Being Thankful Brings Joy!

 In the flurry of the Holiday preparations I was going to write something to give encouragement this Thanksgiving when I received this letter from my dear friend, Chuck. God always uses Chuck to give me encouragement at just the right time that its funny. A God who is so personal with His kids that it will always bring them a smile.
My friend Chuck however, has a talent simular to mine, and over this past year we have used our God given gifts to encourage each other in our ministries. In this note from Chuck he sums it up what I was wanting to say anyway, so I felt led to share it with others. For we stand to learn allot from the journey the founding people of our nation had, and in that wisdom, may we read this note with new eyes to see and a heart thats open to its truth. For truly in America, do we ALL

have more to be thankful for than just our blessed freedom. For it was our faith, and the ability to love God and our fellow man, which was birthed from God's precepts of Divine influence that made the Pilgrims so thankful. An ability which continues still today to the heart that embraces its truth.  However, Happy Thanksgiving! To all my network friends, may God make this Holiday one that will bring much joy to you, and your families.

God Bless,

Patricia

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Apostle Paul wrote this, but was he serious? If we understand what joy actually is, maybe we can see ourselves being joyful always. Praying all the time is doable, especially given all that's going wrong in the world and perhaps in our lives. But giving thanks in all circumstances? How is this possible?
In my country we are about to observe Thanksgiving Day, originally meant to give thanks to God for the blessings He has given us. For many this year that will be difficult to do. We tend to forget our blessings when times are hard. We forget Jesus warning us such days would come. And while we may not say it out loud, in our hearts we wonder if God has forgotten us.
There's a picture of a vast ocean. Sticking up through the water is the bow of a great ship that is sinking. Beneath are the words, It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others. I always find it funny, but there's something about this picture that strikes a chord. The ship is in a terribly desperate situation. It is all alone and there is no help in sight.
At some time we've all been that ship. We've felt that lost, empty feeling. Maybe we've had the same fear that when everything is said and done, the purpose of our lives is only to warn others, "Look at me, learn from my mistakes, see the path I've followed, and go the other way." We try to be joyful. We pray real hard. We read God's Word, then find, Give thanks in all circumstances. How?
The answer is found in family. Much of the Old Testament treats family more as a designation for a group or organization. Family represented status and position. But especially in the New Testament, a different family was the focus. The family of God...men, women and children who follow Christ. Their status and position were no longer important. But how they treated each other was.

Love one another deeply, from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22) Help the weak and be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) Do good to each other. (Galatians 6:10) Encourage and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) If someone is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. If he has no place to stay, find him shelter. If he is in prison, go see him. (Matthew 25:31-40)
All of this is a part of following Jesus. It is also a part of being in this family of God, making us clearly different so that we will be an example of Christ to those who don't know Him and to those who are struggling to find Him. But being a part of this family is also important because we need each other. We need to love and be loved, to care and be cared for. We need to stand together when times are hard.
Many churches allow people to wander in and out, with no one saying, "It's good to see you again" or "We've missed you." There is no sense of belonging, of being in fellowship. They have lost their sense of family. And for the one who needs the love they can give, there is nothing to show they even care.

But here's the truth. We are a family. A congregation may have lost its way, but the family of God is more than one congregation. And this family is filled with loving, encouraging, compassionate people who will build others up and be a friend. It is a family that is here in all circumstances. Sometimes we just have to be reminded to reach out, to reach in, and...to give thanks. Need proof?

There are people you've never met and may never see, who have given up countless hours they could be doing something else in order to make sure you could read these very words...because they care about you. Let us give thanks in all circumstances that we are family. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Chuck Graham