eucharisteo.

in greek, and so often in the new testament, thanksgiving is referred to as "eucharisteo". it's a beautiful word with an even more beautiful meaning. i have always understood the act of giving thanks to be very much alive, lived out in our words and our deeds. the act of giving thanks has been a joyful experience for me, one lived out in such sweet moments with friends and family. after all, i have had so much to be thankful for in my life. it wasn't until recently that i started questioning my understanding of jesus' words, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me" (John 11:41), spoken after he experienced the raising of Lazarus. Thanksgiving, eucharisteo, held so much power then. Jesus' gratitude, expressed in reverent thanksgiving, was so characteristic of his time walking the earth. He even expressed deep and real eucharisteo at the Last Supper, knowing the hours until his death were short. With thanksgiving he shared one last meal with his closest friends, fully aware of their impending betrayal. With thanksgiving he called out to his Father to spare him the cup that had already been poured, which would bring salvation to us all. Thanksgiving. The giving of Thanks. Eucharisteo. Such a joyful act, yet somehow I have found it more and more difficult to experience and even more challenging to express.

why, when i have so many opportunities to give thanks, do i instead choose to remain in my own self-pity? how can i more live the life of gratitude that paul exhorts his fellow believers to live when he says, "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father" (ephesians 5:19-20). have i ever expected god to provide a life free from trial and strain? how could i when His own Son's life was marked by betrayal, condemnation and eventually a traitor's death? yet, in all things, He offered his life as a pleasing sacrifice, giving thanks in all things. i think, as christians, that is our highest and ultimately most challenging responsibility in this life. i think we can do nothing that pleases God more than living a life of thanksgiving, a life of active eucharisteo, of giving thanks in all things. Psalm 50:23 says, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God”.

i have always known that it was through my deeds that i would show the love and light of Christ in this world, but i have forgotten the very real power of eucharisteo. what if living a life of thanks really does please and honor God? what if though my attitude and actions of giving thanks, others around me are encouraged to seek after the face of God? what if through the process of recognizing the countless reasons i have in my life to be thankful, my heart becomes softer and closer to the heart of God? would i give thanks then?

i recently finished reading a book, "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskkamp, in which the author accepts a challenge to count and then write about one thousand gifts she can recognize in her own life. i carefully and thoughtfully read her experiences, challenged and convicted, by how many different ways she was able to see the hand of God in her life. when was the last time i expressed gratitude for the ways that soap bubbles carry the reminder of God's Promise, in the form of a rainbow, as they escape from my sink of dirty dishes? do i believe in this act of eucharisteo, God is blessed?

while imprisoned Paul wrote to the Philippians about his discovery of finding contentment and fulfillment in all things (Philippians 4). i think he was referring to thankfulness. the bible promises we have all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), and i have come to learn that this begins with our hearts. i have recognized the need in my life for more gratitude, for more regular thanksgiving, for true eucharisteo. this is where it all starts for me. this is how i draw closer to god and how i make sense of the crazy world around me. this is how i honor Him with my life, when i feel like it's really of no consequence at all. this is how i bring grace and encouragement to those around me.

eucharisteo is so powerful and i'm very grateful for the reminder this Thanksgiving season to express my thanks in and for all things.

happy eucharisteo.