Thanksgiving!

Today across our country people are joining together with family and friends to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday. How thankful do we feel? How often do we express thanks? Once a year? Once a month? Once a week? On a daily basis? Do we have a sincere appreciation for the blessings that are ours, both physical and spiritual? Certainly we each may have challenges or situations associated with our life that could be better. However, have we allowed OUR FOCUS to remain there?

What we FOCUS ON -- dwelling upon in our minds -- impacts our outlook on life and generally reveals itself by the talk that comes from our mouth. It may amaze us how people in similar circumstances can have such diverse outlooks on life; one going about complaining bitterly and badmouthing others while the other seeming to endlessly praise God.

Writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul exhorted…
“(3) But sexual immorality and all impurity or COVETOUSNESS MUST NOT EVEN BE NAMED AMONG YOU, as is proper among saints. (4) Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but INSTEAD LET THERE BE THANKSGIVING.” ( Ephesians 5:3-4 ESV)

Covetousness! Never satisfied! Always longing for more! Unable to enjoy what do possess because it is not yet enough!

Thanksgiving! Finding contentment. Knowing the needs (not merely wants) are being met. Happy and joyful because of a sincere appreciation for the blessings (large and small) possessed.

Possessing a true appreciation for the blessings we have in life ought to cause words of thanksgiving to come from our lips on a frequent basis. To sit for a while FOCUSING on and beginning to count our blessings may truly surprise us what the Lord has done. May we maintain a healthy FOCUS that generates a natural expression of thanksgiving as we go through each day the Lord provides.

Have a great day APPRECIATIVELY ACKNOWLEDGING THE GIFTS OF GOD!
Carl

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