Giving Thanks

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”   1 Thessalonians 5:18

The meal, the memories, the music Thanksgiving brings have a way of blocking out the gaunt giant of selfishness and ushering in the sincere spirit of gratitude, love, and genuine joy. – Chuck Swindoll

I am so thankful for each of you and the role you play in the lives of incarcerated kids.

I pray that you each enjoy a wonderful time of Thanksgiving this week.

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the good gifts God has given us.  Hopefully we are learning to have a grateful heart on a daily basis; but to have a day set aside for counting our blessings is a tradition well worth observing.    Being thankful is not something we do naturally, God instructs us to be thankful in all things because He is fully aware of that.  We are told repeatedly in scripture to give thanks.  I once read about a man who was at a function where the pastor who led the group in saying grace before the meal thanked God not only for the food but for the water.  It is all too easy to take such things for granted and we need to recognize just how many things we overlook that are gifts from our God.

Father, increase our awareness of all you have done for us and continually do on our behalf.  Give us grateful hearts that see your wonderful gifts of life.  Amen.

Straight Ahead Ministries – Debbie Erickson Prayer Coordinator