Happy Thanksgiving to our Family and Friends!

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes, even as devoted followers of Jesus, we talk like we have no idea what God’s will is for our lives.  Jesus was pretty clear about God’s will:  “Love God with all your heart, strength, and mind and love your neighbor as much, if not more, than you love yourself.  That sums up all the laws of God.” Trying to live it is not as neat and tidy as memorizing those 2 commands.

In Paul’s letter to the Early Church, he gives more thoughts on God’s will for our lives.  

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 is just one of these many passages.  

Rejoice + pray + give thanks in all circumstances = God’s will for you 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  I love this time of year with the autumn leaves, pumpkins, and an emphasis on giving thanks! Paul says we should give thanks in ALL circumstances.  Ouch! That sounds difficult, but what if we start off thanking God for His many blessings? God’s forgiveness, grace, mercy, never failing love, just to name a few. 

Then Paul asks us to take it a step further and be thankful for some of the hard times, trials, etc. which, if endured with a right attitude toward God, can grow and stretch us to have more compassion and understanding toward others around us.  We can even understand our Heavenly Father better as He makes something beautiful out of the ashes of our circumstances.  He’s really good at that!

David & I wish to express our thankfulness to all of you. We would not have been released for ministry without raising our budget thru monthly support from each one of you. That was a step of faith on your part to commit to monthly giving. Those who support us give anywhere from $5 to $400 a month. We are grateful for you listening to God’s promptings!

The point is that when we all do our part God’s Kingdom expands into areas where faith is barely existent … into those areas where people want the benefits of God’s Kingdom but without the King … into Post Christian America. We are introducing them to King Jesus, and we couldn’t be doing this without you!!  So, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your sacrifice on God’s behalf to us. Know that we pray for you and ask God to multiply your gifts back to you.  If you have a prayer request, please let us know so that we can also join you in faith believing! God is on the move, and we want to move forward with Him.

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

—- G.K. Chesterton   

(author of the Father Brown mysteries and close friend of C.S. Lewis)