This week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. One the highlights through the years has been joining with local congregations sharing in a service of Thanksgiving. When I think of the goodness of God and His work in our lives, we join corporately thanking God and declaring our gratitude publicly in word, song, gifts, and readings. I might call this type of worship, a testimony of Thanksgiving, since we all share in various ways our love and appreciation to the Lord.

I am taking six passages from the Bible to join in testimony and prayer. There are more, but I picked out names using an acrostic to spell the word THANKS.

T-TABATHA - Acts 9:36-43

“36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 

43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.”

I asked the congregation how many people could give testimony that they were quite sick and the Lord had raised them up to health again in response to prayers. Many hands were raised. Perhaps you could join them. Could anyone reading this say the doctors declared you dead and the Lord brought you to life again? That has been the testimony of a few people. I’ve talked to them. There are books written on “Life After Life”, “Beyond and Back”, and “Beyond Life”. I have not recently researched it but I am sure there are others.

If Dorcus, also known as Tabitha, were with us I believe she would stand up and praise the Lord for saving her life. She accepted Christ and followed Him as Lord. She might say, “I’m so thankful that God has given me the ability to help others with my sewing skills.”

We have people in our church who’ve made clothes, quilts, wall coverings, embroidery, cross stitching as a means of ministering to others. Tabitha gave to the Lord what she had and God blessed her for it. Perhaps some of the people were poor. This is a time to think of the poor. She gave out of her desire to serve the Lord by giving it to others.           

Tabatha could also testify that one day her sickness got worse. Others prayed but she stopped breathing. Others grieved at the loss of a saint, a sister in the Lord, who showed her love in a practical way.           

Peter enroute to Joppa stopped by and the story of this testimony is an exciting one. Peter had everyone leave the room. He prayed, took her hand, and she came to life again! She arose. She stood up and gave praise to the Lord for His miraculous healing power over sickness and even death.           

If she was known for her good works and kindness before - I wonder if verse 42 has anything to do with the testimony of Tabitha afterwards - “This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”

Thanksgiving includes helping others in need.  

Application and Prayer:  Lord, in this season of Thanksgiving, give me a thankful heart that bursts forth in outpouring to others in every way.