pastor

…THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU… BY PASTOR JOHN

EVERY YEAR WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE A DAY OF THANKSGIVING, FILLED WITH FOOD, FOOTBALL, FAMILY/FRIENDS AND MEMORIES OF GATHERING PAST. AT THE HEART OF THAT DAY, IS TO BE A NOTE OF THANKFULNESS FOR GOD’S GOODNESS IN THE WIDE ARRAY OF BLESSINGS GOD POURS INTO OUR LIVES. MANY ON THAT DAY WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE, CONSIDER

AND POSSIBLY SHARE SOMETHING THEY ARE THANKFUL FOR. HOW EASY IT IS TO FAIL TO NOTICE, OR FAIL TO REMEMBER THESE BLESSINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET BUSY, HURT, STRESSED OR BEATEN DOWN. AGAIN, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY A DAY LIKE THANKSGIVING IS SO IMPORTANT AND WHY MAKING A HABIT OF THANKFULNESS FAR BEYOND ONE DAY IS SO CRITICAL TO A HEALTHY/HAPPY LIFE. BIBLICALLY, THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID SUCH THANKFULNESS IS MORE THAN THE PATH TO HAPPINESS, BUT IT IS A KEY PART OF GOD’S WILL/INTENT FOR YOU. IT’S HOW WE WERE DESIGNED TO FLOURISH. IN 1THESSALONIANS 5:16-18, PAUL SAYS: “REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY CONTINUALLY, GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.”

IT IS THAT “ALL CIRCUMSTANCES” PART THAT WE OFTEN STRUGGLE WITH, BECAUSE WE FACE/ENDURE MANY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES IN THIS LIFE. YET IT IS IN EXACTLY THESE TIMES THAT WE ARE INVITED TO GIVE THANKS. NOTICE, IT DOESN’T SAY WE MUST BE THANKFUL FOR ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES  NOTICE AND OFFER THANKS FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS, EVEN IN TIMES OF TRIAL. TRY THIS SOMETIME, WHEN ESPECIALLY STRESSED OR DISAPPOINTED, TO BE AWARE OF GOD’S GOODNESS AND OFFER HIM THANKS FOR IT; OR WHEN YOU ARE FEARFUL, WORRIED OR ANXIOUS, BE INTENTIONAL TO EXPRESS YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD WITH A NOTE OF THANKSGIVING BECAUSE BEING THANKFUL IS ALSO A KEY TO PRAYER. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS, WE ARE INVITED; “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD.(PHIL 4:6)

THIS THANKSGIVING (AND EVERY DAY) I AM THANKFUL THAT GOD IS GOOD, THAT HE INVITES US TO TRUST HIM MORE, AND THAT HE HAS GIVEN US ONE ANOTHER TO HELP US ALONG THE WAY.