Thanks-Living

"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."
                                                                                                                 Gilbert Keith Chesterton

     During this season of Thanksgiving, it is so important to push the pause button in our lives to ponder our many blessings. This requires a child-like accounting of every beautiful benefit we have received. Truth be told, each one of us has been given a cornucopia that overflows with myriads of grace, favor, mercies, and all manner of good provisions bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father.

     Abundance abounds when our hearts are thankful. We remember to "rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thessalonians 5: 16-18). When we focus on the good in our lives, it changes the trajectory to one that is fruitful and fulfilling.

     Too often, however, we get side-tracked  by directing our attention and emotions to the difficulties and challenges we face. We think to ourselves, "If this one situation would change..." or "If this one person would change..." then all would be well. Helen Keller addressed this by saying, "So much has been given to me. I have no time to ponder that which has been denied."

     We posture our hearts to either develop the habit of gratitude or develop the habit of grumbling.    (If I remember correctly, grumbling did not really help the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years!) Therefore, we want to pattern our lives in the way that is obedient and beneficial.

     Jesus showed us that our thanks to God should reveal itself in the way we live. Over and over, Christ sets the example for a thanks-living existence. Never taking anything for granted, but in all things through praise, prayer, and petition, Jesus emulated the perfect picture of a grateful heart.

     "Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets."  (Matthew 14:19-20).

     When Jesus blessed what He had ( instead of focusing on the multitudes of hungry people), God provided what they needed. He also provided an abundance that would be used as a future blessing to others. Gratitude begets the overflow that begats more gratitude!

     There is power in our praise! When we trust the invisible arm of our God more than we trust in what we can see, we stand on the precipice of witnessing miracles. We will become priveleged to witness the supernatural manifesting in our natural realm.

     Jesus' intentions were to provide for the physical needs of His followers, but it also was to give them a personal reason to be thankful to God. His actions were instructive in that He wanted them to grasp just how much God cared for each one of them. This, too, is a model for our lives.

     Each one of us has something that we can give to another. It might be a donation to a food bank or clothing ministry to help those in need. It could also be our time volunteering at a shelter or an orphanage. Perhaps it is opening your home to someone for a meal or a stay. It could be a word of encouragement to someone who is lonely, or a hug, or a prayer...

     Whatever it is, it becomes honorable when our motivation is to cause others to give thanks to God. We know that "every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17), and we can pass that on! Instead of celebrating Thanksgiving this year, I am challenged to follow Jesus in a life of thanks-living!


"May He who gives you more than you could ask or think, cause you to be overflowing with His fullness--

May you heart be full of peace
                                                May your spirit be full of rejoicing
                                                                                             May your voice be full of thankfulness
May your soul be full of light
                                              May your vision be full of hope
                                                                                                May your walk be full of purpose
May your thoughts be full of truth
                                               May your words be full of wisdom
                                                                                             May your attitudes be full of righteousness
May your choices be full of obedience
                                                           May your actions be full of love!"
                                                                                                                           Roy Lessin


                                                       PASS IT ON!!!!!