Hello, Everyone! I want to share some things about thankfulness. I just moved over the weekend to the city where I have been working for almost 14 months. Instead of commuting every day for 40 miles on the interstate 5 days a week, I now live 5 minutes from my office and from the closest elementary school. In addition to this, there are so many other things that have come from this move that I am so thankful for.  I love it when my life is going where I want it to go and when things go the way I want them to.  Those are the times it’s easier to praise God and to thank him for all he has done when things are on the upswing. The Bible says we are filled with joy because of the things he has done (Psalm 126:3 NIV). And there are so many things he has done for me; my list is endless at this point, and I’ve only lived 32 years. However, when I look over my life, I see that there were major obstacles that tried to stand in the way of me pursuing my dreams and goals including with this move I just made. The obstacles bring me so much stress and distract me from my goals. On those days when my joy is mixed with pain, when my stress/anxiety are high and my patience is thin, and things are going badly, I still have many reasons to be thankful. I still need to praise in God in the midst of those things because God is still good regardless of the bad things happening; He doesn’t change even when people and situations change for the worse. There is always something to be thankful for regardless of the circumstances and the seasons we find ourselves in. God makes a point to encourage believers to be thankful IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. In all circumstances, not because of all circumstances, but in all circumstances. “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT). When I stop and think of all he has done for me and all of the things I have to be thankful for, I can’t keep an angry mood for very long, and I can’t have an anxious mood for very long either. Our thoughts have power for good and bad. I know that’s why God says to think on good things (Phillippians 4:8 NLT) because he knows if we do this, we experience more of his peace and joy. There is nothing wrong with praising God, and it can never end badly. When I honor and worship God, I feel closer to him and experience positive emotions. “You are my God, and I will give you thanks; You are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 118:28-29 NIV).

Inspiring Songs: “Thankful” by NLC Worship; “Through All of It” and “You Are” by Colton Dixon; and “Awesome” by Charles Jenkins/Fellowship.