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This time of year we hear a lot about being thankful, Thanksgiving, that national holiday where we eat too much and enjoy football. But do we really know how to be thankful? The Bible says in everything give thanks, the car break down as well as the bonus at work. How do we learn to be thankful for both?

The bonus is easy if we just go by words but how often is that bonus spent before we actually receive it and it passes without much more than a fleeting thought. Do we truly give thanks for that? And four flat tires or the car breaks down; does the Lord really expect us to be thankful for those things too?

I don’t believe His Word would have said it, if He didn’t. But believing it and doing it are often very different things. So how do we do it? The only way we can be thankful in all things is to recognize that nothing happens to us that God doesn’t allow. If He allows it, then there is a purpose in it. It may be to test us, it may be to strengthen our faith, or it may be to prevent something else from happening. But there is a purpose and He is in control.

Last year a group of ladies when to Charlotte, as we left the mall where we had been shopping we missed our road to take the direct route back to the interstate. We had several folks watching for the street but we missed it anyway. The route we were on then took us out of our way and delayed our return. Since the youth group was to be using the van that evening, we were concerned about our late arrival. We made it back to the church just minutes before they needed the van.

We were all somewhat put out with ourselves for missing the turn and causing the delay. Later that evening I spoke with a friend I had seen at the mall, she was calling to see if we were ok. There had been a major accident on the route we were to have taken home at the time we left. Once we heard that, we all were immediately thankful for God’s protection. But thankfulness wasn’t our first response because we didn’t seek the picture clearly.

My prayer for you and for me as we reach the end of 2006 and head into 2007 is that we learn to trust God and be thankful in all things! I know as humans we are going to miss that goal at times but I pray that we improve in striving to reach it.

Now speaking of being thankful, I’m thankful to be able to take part several times each year in Impacting America Ministries. This ministry does several mission trips per year and in 2006 has seen nearly 200 souls come to accept the Lord as their Savior. On November 11th, we will be having a fundraising concert for the 2007 mission trips. Our featured artists for the concert are The Mark Trammell Trio and The Burns Brothers. The concert will be at Clearview Baptist Church in Travelers Rest, SC at 6:00. If you are in the SC area, we would love to have to come be a part of this exciting concert and ministry. It is a ticketed concert and you may get more information on it by emailing me.

Also, my daughter and I have plans to attend several other great concerts in November and I’m thankful for that opportunity. I’m very thankful that Jesus loves me in spite of myself and that He cares about what happens in my daily life. And I’m thankful for my beautiful daughter, my family and my church family. God has blessed me beyond measure! I pray that you will take a moment and as the old song says “Count Your Blessings” today and every day.

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