Today on Facebook, pastor and author Pete Wilson (Facebook, Blog, Twitter), wrote…
Spent some time this morning flipping through current news stories. I could almost feel the darkness closing in.
Aren’t you getting tired of the cloud of negativity which seems to be hovering over our culture today? I know the economy could be stronger. Your job probably isn’t perfect. Your marriage may need some work. Your stress level is too high. Your church has possibly seen better days.
But let’s be honest. We still have a lot to be thankful for.
Colossians 3:15 reminds us “Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful.” (NCV)
So today I’m… thankful for …
Isn’t it so true?
I was up in the middle of the night with a bad head cold, or sinus problem, or something, and I got flipping through the Internet reading the news and stories and it was SO depressing (the fact that I was up between 3:00 and 4:30am for the third night in a row was depressing enough, the but the stories made it even more so)…
- the shopping mall collapse in Elliot Lake
- the wildfires in Colorado Springs
- the torrential rains and flooding in Florida
- the situation in Syria and Egypt and the Middle East in general
- the European economies
- etc, etc, etc
And when I started reading the comments attached some of the stores you could just feel the negativity in virtually every comment.
But seeing Pete’s comments this morning reminded me that I *DO* have *SO MUCH* to be thankful for, each and every day!!!
- Today is my wife’s birthday. Yep she’s turning 29 again!! I am *SO* thankful for her, and the way she is such a caring mother of our kids, and so caring for others in the community as well. I’m also very thankful that she puts up with me too!!
- I’m thankful for our kids. Each of them unique, but each of them such a blessing from God.
- I’m thankful for parents and parents-in-law that were/are so loving and supportive of me, of my wife and I, and of our kids.
- I’m thankful for our church families – both old and new! The support they have given us over the many years has truly been a blessing, and I don’t know what we would have done without them in some of the troubled times in the past.
- I’m thankful for a good job – one that allows me to be flexible when I’m sick, or in need of something personal.
- I’m thankful for this city and country we live in. Sure it’s not perfect, but when I look around, there’s scarcely another place on the planet I’d rather live.
- I’m thankful for my faith in a God who loves me, and guides my every move. I wish I’d listen to Him more, but I’m thankful that He’s forgiving and, like my wife, puts up with me no matter what.
So today, what, or who, are YOU thankful for?
TTFN