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Gifts of God: Reflections & Affirmations
In Gifts of God readers will behold Christ as the light of their lives. They will recognize his divine blessings, delight fully in the Holy Eucharist, and manifest his spiritual goodness. Believers will grow in faith, witness to others, feed the poor, heal the sick, and experience miracles. As gifts of peacemakers they will impact their communities, singing praises with thanksgiving, and adoring his mysteries. All these blessings lead to God’s Heavenly Kingdom, while discovering his eternal nature, and holy dwelling place.
This one-of-a-kind devotional enables enthusiasts to reflect on the grandiose nature of a loving Savior. In 16 chapters these affirmations bring believers closer to their God. These reflections will help them contemplate their Creator, his majestic creation, and identify the dangers of worshiping earthly idols. Many will savor freedom’s consequences, and delight in the diverse gifts of earth, wind, water, and fire.
Family members who continue to pray for God’s guidance will triumph. The Holy Spirit lets them know when and how to use their talents. In all we do, we should never envy other believers who have greater gifts than us. It’s wise to understand that everyone’s gift is just as special and important. God continues blessing us when we are content with our gifts. These are seen as fulfilling his purposes when and wherever they are used.
The Gospels assure us that we will have at least one gift through the Holy Spirit. But some people are amazingly truly gifted. We should use our abilities in the service to God by helping loved ones, friends, and families in our communities. These acts aren’t necessarily easy, but may come with suffering, setbacks, and unexpected victories. Our gifts though are of different forms. Some of these are great while others small. But it’s always good to remember that in the eyes of God each gift is essential. Whether big or small we ought to praise and give thanks to his precious name for them. As his ultimate reward God will grant us the greatest gift of all – eternal life, because he first loved us.
Outstanding national and international figures who are blessed by being recipients of Christ’s gifts, glorify his omnipotence, and embrace his everlasting love. Each chapter concludes with scriptural verses reflecting God’s wonderful promises.
This one-of-a-kind devotional enables enthusiasts to reflect on the grandiose nature of a loving Savior. In 16 chapters these affirmations bring believers closer to their God. These reflections will help them contemplate their Creator, his majestic creation, and identify the dangers of worshiping earthly idols. Many will savor freedom’s consequences, and delight in the diverse gifts of earth, wind, water, and fire.
Family members who continue to pray for God’s guidance will triumph. The Holy Spirit lets them know when and how to use their talents. In all we do, we should never envy other believers who have greater gifts than us. It’s wise to understand that everyone’s gift is just as special and important. God continues blessing us when we are content with our gifts. These are seen as fulfilling his purposes when and wherever they are used.
The Gospels assure us that we will have at least one gift through the Holy Spirit. But some people are amazingly truly gifted. We should use our abilities in the service to God by helping loved ones, friends, and families in our communities. These acts aren’t necessarily easy, but may come with suffering, setbacks, and unexpected victories. Our gifts though are of different forms. Some of these are great while others small. But it’s always good to remember that in the eyes of God each gift is essential. Whether big or small we ought to praise and give thanks to his precious name for them. As his ultimate reward God will grant us the greatest gift of all – eternal life, because he first loved us.
Outstanding national and international figures who are blessed by being recipients of Christ’s gifts, glorify his omnipotence, and embrace his everlasting love. Each chapter concludes with scriptural verses reflecting God’s wonderful promises.
130 pages, Paperback
Published July 16, 2017
About the author
Erwin K. Thomas
17 books58 followers"I Am Presence's Mindfulness. This is the Way it is." WaPaSaCa June 25, 2024 (1st Appearance)
In 2010, Guyanese-born Erwin K. Thomas, PhD served as vice president of the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach, VA. After 28 years, he retired as a professor and director of the Graduate Program from the Department of Mass Communications & Journalism at Norfolk State University, VA. He formerly taught at the University of Wisconsin– Milwaukee (1978–79), SUNY–Oswego (1972–74), and University of Guyana, Georgetown (Summers 1981 & 1988).
Thomas did research at the University of Guyana, University of the West Indies–Cave Hill, Barbados, Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Mona, Jamaica. He graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia–PhD International Journalism & Broadcasting (1978), Brooklyn College of CUNY–MS Broadcasting (1972), and University of Oregon, Eugene–BS Radio-TV & Film (1970). His doctoral dissertation was entitled, “The Beginnings of Broadcasting in The West Indies, 1920–1949 (Barbados, British Guiana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago).
He was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Fellowship (1975–78), awarded a Gannett Foundation Scholarship (1975–76), named by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), a Fulbright Senior Specialists Candidate (2002–07), and was a consultant to the Ministry of Information, Georgetown, Guyana. Thomas was a radio newscaster at KWAX-FM, Eugene, OR (1968–70), producer-director BCTV, Brooklyn, NY (1970–71), desk assistant CBS Radio Network News, NYC (1972), producer-director OSUTV, Oswego, NY (1972–74), news writer Columbia Missourian (1974), reporter KBIA-FM (1975), and KOMU-TV Columbia, MO (1976—77). His Plain Talk series were aired on WSLJ-TV, Watertown, NY (1973–74). Shows on which he worked on crew positions at BCTV were aired on WNET-TV & WNYC-TV–NYC (1970–72). At Norfolk State, he was news director of WNSB-FM (1980—85).
Thomas has authored Make Better Videos with Your Camcorder (TAB Books 1991); co-edited a Handbook on Mass Media in the United States and Mass Media in 2025, Greenwood Press (1994 & 2001) respectively; A Weekly Encounter (2015), Keys of Faith (2016), Gifts of God (2017), Life’s Passages: From Guyana to America, and Guyana’s Seawall Girl (2018), Heaven Bound (2019), Dfurstane’s Spiritual Beliefs, and Sunlit Streams of Water: Devotions for Religious Naturalists (2020), A Life of Prayer: Devotions & Pandemic (2021), and Devotions on Ailments: Physical & National Ills (2022) with Amazon.com. He is a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) – Religious Interest Group, PEN America, Virginia Writers Club, and Hampton News Writers. His research interests are International Media Systems, social media, Ethics, Devotionals, and World Religions & Beliefs.
Thomas had been a lifelong member of the Church of the Holy Apostles–an ecumenical community of Episcopalians and Roman Catholics, Virginia Beach, VA–where he served on the Vestry Council, was a Eucharistic minister, and social media administrator. He is married to Mary Barta Thomas–a retired librarian of Tidewater Community College, Chesapeake, VA, and they live in Charlottesville, VA.
In 2010, Guyanese-born Erwin K. Thomas, PhD served as vice president of the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach, VA. After 28 years, he retired as a professor and director of the Graduate Program from the Department of Mass Communications & Journalism at Norfolk State University, VA. He formerly taught at the University of Wisconsin– Milwaukee (1978–79), SUNY–Oswego (1972–74), and University of Guyana, Georgetown (Summers 1981 & 1988).
Thomas did research at the University of Guyana, University of the West Indies–Cave Hill, Barbados, Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Mona, Jamaica. He graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia–PhD International Journalism & Broadcasting (1978), Brooklyn College of CUNY–MS Broadcasting (1972), and University of Oregon, Eugene–BS Radio-TV & Film (1970). His doctoral dissertation was entitled, “The Beginnings of Broadcasting in The West Indies, 1920–1949 (Barbados, British Guiana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago).
He was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Fellowship (1975–78), awarded a Gannett Foundation Scholarship (1975–76), named by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), a Fulbright Senior Specialists Candidate (2002–07), and was a consultant to the Ministry of Information, Georgetown, Guyana. Thomas was a radio newscaster at KWAX-FM, Eugene, OR (1968–70), producer-director BCTV, Brooklyn, NY (1970–71), desk assistant CBS Radio Network News, NYC (1972), producer-director OSUTV, Oswego, NY (1972–74), news writer Columbia Missourian (1974), reporter KBIA-FM (1975), and KOMU-TV Columbia, MO (1976—77). His Plain Talk series were aired on WSLJ-TV, Watertown, NY (1973–74). Shows on which he worked on crew positions at BCTV were aired on WNET-TV & WNYC-TV–NYC (1970–72). At Norfolk State, he was news director of WNSB-FM (1980—85).
Thomas has authored Make Better Videos with Your Camcorder (TAB Books 1991); co-edited a Handbook on Mass Media in the United States and Mass Media in 2025, Greenwood Press (1994 & 2001) respectively; A Weekly Encounter (2015), Keys of Faith (2016), Gifts of God (2017), Life’s Passages: From Guyana to America, and Guyana’s Seawall Girl (2018), Heaven Bound (2019), Dfurstane’s Spiritual Beliefs, and Sunlit Streams of Water: Devotions for Religious Naturalists (2020), A Life of Prayer: Devotions & Pandemic (2021), and Devotions on Ailments: Physical & National Ills (2022) with Amazon.com. He is a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) – Religious Interest Group, PEN America, Virginia Writers Club, and Hampton News Writers. His research interests are International Media Systems, social media, Ethics, Devotionals, and World Religions & Beliefs.
Thomas had been a lifelong member of the Church of the Holy Apostles–an ecumenical community of Episcopalians and Roman Catholics, Virginia Beach, VA–where he served on the Vestry Council, was a Eucharistic minister, and social media administrator. He is married to Mary Barta Thomas–a retired librarian of Tidewater Community College, Chesapeake, VA, and they live in Charlottesville, VA.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 10, 2018
I read this empowering book via an Amazon-US KINDLE Unlimited download.
We’ve all heard that “For it’s better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness.” Taking this familiar saying one can see the underlining reason for the author, Dr. Erwin K. Thomas, to have written this book, his intention is to have his readers at least to begin realizing what is possible when they open themselves up by accepting God totally and completely into their lives.
Naturally, to accomplish this, one has to start with creation which is what happens in this book. And instead of simply giving his readers biblical quotations, the author uses the words of known individuals; authors, poets, singers, actors and the like, to express what needs to be known and to make it easier for them to relate to what’s been said. At the end of each chapter, Dr. Thomas, has skillfully selected biblical quotations to be used as affirmations for his readers to contemplate the meaning of in their own lives.
The author’s description for his book, I feel, is the reading between the lines effect of what he wants his readers to achieve in their minds and hopefully their hearts.
For having written this hopefully religious transformational book I’ve given Dr. Thomas 5 STARS.
We’ve all heard that “For it’s better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness.” Taking this familiar saying one can see the underlining reason for the author, Dr. Erwin K. Thomas, to have written this book, his intention is to have his readers at least to begin realizing what is possible when they open themselves up by accepting God totally and completely into their lives.
Naturally, to accomplish this, one has to start with creation which is what happens in this book. And instead of simply giving his readers biblical quotations, the author uses the words of known individuals; authors, poets, singers, actors and the like, to express what needs to be known and to make it easier for them to relate to what’s been said. At the end of each chapter, Dr. Thomas, has skillfully selected biblical quotations to be used as affirmations for his readers to contemplate the meaning of in their own lives.
The author’s description for his book, I feel, is the reading between the lines effect of what he wants his readers to achieve in their minds and hopefully their hearts.
For having written this hopefully religious transformational book I’ve given Dr. Thomas 5 STARS.
October 9, 2018
excellent book! well written and very moving and thought provoking. Thank you Good reads for this win. fabulous book.
May 19, 2021
Inspiring book of meditations.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews