Give Thanks (& Have a JOYful Heart) in ALL Things!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If you began your morning with praise to the Heavenly Father, I can guarantee that He served you an extra sweet serving of JOY!

            Over and over again in the Bible we are reminded that we should give thanks to God.  And this season of the year….Thanksgiving….we are prompted at every turn to “Be Thankful”.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

            HOW can we give thanks in ALL circumstances?  Just over this past year I have witnessed many things in my life and in the lives of many friends and acquaintances that are really difficult to give thanks for:

• Diagnosis of cancer
• Death of a family member
• Betrayal of a friend
• Hurricane Sandy
• Fire that destroyed someone’s home
• A tragic automobile accident
• SIDS…Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

 The list could go on and on.  Is it possible to “give thanks in ALL these circumstances”?  The key word is “IN” not “FOR”.  We are not thankful FOR these things happening.  God knows that!  He knows our hurting hearts.  But we can be thankful IN these things because GOD IS ALWAYS THERE WITH US to give us His strength.  Jesus promised in  2 Corinthians 12:9  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

           This Thanksgiving and in all the days to come, let’s approach the Throne of Grace with thankful hearts IN all circumstances.