A Season of Thankfulness

Psa 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

November 1 through Thanksgiving is generally thought of as a season of thanks, but I want to encourage you to be thankful everyday. The last 8 months have been a season of learning-- learning to let our whole lives be lived in a 'Season of Thankfulness."  

As a general rule throughout my adult life, I have tried to appreciate and be thankful for things. But admittedly I am sure I have come very short of that. I think that we all simply become so wrapped up in the cares of life, to remember the fact that we have life, and that is something in itself to be thankful for. This has never been so apparent as it became this year. 

Life is a truly precious gift, not one of us knows the exact number of days that we will have on this big blue marble, so what we need to do is to take a moment each day, and give God thanks that we are here to enjoy the day. Take a moment, reflect, there is so much to be thankful for, even on those days that it doesn't seem like it... the day to day things. We are blessed in this country with so much. We have food on the table, our family, our friends and a roof over our head, for this I am grateful. The smile on a child's face should remind anyone that there is joy to be found! 

Yes this year has taught us much, we have learned to appreciate the day to day, the little things and the big things. We have much to be thankful for in spite of our circumstances... we are thankful. We have children that love and serve the Lord, we have beautiful granddaughters and another grandchild coming in late spring. God has faithfully kept our bills paid and made a way for us to purchase a new home, and it is in beautiful shape, new heat pump, carpets, flooring, dishwasher and stove and a layout that is perfect for us. We are thankful for the fact that Glenn is doing well... the battle rages on, but through Christ we have the victory. Day to day victories remind us of that too... this year we got to go to the pumpkin patch with the kids and watch the girls pick out their pumpkins... a year ago Glenn was to sick to go, he was in a lot of pain and we didn't have a clue why, now we know the cause, and thanks to the Lords guidance (and following the path He has given us) we are seeing improvement in Glenn's health. I am more thankful than ever before for our friends and family, the prayers and support in all forms has been overwhelming and humbling. I really do love you guys so much!

I think that if I could impress anything to you today is is simply this.... Be thankful. What does the song say? "Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

Enjoy this, the 'Season of Thankfulness', but more importantly learn to keep it in your heart all year long, for whey you are thankful then you will also find joy inside... no matter what is happening. My thought is that thankfulness to the Lord is a way of refueling His strength within us. Col 3:15 says  "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." 

Be blessed friends!