“GIVING THANKS FOR ALL THINGS”

Ephesians 5:20

Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

When I look at this statement in the New Testament I am convicted. I notice first of all that this is a command. Our Father commands His children to give thanks for all things. It is not an option! It is a direct order. Please don’t read it as a harsh order because it is not that at all. It is a rather casual order. Then the second thing I notice is that it includes everything and leaves nothing out.

For me this means going back over the past days, weeks, months, and years and gathering everything together and holding them up before God in a Psalm of Thanksgiving. This includes a lot of things. It includes circumstances, events, people. It includes June of 1999. I never dreamed that I would be thanking God for a stroke that took a good part of my mobility away. On the other hand, if I hadn’t had a stroke I never would have had the blessing of meeting a wonderful group of people at Mirada Hills. I wouldn’t have had the blessing of having so many of my wonderful congregation coming to bat for me. I wouldn’t have had the joy of seeing my friend and brother, Dale, placed in the position of senior pastor. I wouldn’t have the blessing of such wonderful fellowship with those of you who have made regular visits to see me over the past year. I truly feel I have gotten to know some of you much better and that’s worth a lot to me.

An then there is my immediate family. I’ve always known I’ve had a wonderful, thoughtful wife - and she’s proved that fact over and over and over a thousand times this past year. Then I think of the fresh and healthy relationships I renewed with my children. I think of Betty Ann moving in with us. This was a real blessing. She’s been such a great help and encouragement to me and continues to be, as all our children are.

So you see, I’ve got a lot to be thankful for this season. Let me challenge each one of you to look back over the past year. Take a pad and pen and try to list the significant events that have transpired in your life. How do they connect? You know there are no accidents in the Christian’s life. Every event, small or large, is divinely appointed for your good. It is easy to thank God for the blessings expected. It’s a little more difficult to render thanks for those little inconveniences that come to us every day.

Can’t think of much to give thanks for? Try back pedaling through the year. You will come up with plenty. I guarantee it!

God bless. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving season.

Love to you all.