“You will not get what you want until you are thankful for what you have.”
Last Fall I read John Kralik’s A Simple Act of Gratitude, in which he chronicles a year in which he wrote a thank you note every day to someone for what they had done for him. The above quote was something that came to him while he was hiking, trying to get through a very depressing time in his life. So he decided to spend a year being thankful, focusing on the blessings he had received from others, rather than on what he did not have. And it changed his life.
The Bible is filled with the command to “give thanks.” Psalms 9, 100, 106, 107, 118, 136 are filled with the admonition to give thanks. Even when we have problems, we are told to give thanks (see Philippians 4:4-7) and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
Beth Behling, one of our great resident artists, has a painting “Eucharisteo” (which means “thanksgiving”) in the narthex, and people have put cards on it with things they are thankful for. We have a “Thanksgiving Board” in the hallway beside the kitchen. Each week you can write on it something for which you are thankful. It helps us to be aware of all the many blessings God has poured on us.
Every time you are in the church building, I invite you to stop by and write something on the board. There’s always something to be greatful for; “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
So, today….what are you thankful for?
Last Fall I read John Kralik’s A Simple Act of Gratitude, in which he chronicles a year in which he wrote a thank you note every day to someone for what they had done for him. The above quote was something that came to him while he was hiking, trying to get through a very depressing time in his life. So he decided to spend a year being thankful, focusing on the blessings he had received from others, rather than on what he did not have. And it changed his life.
The Bible is filled with the command to “give thanks.” Psalms 9, 100, 106, 107, 118, 136 are filled with the admonition to give thanks. Even when we have problems, we are told to give thanks (see Philippians 4:4-7) and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
Beth Behling, one of our great resident artists, has a painting “Eucharisteo” (which means “thanksgiving”) in the narthex, and people have put cards on it with things they are thankful for. We have a “Thanksgiving Board” in the hallway beside the kitchen. Each week you can write on it something for which you are thankful. It helps us to be aware of all the many blessings God has poured on us.
Every time you are in the church building, I invite you to stop by and write something on the board. There’s always something to be greatful for; “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
So, today….what are you thankful for?
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