Bible Verse of the Week...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 (NIV)
GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THIS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.

The holiday season, more than any other time, we count our blessings. We should be running out of time before we exhaust the list! I love Paul's word here in 1THESSALONIANS 5:18. He is not telling us to give thanks for all circumstances but be thankful in them. Because you and I know there are many circumstances we find ourselves in, that we could never have an attitude of thankfulness for being in those circumstances; but because we know the LORD is with us in those difficult circumstances we should be thankful for HIS PRESENCE in them. GOD'S will for us is to always see HIS SON JESUS in the circumstances. When we exercise our faith and see JESUS in our circumstances, no matter how difficult the circumstances are, then we will give thanks from our humble heart that HE is right there with us. Having this atttitude will overflow in gratitude before HIM.

I was sitting out in the backyard the other day after school with our youngest grandchild, Sara Paige. She and I were sitting in the swing just having a grand time being together. Sara looked around the yard at her Grand-Dad's pumpkins and mums on the deck, his 2 colorful fall flags blowing in the wind, roses and flowers blooming. She then looked over at me and told me that she was so thankful for the fall season! She said "you know Mimi pumpkins and tomatoes just make me think of fall!" You would have had to see her little face as she shared this with me to fully appreciate her excitement. I have no clue as to why she threw "tomatoes" in there, but she was thankful for her little view of the fall season just the same! As I have pondered what Sara said, I thought to myself the "pumpkins" are what we associate with the fall and Thanksgiving season so they are the things we will be thankful for. Then here comes the "tomatoes," which we don't think of as being apart of the fall and Thanksgiving season, so we have a harder time being thankful in the "tomatoes" (difficult times). So my friend, I give thanks to my little grand-daughter for reminding me how I am going to do my best to thank the LORD for this fall season, thank HIM for the pumpkins and yes, thank HIM in "tomato" times!

Precious LORD and only SAVIOR thank YOU for this fall season with all it's brightness! LORD help us to have an attitude of gratitude before YOU for the good seasons in our life and for YOU being in our difficult and painful seasons. Regardless of what season we are in, we are never in a hopeless season so PRAISE YOU LORD! I pray that we will stop and count our many blessings and realize how YOU bless us. Thank YOU LORD for loving us and forgiving us of our sins. I love YOU, LORD. Amen.

You are a "pumpkin" in my life..........so uplifting encouraging, and kind! Thank you and have a CHRIST-center week.

In HIS grip, Ginger