Give Thanks



A Monthly Holiday Devotions Ezine with a Thanksgiving devotional for the month of November, entitled, Give Thanks.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, English Standard Version


Give Thanks

As I have been reflecting about the coming Thanksgiving holiday, I began to think about all of the things for which I am thankful. Let's see, I am thankful for my dear husband, my children and grandchildren, a warm place to live, food, clothing, and so the list goes on. Then I realized that I am leaving out some of the most important things of all. What about the bad things!

Is it not true that in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians he encouraged us to give thanks in all circumstances, even going on to say that this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us? I guess that means I need to add some more things to my "thankful" list.

So, what bad things happened to me this year? Well in January my husband had open heart surgery, and then suffered another heart attack in the last few months. Wait a minute - now that is going too far. How can I be thankful for that? OK, let me think for a bit. What good things have already come out of my husband's heart problems?

My husband is eating more healthy, he cut down on his work hours so that he is with the family more, he and I are both working very hard to eliminate as much stress in our lives as possible, we get along better than we ever have, we are both treasuring each day we have together, and I love him even more than ever, which I thought was not possible. I am actually thinking of him more than me (well, most of the time, anyway).

That's a pretty impressive list. How have these things affected my relationship toward God? I think more about God acting and moving even in the small things of my life, I feel a greater dependence upon the Lord, I have a greater peace that everything is in the hands of the Lord, and I even love the Lord more, which I also thought was not possible.

Hmm! Maybe we are supposed to be thankful in all things; maybe this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us!

I guess I need to add some more things to my list!

OK! Now it is your turn. What are you thankful for this year?

God Bless You, Linda


For more devotions check my Daily Bible Devotions where we are currently doing a series called, What is in a Word? Right now we are looking at the word, peace. It is interesting to look at some verses that we sometimes just read over without much thought, and really ponder their meaning.

In a day when the world is searching for peace, do you think they will ever find it apart from God?



Also, be sure to visit my Free Christian eBooks page. I am in the process of writing free monthly devotions for the entire year. So far the months of June, July, August, September, October, November, December, and January are completed. Check it out!

You will also find some great eBooks by Rev. Bobby Keating, as well as my newest monthly devotional, Devotional Reflections for January.

Also, do not forget to sign up for my bi-monthly Devotional Reflections Newsletter on my web site's Home page . The format is entirely different than this ezine--hope you will check it out. And, did I forget to mention? You will receive a free download of my eBook, 20 Devotions on Love for signing up.


Coming in the future: My new online Christian Bookstore, called Crofts Christian Books!

Please keep checking out my site,
Devotional Reflections from the Bible
for more information!





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