Recently,I 've felt a bit overwhelmed. Friends asked "How are you?"; I responded, "Overwhelmed!" This answer, while honest, was not helpful. The more I repeated that I felt overwhelmed, the more overwhelmed I felt! That is, until one morning when I rounded the corner into the kitchen, and my eyes fell upon a small, decorative resin pumpkin exhorting me to "Give Thanks." It was the good word I needed to confront me, and I took it to heart.



The practice of giving thanks to God is one that needs to be emphasized. We are instructed in the Scriptures to give "thanks to God at all times and for every thing in the name of our Lord Jesus and to "give thanks in all circumstances may: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (Eph.5 :20, I Thess.5 :18). In other words, we are designed by our Creator for the giving of thanks-it's what we're made for! To give thanks in painful circumstances may be the "sacrifice of thanksgiving" we are asked to offer.(Psalm 107:22) This is not about minimizing or denying reality. As we choose to give thanks, we are in effect asserting our trust in God beyond the circumstances. We are daring to believe that God is up to more than we can know in our limited human capacity. Practice "thank-you" therapy-be intentional about giving thanks to God for everything you can think of, not just once a year, but at all times. I believe you'll be surprised. Help and health comes as we live consistently with God's design and redemption, and part of this is the giving of thanks. Let's start now: Thank You, God for the gift of Lord Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave himself for me!





                                                                                                                             -Jill Fleagle