IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day in the United States.  It is our official day set aside for us to give thanks to an almighty God for all he has done for us.  Unfortunately, many in America did not set aside even a minute or two to thank their creator for all that God has blessed them with.  Here in this country even the poorest of us have more than many others in the world.  If we had something to eat yesterday (and many of us had too much of that something ), we were more blessed than many in the war torn countries of the mideast.

Personally, this has been a rough year for my husband, Larry and I.  It has also been a year of uncertainty and alot of waiting for both of our married children.  We all know that God is still on his throne and he is still working for our good.  It has just been one of those years where there has been many disappointments and frustrations.  For a person like me that likes to plan ahead 1 to 2 years not knowing what is going to happen has been the ultimate frustration.  I am positive that God has been working on my patience and waiting skills. No, I have NOT been studying the first chapter of James! :-) We have enough trials, thank you.

God commands us in I Thessalonians 5:16-18 that we are to Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  In obedience to that command I want to list the things that I am grateful for hoping that it might encourage some of my readers to also give thanks to our creator for all that he has done for us.

1.  I am thankful that I serve a God who has a plan for my life which he promises is for my good and He always keeps His promises.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

2.  I am thankful that my God has planned blessings along life's path to remind me that He loves me.  I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight:  I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:  And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.  Isaiah 45:2-3

3.  I am thankful for a husband that loves people, is generous enough to allow people to have differing viewpoints without breaking fellowship with them.  Yet, he is a man that once he is convinced of what the Bible is telling us to do will not back down even if it means losing friends and breaking his heart.  He is a good husband and a great father with a wonderful sense of humor.  Our life has never been boring!

4.  I am thankful for 4 (2 by birth & 2 by marriage) wonderful children.  It is such a blessing to have children that love each other and their parents.  It thrills my heart to watch them grow in the Lord and make good decisions even when the circumstances seem to be against them.  I am blessed to watch Ryan & Rachel rear our grandson Isaac.  They are doing a far better job with him then I feel we did with Ryan at that age.  Of course, Ryan has an advantage.  I have told him what a "trial" he was so he has a head start in knowing how Isaac is thinking. :-)

5.  I am blessed to have a wonderful father who is still living and to have a daughter & son-in-law who willingly take care of him.  If it were not for their wisdom in the medical and nutritional field I fear that Papa would have been dead or in a nursing home by now.  My dad's generosity and sense of humor are an inspiration to our whole family so we are blessed that God has allowed him to live for over 92 years.

I pray that this list might encourage someone who reads this to make their own list of thanks.  If you know  Jesus as your Lord and Savior and are walking with him there is always a reason to be grateful.  Let me encourage you to spend some time each day in your prayers thanking the Lord for all He does and who He is.