Thankfulness....

I LOVE the holidays.....everything about them really! The parties, the music, the food, the love that is shared, the joy that just seems to be contagious, and most of all the Birth of our precious Savior-it sure doesn't get much better than that! It seems like it is a lot easier to be thankful during this time-or at least I feel like I am more aware of what I am thankful for. Most likely because I am constantly surrounded by the friends and family that I love the most during this time!

Tonight during small group Mimi shared with us an insert about Thankfulness from the devotional book Jesus Calling. The author reminds us that we are to be thankful not only in the good times, but during the hard times as well. As Christians, we are called to do it as an act of obedience. I thought it was so great and challenging so I wanted to share it with you.

"Thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity. That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything. There is an element of mystery in this transaction: You give ME thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you joy (regardless of your circumstances). This is a spiritual act of obedience. To people who don't know me intimately, it can seem irrational and even impossible to thank Me for heartrending hardships. Nonetheless, those who obey Me in this way are invariably blessed, even though difficulties may remain.
Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts. You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been switched on, enabling you to see from My perspective. it is this light of My presence that removes the sting from adversity."

"Always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father....." Ephesians 5:20

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindess is everlasting." Psalm 118:1

"How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Thy countenance." Psalm 89:15

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!