Thanksgiving Opens Amazing Doors, Personal Stories

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Hey friends, happy Thanksgiving and welcome to the Her God Story podcast where you will always hear a good story to encourage and inspire you in your walk with the Lord.

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I'm your host Jodie Chiricosta, ministry leader at Somebody Cares America International, author and traveler on this journey of faith.

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If you haven't done so yet, make sure to follow or like this podcast on your favorite streaming platform so you don't miss any of our encouraging episodes.

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You probably know by now that I always ask my guests what woman of the Bible has inspired, encouraged, or taught her something.

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But what about you? I'd love to hear what woman of the Bible has helped you in your walk with the Lord.

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Email me at hergodstory@somebodycares.org and tell me why. I just might read it in a future episode to encourage others who are listening.

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Remember, email me at hergodstory@somebodycares.org.

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I'm sure you've heard somewhere along the way the Sterling Brown admonition to always have an attitude of gratitude.

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And this time of year particularly, we are more conscious than normal about the importance of gratitude and Thanksgiving in our lives.

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But while the world around us considers gratitude simply a good mental health practice, Thanksgiving and gratitude are far more powerful than that.

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Psalm 100:4 tells us a secret. Thanksgiving is the key to entering through the gates to God's presence.

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Praise, which is extolling God's many amazing attributes and His character, bring us into His courts.

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The New King James Version says it like this. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.

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Be thankful to Him and bless His name.

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Philippians 4:6-7 in the New King James Version says, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

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And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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I'll tell you what, in this crazy confusing time that we live in, I want to be where God is.

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Thanksgiving and praise are the way in. Now, of course, God is omnipresent.

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I'm not talking about being close, but I am talking about being close enough to hear His voice and feel Him near, to have His peace guard my heart and my mind.

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You know, I'm grateful that George Washington, the first U.S. president, proclaimed the first official day of Thanksgiving back in 1789, the very first year of his presidency.

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Our fledgling nation had just defeated the most powerful nation of the day and established independence.

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President Washington and the members of Congress who requested the day of Thanksgiving knew they owed their lives and liberty to God, and they wanted a day designed to offer thanks.

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Most presidents after Washington also declared a national day of Thanksgiving each year until Congress passed a law in 1941, making it a permanent legal holiday.

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That time dedicated to Thanksgiving reminds me of the children of Israel's escape from the Egyptians through the Red Sea.

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After 400 years of harsh, harsh servitude, they left Egypt with all their families and possessions.

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But then they were pursued by one of the world's fiercest armies of the day, and they were caught between the army and the sea.

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God opened up a path through the sea for their escape and then allowed the Egyptian army to pursue them through the sea.

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But when the last Israelite stepped foot on the other side, the water came crashing down on the army, and they knew their freedom was secure.

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Exodus 14:31 through 15:3 in the New Living Translation says,

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When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him.

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They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

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Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord,

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I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.

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The Lord is my strength and my song, he has given me victory.

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This is my God and I will praise him, my Father's God and I will exalt him.

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The Lord is a warrior, Yahweh is his name.

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And the song goes on for 15 more verses.

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We still sing that song today.

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You know, their thanksgiving to the Lord for salvation quickly turned into praise of God's might and God's power.

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Then verse 20 and 21 recount that Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced.

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And Miriam sang this song, sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.

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Have you ever been so filled with gratitude that you danced before the Lord?

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We don't know exactly how old Miriam was, but she was older than Moses, who was at least 80 at the time.

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She had lived 80 plus years in slavery.

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When she saw the Egyptian army wiped out and knew she was fully and completely free, she couldn't help but dance and sing to the Lord in thanksgiving.

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And she led all the other women of Israel to do the same.

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That must be how our forefathers felt when the last British ship sailed for home.

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They were so grateful to God for what he had done.

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They made sure thanksgiving has been woven into the fabric of this nation.

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In recent years, there's been a concerted effort by some to criticize and tear down our nation, rejecting everything done in the past is wrong.

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And while this nation certainly is not perfect, there's much to be thankful for from our past and our present.

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God has graciously given us a beautiful land.

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If you have visited much of it, you cannot help but be in awe of God's creation that we call home.

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From white sand beaches and rugged coasts to fertile plains with stunning sunsets to majestic mountains and pure streams to oceans teeming with fish and forests filled with wildlife.

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For most of our history, God has blessed us with a strong economy powered by new innovations that make life easier for each new generation.

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Just in my lifetime, there have been many like the global positioning system that works with another innovation cell phones to guide us where we're going in the least amount of time possible, even changing the route to steer us around construction and other delays while we're in the middle of our journey.

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Medical advances have all but eliminated some diseases that were deadly in the past.

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And I'm so grateful for imaging technology that identified cancer in me at an early stage so it could be dealt with quickly.

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I am exceedingly thankful that we live in a country with religious freedom.

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Yes, there are always those trying to chip away at that freedom, but I appreciate and support those who are working and advocating to ensure our religious freedoms remain.

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I first heard the gospel message when I was six years old and I'm so thankful that even at a young age, God gave me the ability to recognize my need to repent for my sin and receive forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ.

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God has been my provider in every way.

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He's provided financially for me to complete four college and postgraduate degrees with no debt.

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He's directed me to cars that have lasted for many years without major repair bills.

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He's led me to a neighborhood where I bought my first home.

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It was not even on the market yet, but I knew I was supposed to live in that area.

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And while talking to a builder's agent, she told me about a woman who was thinking of selling and I bought my townhouse without it ever being listed.

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It was a haven and blessing for me until I married.

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And then God sold it for me without a realtor to the first person who came to look at it.

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During a hurricane that hit our area, God's hand shielded the property and I only had to clean up one small twig.

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God has taken me to many different countries and allowed me to be a part of what he's doing to help the hurting, share the gospel with the seeking, care for orphans and widows and so much more.

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And when it was time for me to have a family, God brought me a wonderful man and his children, allowing me to be a part of their family after they lost their mother to cancer.

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When my husband and I were looking for a home, God gave us a scripture that confirmed to us just where he had a house waiting.

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It's been a blessing to raise our family in a quiet, safe community while I've drawn closer to the Lord.

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And when I faced cancer twice, God assured me of his presence through the journey and brought me through healed.

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Yes, there have been many valleys and struggles, but as I review my life thus far, I see the beautiful mountaintops of God's grace and goodness.

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My heart overflows with thankfulness.

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Like the woman who poured out her alabaster jar of expensive perfume on Jesus feet, I want to pour out my life and praise in gratitude to Jesus.

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I encourage you today to think of the goodness of God in your life and to our nation.

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If you're in a valley season, ask the Lord to lift your eyes up to see the beautiful mountaintops in your life too.

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And you can thank him for all he's done and praise him for who he is.

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And as you do, I believe things will begin to change.

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In Psalm 28:7, David declared, The Lord is my strength and my shield.

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I trust him with all my heart. He helps me and my heart is filled with joy.

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I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

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As a prayer of praise today, I'm going to read the full song that Moses and the congregation of Israel sang on the shores of the Red Sea.

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Let this be a song of praise for all God's done for you too.

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I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously. He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.

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The Lord is my strength and my song. He has given me victory.

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This is my God and I will praise him, my Father's God, and I will exalt him.

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The Lord is a warrior. Yahweh is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and army he has hurled into the sea.

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The finest of Pharaoh's officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

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The deep waters gushed over them. They sank to the bottom like a stone.

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Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power.

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Your right hand, O Lord, smashes the enemy.

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In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrow those who rise against you.

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You unleash your blazing fury. It consumes them like straw.

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At the blast of your breath, the waters piled up.

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The surging water stood straight like a wall.

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In the heart of the sea, the deep waters became hard.

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The enemy boasted, I will chase him and catch up with him.

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I will plunder him and consume them.

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I will flash my sword. My powerful hand will destroy them.

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But you blew with your breath and the sea covered them.

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They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

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Who is like you among the gods, O Lord?

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Glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders.

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You raised your right hand and the earth swallowed our enemies.

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With your unfailing love, you led the people you have redeemed.

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In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.

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The peoples hear and tremble. Anguish grips those who live in Philistia.

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The leaders of Edom are terrified.

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The nobles of Moab tremble. All who live in Cana melt away.

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Terror and dread fall upon them.

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The power of your arm makes them lifeless as stone.

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Until your people pass by, O Lord.

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Until the people you purchased pass by.

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You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain.

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The place, O Lord, reserved for your own dwelling.

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The sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established.

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The Lord will reign forever and ever. Amen.

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You know, friends, there are orphans as well as widows all over the world

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who need to experience the tangible expression of God's love right now.

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Many have special needs that we as a company of women can meet together

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and bring praise and thanks to their lips.

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Would you consider joining us with a special gift to help?

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Just go to hergodstory.org and click on the Widow and Orphan tab at the top of the page.

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And thank you for tuning in.

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In our show notes at hergodstory.org, you'll find scriptures and other information we talked about.

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You can also get a six-week devotional on Women of the Bible for free

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or purchase a 12-week devotional that we'll send you for $12,

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knowing that all the proceeds go to our Widow and Orphan Fund.

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We'd love to pray with you on our 24-7 prayer or text line.

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So give us a call or text anytime at 855-459-CARE or email us at prayer@somebodycares.org.

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And now, dear friends, from Psalm 28:7, I bless you.

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The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with my heart.

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He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

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I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

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May you, dear listener, burst out in songs of thanksgiving too

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as you recount God's mercy and goodness in your life.

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Happy Thanksgiving!