Give Thanks

"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We've all heard the advice. When you feel down or discouraged, start listing all the things you have to be thankful for. It's easy to focus on the negative and forget all the good. That's especially true when the money doesn't cover all the bills, your child is sick with the flu and your spouse is whining about his job.

Do you have a roof over your head? Are you warm? Did you have enough to eat today? Do you have a job? How about a car to get you to work? Overall health pretty good? Do you have a Bible to read? Can you read it without worrying about being thrown in jail? You have plenty of things to be thankful for. This is just the start.

The Bible tells us to be thankful in all circumstances. Life on this Earth will never be perfect. We live in fallen world. Horrible things happen. But we can be thankful for all our blessings and the secure knowledge that as believers, we one day will live in a perfect Heaven with Jesus.