Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
I Chronicles 16: 34 (ESV) – (A Psalm of David giving thanks)
It seems like it was just yesterday when Spring had sprung, flowers blossomed forth, the buds on the trees appeared, the grass turned green and we cleaned up from the winter. Now we’re in the midst of Autumn. Time has changed; it gets dark early; leaves are falling fast; and, tonight we will have our first hard frost of the season. We’re just two weeks away from Thanksgiving. I just don’t know where the year has gone.
So much has happened this year. It seems like sometimes the world is spinning out of control and that things that could be fixed and repaired are wearing and perhaps worn out. There’s so much bad news with the economy and now Jefferson County, Alabama is going bankrupt. Our 401k has become a 001k. Just what do we do? Aging parents, loss of jobs, changes all about us. Our seemingly stable environments and routines become unstable. How do you deal with it all? Do you pick up and run away? Do you pull into your shell, like a turtle? How do you face life with all its ups and downs?
I believe one of the best things to do is to count your blessings…be thankful; read God’s Word for it is a great source of comfort and encouragement; have a song on your heart; have quiet times for meditation, contemplation and reflection. Refocus ‘stuff’ in your life so that you can make a difference in someone’s life. Give a word of hope to someone in need. Give a hug to someone much in need of a touch from God. Help those who are hurting. Give thanks in all circumstances, good and bad. By refocusing and giving thanks we can begin to see that having a grateful heart brings healing and helps our attitude!
PRAYER:
Thank you God for providing for our needs.
Thank You for allowing us to rise in the morning to face a new day.
Thank You for Your great love, joy, hope and grace!
Help us to be more loving, joyful and hopeful.
Help us to extend grace to others as You have so freely given to us.
And above all, grant that we will live each day with a grateful heart.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen..
With a grateful heart for serving alongside you, I remain your friend,
Mark David Jackson
