PREFACE
“‘Be thankful’ (Colossians 3:15) is a recurring exhortation in the letters of the apostle Paul. No other New Testament writer gives such a sustained emphasis on thanksgiving―and yet, major modern studies of Paul fail to wrestle with it. Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara aims to rehabilitate this theme in this comprehensive and accessible study, a New Studies in Biblical Theology volume. He shows how, for Paul, thanksgiving is grounded in the covenantal traditions of salvation history. To offer thanks to God is to live a life of worship and to anticipate the future acts of God, all in submission to the lordship of Christ. Ingratitude to God is idolatry. Thanksgiving functions as a link between theology, including eschatology, and ethics. Here Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara provides clear insights into the passion of an apostle who never fails to insist on the significance of both the gospel message and the response this message demands. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understanding their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.”
“What Christians believe about God is visible in how they exhibit thankfulness for all he has done on their behalf. Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara offers a practical resource to encourage believers to express glad-hearted thankfulness for God’s unending provision. This book provides insight into daily practices that exemplify thankfulness, such as speaking a word of thanks to a neighbor, serving others in a practical way, or thanking God for his many gifts.
By living each day with gratitude in mind, Christians are doing more than saying a word of thanks or lending a helping hand – they are recognizing the absolute and total lordship of God, his sovereignty over all things, and his kindness in using his almighty power to work all things for good.”
“The apostle Paul instructed the Philippians to be anxious in nothing and thankful in everything. And when he said everything – he meant everything. We can all agree that this is easier said than done. Disappointments and discontent may cause you to slip into dissatisfaction, and grumbling becomes a state of mind – gratitude seems impossible to find. However, what if this is the precise reason you lack the joy of a God-filled life? Instead of a reaction to when things are going well, what if gratitude is actually necessary to knowing the hope of our gracious God?
This is exactly what Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara identifies in The Thanksgiving a price paid for life and living. Dr. Kamara examines the biblical foundations of thankfulness and traces how it can reshape every-day Christian living. When we express gratitude in all things, we not only praise our Creator, we also get to know Him better. With This Book, you’ll learn how to practice thanksgiving in both simple and extraordinary ways, even when you’re tempted to dwell on the negative. You’ll find your outlook on life realigned to see the hand of God in everything, strengthening your trust in Him. And in doing so, you’ll find greater, more joy-filled reasons to continue expressing thanks to our good and generous God.” I recommend this Book to be read and as you do God bless you.
BY Prof. Rudolph Q. Kwanue Sir
Founder, Chancellor and International Director
Rudolph Kwanue University College
INTRODUCTION
“Gratitude is a choice. If we fail to choose it, by default we choose ingratitude. And once allowed into the heart, ingratitude does not come by itself, but with other seedy companions that only succeed in stealing joy.
Derived from a popular Revive Our Hearts story, choosing the need for Gratitude the Journey to Joy challenges and equips the reader to live a life of intention, a life based on thankfulness for the freedom Christ has provided and for the blessings of others.
By intentionally thanking God and others, bitterness and entitlement are replaced with joy and the humble realization of just how undeserving we really are.
To not choose gratitude is more costly than we usually realize. When we do choose a lifestyle of heartfelt, humble gratitude, we are mindful of the benefits received from our gracious Savior and those He has placed around us, and our joy becomes full.”
“How to grow as thankful Person of God.
We are often encouraged to ‘count our blessings’. But truly biblical gratitude is much more than this.
Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara unpacks Scripture to help us grow in gracious gratitude—thanking God for who he is, as well as natural gratitude— thanking him for his blessings. She also helps women to identify and deal with some of the things that hinder them so that they can rediscover the joy of a thankful heart.
This thoroughly Bible-centered unpacking of the reasons for gratitude builds on Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara 14 years’ experience in mentoring, Pastoring and Teaching at The Word of Faith Bible Institute and Rudolph Kwanue University College and Grace International Bible University.
Discussion questions at the end of each chapter make this book ideal for group use as well as for individuals.”
The reason for this Book
1. I gave a lecture on the life of Thanksgiving at a graduation Ceremony in 2021, which was held at Lofa County, in the Republic of Liberia.
2. I gave another lecture at Winners Chapel International New London Bo, on Friday 16th May 2019 and its topic was ‘ The Power of thanksgiving and always give thanks for all things ‘ (Eph. 5:20)
3. Also, a third lecture - on our Word of Faith Bible Institute Program, on 15th October 2020 mainly on the Life of Thanksgiving, and a part on the Life of Submission and Hope.
GOD gave me time during my trip to Liberia last year so I combined the three lectures, with many additions in one book on the ‘thanksgiving is a price to paid for life and living’ which is now on your hands published as book with contemplations on the prayer of Thanksgiving which was given by the word of God in the Bible. Which will be printed for church leaders and followers? I hope - God’s willing – will reach you in good health in Jesus Mighty Name!
Pastor Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara
Resident Pastor
Winners Chapel International Waterloo
MAXRIST OF LIFE
WHY MUST WE GIVE GOD THANKS
1. Every Thing that has breath should praise The Lord- Ps. 150:6
2. It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord-Ps. 92:1
I discovered that the most expensive thing to managed in Man is life
Why
1. We have life= we call it breath Ps. 150:6, in scriptures we called it breath and with God is free for 24 hours 30 days and 365 days per year
2. We have life = in science we called it Oxygen= for Medical Science is costly
· Oxygen per day cost = 1,200,000
· Oxygen per Month = 36,000,000
· Oxygen per year = 432,000,000
· Now if you are five years = 2,160,000,000
· Now if you are Ten years = 4,320,000,000
· Now if you are Twenty years =8,640,000,000
· Now if you are Thirty Nine years =1,044,000,000
· Now if you are Thirty years =12,960,000,000
· Now if you are forty years =17,280,000,000
· Now if you are fifty years = 21,600,000,000
· Now if you are sixty years =25,920,000,000
· Now if you are seventy years=30,240,000,000
· We all owe God according to our ages
Do you see why we must give God Thanks?
