This past week we were reminded of the differences between rural Taiwanese culture and the one in which we grew up. Our neighbour was injured in an accident near our house. We joined other neighbours and onlookers in providing assistance at the time (directing traffic, insuring that emergency services was called, etc.) Thankfully their injuries that needed immediate medical care and ongoing follow-up are not considered to be life-threatening, nor extremely serious. A few days later, our neighbour made a tasty meal for neighbours who assisted her, bringing it to our homes. She explained that although it was coming from her heart, she also feels a sense of cultural obligation to express gratitude in this way. Through this experience we are reminded that there are different ways to express gratitude. Some take more effort than others. I am not sure had I been the one recovering that I would have been as willing to make the effort to go to the extent she did to express thanks. I would have been tempted to only use my words.
The Bible talks about demonstrating gratitude at different times and in different ways. Some verses that will help to shape our expression of thanksgiving include:
- Be thankful in all circumstances……(1 Thess 5;18)
- Give thanks to the Lord….Let the whole world know what He has done…….. (1 Chron 16:8)
- The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to give thanks to the Lord……(2 Chron 5:13)
- It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High……..(Ps 92:1)
- …give repeated thanks to the Lord, praising him to everyone……(Ps 109:30)
- The joyful voices … of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord. They will sing,……..(Jer 33:11)
- Present your bread made with yeast as an offering of thanksgiving…..(Amos 4:5)
- …give thanks to God before eating……(Rom 14:6)
- Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God…..(Phil 1:3)
- …pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them……(1 Tim 2:1)
This week’s Praise and Prayer focus:
- We are thankful for safety and health as we are involved in a variety of activities each week. Please join us in praising God for this, and ask for His continued blessing in these areas.
- We are thankful that God has provided our daughter, Elyssa, part-time work that will fit around her university class schedule. Thank you to all who have prayed for this over the past number of months.
- We are thankful for Chinese-speaking church members in Canada, who are using graphic arts to produce Christmas and Chinese New Year publications to be distributed here in Taiwan.
- We are thankful for Taiwanese church members who teach at our church’s Children’s Weekend Happy Camp twice each month. This week there will be people travelling from Taipei Alliance Church to help us (November 8).
- We are thankful that a short-term team is coming from a church in Calgary to lead a youth camp in July 2015. The local junior high school has already agreed to the dates.
- We are thankful that planning for a number of Christmas related activities has begun. Please pray for additional singers and suitable weather for the community carolling on December 19. (We will provide a complete list of the activities in one of our next updates.)
- We are thankful for people like you, who faithfully partner with us by praying.