“…as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 4:15).”

The more frequently God’s people give thanks to Him for his measureless grace, the more widely His glory shines. Last Sunday, we Eric Twisselmann helps us see from Psalm 111 that we cultivate thankfulness (gratitude felt) and thanksgiving (gratitude expressed) by remembering, studying, and delighting in the wonderful works and worth of God.

I’d like to add a fourth way. Telling. There’s a three-step pattern we see in many of the Psalms like here in Psalm 50.

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
   and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
   I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me (Psalm 50:14–15).”

1. God invites us to actively trust Him.
2. He proves Himself faithful.
3. We tell the story (spread His glory).

In Psalm 40, David tells the story of having waited patiently for the Lord who inclined to him and heard his cry, lifting him from a miry bog and making his steps secure. And what happened next? He told the story.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD (Psalm 40:3).”

In Psalm 116, David recounts another time he was brought low, pled to God for mercy, and He inclined and heard his cry. What happened next? He told the story.

“What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people (Psalm 116:12, 14).”

A few years ago we began a tradition of setting aside the Sunday before Thanksgiving to hear stories of how God’s grace has extended to members of our Grace family that it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God and cause our faith in His future grace to grow.

This Sunday, we will hear two stories of God’s grace extended over the long haul. God loves to tell long stories. They magnify the myriad ways He extends His grace. Our first story will come from Sara Kelly and our second from Rick and Melanie Floyd.

Would you pray for them as they prepare what they will share? “Hindsight is 20/20” as the saying goes. So, let’s ask God to take these stories of his grace that we can see to deepen our trust in Him for his future grace that we have yet to see.

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Jesus, Jesus how I trust him
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O, for grace to trust Him more!