The formal time of thanksgiving approaches. What is the difference between being thankful and giving thanks? That is the question.  How will you answer?

You and I live in a fallen creation that is no longer perfect and not even good. Sin and death have entered the world. Everyone is born with a sinful, rebellious nature.

Sometimes in our journeys of life we encounter difficulties, disappointments, tragedies. How can being thankful help us to run our race well?

In the 10^th century B.C. the psalmist advised:

Psalms 100:⁴Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

We have 24/7 access to the One Who is in control; the Ruler over all the earth; the God of creation; the King of Kings; the Lord of Lords; the Lord of Hosts with more options than we can comprehend; the One Who loves us with an everlasting, unconditional love; the One Who numbers the hairs on our heads.

What does that access mean to you?

How can that access help you to give thanks?

The psalmist explained why we can be thankful and have that attitude of thanksgiving always.

⁵For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

The LORD never changes.

The LORD is good. He never does anything bad.

The LORD is merciful forever.

The LORD is truth and never changes.

In the 1^st century A.D. Paul advised:

1 Thessalonians 5:¹⁸In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

How can we give thanks in difficulties, tragedies and disappointments? Paul explained in Romans 8:²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

We can give thanks always because of Who God is.

What do these verses mean to you?

Through it all-Andrea Crouch

I’ve had many tears and sorrows, I’ve had questions for tomorrow,
There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong:
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation
That my trials come to only make me strong.

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

I’ve been to lots of places, And I’ve seen a lot of faces,
There’ve been times I felt so all alone;
But in my lonely hours, Yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus let me know that I was His own.

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

I thank God for the mountains, And I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through;
For if I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

Our focus = Hebrews 12:¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge = Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti