CHRISTIAN THANKSGIVING

Pastor Jack M. Hilton

Bible Evangelical Methodist Church

New Danville, Pennsylvania

 

Demands A Correct Understanding of Physical and Spiritual Life

Col 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

When a person receives Spiritual Life they receive Spiritual Capacity and Sight. The Spiritual Sight enables them to correctly understand that everything they receive physically and spiritually is a gracious bestowment of God.

God Graciously Chose:

1.   The Place and Time of your Conception.

2.   The Two People who would be your biological parents.

3.   To Allow your conception and birth.

4.   Every part of your physical design and natural abilities.

5.   To Allow all the events and experiences in your Life to this point, whether you consider

     them good or bad.

6.   To Awaken and Convict you of Sin and Call you to Christ For Salvation.

7.   To Provide all your needs both physical and spiritual.

8.   To Always work that which is best for you and to bring Honor and Glory to His name.

When a Christian matures enough to understand God’s work and blessing, they are able to develop a right attitude concerning what God has blessed them with and are capable of proper Thanksgiving in Word and Action.

Scriptural Christian Thanksgiving

Col 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

As the Holy Spirit gains control of the spirit of man, He gives understanding of the great truths of God’s Word and man is able to understand God’s abundant blessings and the reason for those blessings. With the understanding and heartfelt gratitude produced by the Holy Spirit and the understanding of God’s Word, the Christian will experience an “Attitude of Gratitude” and express heartfelt Thanksgiving.

   1. A Special Attitude and Action

Col 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Col 3:15-16 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

As the Christian prays and studies the Word of God, the Holy Spirit works within their spirit, growing and developing Spiritual Fruit within the soul. As the Spiritual Fruit matures, the Christian’s thoughts, imaginations and attitudes are changed and molded to conform to God’s Word and Will. When the Christian’s thoughts are influenced and controlled by the Word of God, their Words and Actions will reflect their thoughts, imaginations and attitudes.

NOTE: WHEN THE WORD AND PEACE OF GOD RULE IN THE HEART, THE ATTITUDE OF THANKSGIVING WILL NATURALLY EXHIBIT ITSELF!!! BEFORE THERE CAN BE TRUTHFUL EXPRESSIONS OF THANKSGIVING THERE MUST FIRST BE A TRUTHFUL ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!!!

   2. A Continuous Activity

Eph 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

When there is proper understanding of God and His provision, the thinking about and attitude toward God and His provision will produce heartfelt Gratitude that will produce Words and Actions of Thanksgiving. Since this is a State of Being, the Words and Actions will be natural and continuous. The mature Christian who experiences the Fruit of the Spirit in his life will be able to “Give Thanks Always for All Things.”

   3. Exhibited in Word and Action

Col 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

The only means for man to reveal what he is thinking and feeling is through Words and Actions. If there is no real Attitude of Gratitude within the heart, the Words and Actions will eventually Reveal the true state of the heart.

NOTE: THE ONLY WAY OTHERS CAN KNOW OF YOUR GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS IS THROUGH YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS!!!! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SECRET OR HIDDEN THANKFULNESS!!!

I pray your Thanksgiving Day will be the beginning of a complete new life of “Thanks living”!!!!

I pray the LORD provides the Grace, Wisdom and Guidance that every thought, intention, word and action would honor and glorify HIM!!!

Remembering Robert David Cupit, Jr. of Natchez, Mississippi

I became a friend of Bob Cupit when I hired him to manage the first radio station that I owned - KVLA 1400AM in Vidalia, Louisiana.   He was a musician, vocalist, disc jockey, and radio station manager, and more!  He is missed.  Pray for the family.

Remembering Robert David Cupit, Jr.

Graveside Services for Robert David Cupit, Jr., 77 of Natchez, MS will be held at Highland Park Cemetery, Sicily Island on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 3:00 PM with Rev. Glenn Hargill officiating. The family will receive friends at Young’s Funeral Home, Ferriday from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Interment will follow under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Robert David Cupit, Jr. was born on Friday, February 5, 1937 in Natchez, MS and passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at Riverland Medical Center in Ferriday.

Mr. Cupit was preceded in death by his wife, Lou Anna “Lagrange” Cupit; R.D. Cupit, Sr. and Theda Mae “Benge” Cupit; daughter, Theda M. Cupit; brothers: Earl Cupit, Don Cupit, Danny Cupit; and sister, Betty Glascock.

Survivors include daughter, Pam Smith of Jonesville, LA; son, Robert D. Cupit, III of Natchez, MS and sister, Shirley Lovette of Pasadena, Texas. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

A Word for Dad

A careful man I ought to be,

A little fellow follows me.

I do not dare to go astray,

For fear he'll go the self-same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes,

Whate’er he sees me do,

He tries.

Like me, he says he's going to be,

The little chap who follows me.

He thinks that I am good and fine,

Believes in every word of mine.

The base in me, he must not see,

That little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go,

Through summer sun and winter snow,

I am building for the years to be,

That little chap who follows me.

- Grace Schmidt

Banana Republic Saints

There is now posted on youtube a brand new documentary titled: "Banana Republic Saints" that is produced by Clayton Van Huss.  Lydia Hill was one of the camera operators for the film.  Clayton is a student in film at East Tennessee State University and produced this as one of his film projects.  He graduates on Saturday.  Congratulations to Clayton on his upcoming graduation and for his very well-done film.  I encourage you to view it on youtube at:

http://youtu.be/VKv2GVIjNoY

This was filmed during our most recent mission trip to Honduras.

Thanks, Clayton for a job well done.

Report from SWRC Trip to Honduras

The mission group sponsored by Southwest Radio Church of the Air, Inc., was in Honduras Saturday April 20, 2013 until Saturday April 27, 2013.

Members included Dr. Noah W. Hutchings, President and Pastor of SWRC and his wife Kim Ky; Dr. Larry Spargamino, Associate Pastor and Secretary of SWRC; Nola Crick, Member of SWRC; Dr. Ron Suitor, M.D., Cardiologist from Oklahoma City and physician of Dr. Hutchings; Clayton VanHuss a film maker and student at East Tennessee State University; Dr. Kenneth C. Hill, Vice-President of SWRC and his daughter, Lydia; Luis Vega, Latin American Director of Siloam International and formerly the teacher on SWRC's Spanish-language program Profecias Biblicas and his daughter Nancy, and Dixie David Bahrona who is presently completing his degree in Civil Engineering.

The group ministered in the Sunday services at the Central CAM Church in Siguatepeque, two Pastors' Conference days of meetings, two days of outreach and evangelism at an elementary school in a barrio in Siguatepeque, and distributed tracts in the marketplaces and on the streets.  They also visited Estero V.E.C.A 89.1 radio that SWRC has been helping to fund its development.  Kenneth Hill was interviewed on the station, telling about ministry in the USA and Honduras.

The mission endeavor was a worthwhile effort!

Services for Hubert Clyde Hill

Hubert Clyde Hill, 86, of Knoxville, formerly of Kingsport, died on Friday at Jefferson City Health & Rehabilitation Center. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday (April 7, 2013) at Scott County Funeral Home, with the funeral service to follow at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at Holston View Cemetery, Weber City Va. with military rites.

Hubert Clyde Hill is now rejoicing with His Lord Christ Jesus

Hubert Clyde Hill

January 30, 1927  -  April 5, 2013

January 30, 1927 brought joy to Mary Ruth (Kern) Hill and her husband Henry Joseph Hill in the mining camp at Toms Creek in Wise County, Virginia with the birth of their first-born, Hubert Clyde Hill.

The youngster grew and played with his siblings as each arrived in the Hill household.  Tragedy came early for Hubert when his father was killed in the mine in 1935.

Too young to work at a regular job to help feed the family, Hubert began working at odd jobs helping anyone who would pay him to work in the fields.  He later joined the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in Scott County and worked as a water boy before graduating to more of the regular tasks that resulted in many of the beautiful forest areas of the County.

In 1942 he moved to Kingsport to work at the Eastman plant.  He was employed there until his retirement in 1986 with time out for his service during World War II.

Hubert was a tank driver in the Special Tank Battalion 738^th known as the Great Speckled Bird unit.  His tank was always at the head of the column with the loud speakers to ask for surrender of the enemy.  He served in the European Theater and was involved in many battles, including the Battle of the Bulge.  He earned a number of medals and ribbons including the Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart Medal and the European American Middle Eastern Service Ribbon.  Wounds received during his time of service resulted in life-long excruciating pain.  After recovery in the hospitals of Europe and the United States, he was honorably discharged.

He returned home to marry his sweetheart, Erma Lee Harless, whom he had met as one of his pen pals while in the Army.  Together they established a home in the Morrison City community of Kingsport and raised two children, Brenda and Kenneth.

Shortly after his marriage, he found salvation in Christ Jesus his Lord on an altar at the Morrison City Mission Church.  Over the years he became an accomplished Bible teacher and leader of the church, serving as a Deacon for over 60 years.  He was a student of the Word of God and lived its precepts in his daily life.  He was the head of his household and the leader of his family.  He led his family to follow Christ and to trust in the Lord in all things.

In 1956 the family was again impacted by tragedy when a drunk driver crashed into the family as they were traveling to Christmas festivities.  Hubert was pinned in the car with multiple injuries including the amputation of his left leg.  After much surgery and about a year in the hospital, he returned home and renewed his responsibilities.  He gave thanks to God for his healing and thanks to his friends for helping sustain the family during that time of devastation. 

He was a man of determination.  He worked hard raising a huge garden each year, serving the community, working at Eastman, tending to his family, and serving the Church and the work of Christ Jesus.

In his final years, while suffering from the ravages of Alzheimer’s, he continued to recite scripture, sing hymns, and pray well past the time that it was expected that would be possible.

He had a deep sense of responsibility and worked to show that any handicap would not deter him from giving an honest day’s effort on the job, at home, or at church.  Although his pain was unrelenting, he never gave any indication of his suffering to those with whom he worked and worshipped. 

Hubert has gone to be with His Savior to enjoy an eternal  life that holds no more pain and suffering.  The joy of his grand reunion with those who have gone before him cannot be imagined.

He has left behind a family that loved him beyond measure.  His wife of 66 years, Erma Lee (Harless) Hill; daughter and son-in-law Brenda and Ed Miller; son and daughter-in-law Kenneth and Janet Hill; grand-sons Nathan Miller and wife Ashley; Matthew Hill and wife Amanda; and Timothy Hill; grand-daughters  Lee-Anna Miller Thomas and husband Rocky, and Lydia Hill; great-grandchildren  Presley Miller, Jon Thomas, Caleb Hill, and Abigail Hill; his brothers Carl Hill and wife Reta, Rev. Joe Hill and wife Joann, and sisters Henrietta Roach and Carolyn Cunningham and husband Bill.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

 - Psalms 116:15

 Thank you for your prayers for the family and especially for his beloved wife, Erma.