A friend of mine dropped off a prayer of thankfulness last week. Little did I know that later that day we would be confronted with a “family crisis”.
Our daughter, Tonya, called to tell us to pray for her husband, who had just fallen off a ladder and they were taking him to the ER. Some of our family had already arrived for the holidays, so we joined together in prayer.
Just last week I read a statement by Oswald Chambers that jumped off of the page to me: “WE LOSE POWER OF WE DON’T CONCENTRATE ON THE RIGHT THING”. After prayer I went into my very “human nature”, by becoming very weak in Body, Soul and Spirit. I lost all energy and felt helpless. My husband, Lee and I went off by ourselves to pray and encourage each other in the faith. Within the hour we got word that our son-in-law had facial wounds and two broken wrists.
We began to thank God for these wounds because this accident could have been so much worse. We have no strength or power in times of helplessness, our strength comes from the Lord. When we try to carry and control it, our energy drains quickly.
Each one of us are facing or will be facing circumstances that will drain our faith and trust unless we go to the Source of our Power. May the words of this prayer encourage each one of you today.

BE THANKFUL

BE THANKFUL THAT YOU DON’T ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING YOU DESIRE.
IF YOU DID, WHAT WOULD THERE BE TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
BE THANKFUL WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW SOMETHING,
FOR IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.

BE THANKFUL FOR THE DIFFICULT TIMES. DURING THOSE TIMES YOU GROW.
BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR LIMITATIONS,
BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.
BE THANKFUL FOR EACH NEW CHALLENGE,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU’VE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

IT’S EASY TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE GOOD THINGS,
A LIFE OF RICH FULFILLMENT COMES TO THOSE WHO
ARE ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE SETBACKS.
GRATITUDE CAN TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE.
FIND A WAY TO BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR TROUBLES,
AND THEY CAN BECOME YOUR BLESSINGS.

A THANKFUL HEART

Last week a new friend of mine and I went to a park for a girl-to-girl talk. In the midst of our sharing burdens and thoughts, we both said: “BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR”. Our minds turned to the things in our lives that are blessings from God.
It seems that our burdens many times overpower our blessings which if we concentrated more on them, we would be a happier more content society. Since this month our minds (hopefully) turned to THANKSGIVING, join me in concentrating on our blessings. Sometimes we have to do more then just say: “I am thankful”, we have to take action. I am going to suggest some things for you to do that can turn your heart from burden to blessing, from chaos to contentment, from hopelessness to hope, from failure to flourishing.
1. CONNECT OR RECONNECT WITH LOVED ONES.
2. FIND NEW MEANING AT YOUR JOB.
3. GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT TO SOMEONE IN NEED.
4. GIVE COMPLIMENTS READILY.
5. MAKE A PHONE CALL THAT YOU’VE BEEN PUTTING OFF TO ASK FORGIVENESS.
6. MAKE A LIST OF YOUR BLESSINGS AND THANK GOD FOR THEM.
7. STOP CONCENTRATING ON THE NEGATIVE, RECONNECT TO THE POSITIVE.
8. TELL THOSE IN YOUR LIFE HOW YOU APPRECIATE THEM.
9. GO FOR A LONG WALK AND TAKE IN NATURE.
10. THANK GOD FOR FREEDOM IN OUR COUNTRY.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING,
SHARON

JOY IS A CHOICE


“THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH”, Nehemiah 8:10 tells us. We all want to be joyful, and at times we are, but there are times when we seem to be robbed of Joy. Down through the years I have been a pretty “joyful” person, but there have been times I have lost that joy. Why- when Joy is a choice?

Our neighbor, Jerry, is doing some Home Improvement by replacing windows and putting new siding on the outside of his house. Last week, Jerry was devastated when he found some rotten wood behind the siding. Jerry had 2 choices:
1. Cover up the rotten with the new.
2. Replace the rotten with new wood.
The rotten wood would have caused extreme damage if not replaced. Perhaps wear and tear, rainstorms, or maybe defective wood or work caused the wood to rot. Replacement had to happen no matter what the cost.

If we become a Joyless person we open ourselves up to: doubt, fear, depression and disaster. Where do we start in the process of regaining our Joy?
1. Pray and ask God to help you find Joy.
2. Admit your negative mentality and face what is robbing you of Joy. Don’t blame, take the responsibility to rebuild and regain. Then determine to take steps from God’s Word to correct this situation.
3. Find replacements (in obedience to God’s Word) for whatever has robbed you of joy. Take control of your mind by replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

There are quick fixes for Joylessness, but the side effects are fatal! Don’t go there!

Nothing can rob you and me of Joy unless we allow it to happen. Joy is ours in spite of people, circumstances, loss, rejection, divorce, or even death. We are human and we do hurt, we do cry, we are sad, but how long we stay there in that condition depends on how quickly we find replacements. Don’t allow your body, which houses the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to collapse. ONE OF OUR GREATEST WITNESSING TOOLS IS JOY!