express kindness to them, and share with others how they have been a blessing to me. Thank you for putting people in my life to help me. Thank you for guiding me footsteps. Thank you for valuing my life. In Jesus' name. Amen