Kernels

Written by cycleguy on November 24th, 2014

In keeping with my thoughts for this week focusing on Thanksgiving which I started yesterday, I’d like to give you 5 kernels of thanksgiving I shared Sunday morning during my message. I confess I saved them from some time back but failed to document where I found them. I cannot give credit where credit is due so please forgive me. 🙂

If you would go here to see Jay’s comment, you would see how spot on he was, but also how “great minds” think alike. 😉 Here are the five kernels:

1.  Being thankful motives us to look for His purpose in our circumstances. It is never easy to see this. We can see God’s hand in the Pilgrims’ lives. We can sometimes see it in others’ lives. But it is often hidden to our own. Keep your eyes open for God’s hand moving in your life.

2. A grateful heart reminds us of our constant dependence upon God. Gratitude keeps us focused on the real source of our blessings. When we thank Him for everything, big or small, we begin to realize there is nothing we possess He has not given us.

3. A thankful spirit teaches us to rejoice in every situation. It isn’t always easy to do that, especially when life hits us with a ton of bricks. It helps to remember what we are going through here is temporary compared to eternity in heaven.

4. Gratitude increases our trust in God. When we realize where it all came from it tells us we have this because of God’s goodness. When we are grateful in all things, we learn to trust.

5. Thankfulness transforms our anxiety into the peace of God. Looking around could give us some fear. Read/watch the news. Not much good happening there. It can lead to anxiety. When we start looking at the waves it is easy to despair and wonder, “What now?”

Thanksgiving is only a word unless we have an attitude within of a heart filled with thankfulness. Let that be yours today.

 

9 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    Spot on points … now to try to live them.

  2. Good “nuggets” as we think about being thankful this week.

  3. Nice. I like the part about dependence on God. This is so huge in staying humble, and remembering where our blessings have come from.

  4. I taught on #4 this past Sunday as we looked at bringing our prayers and supplications before God with thanksgiving. Great stuff – really edifying.

  5. Deb Wolf says:

    Thankfulness changes us inside and out. It blesses our relationships and increases our faith. Amen! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

  6. floyd says:

    Good word, Bill. I like that about anxiety. Most people don’t think of that aspect of it, I didn’t but that’s a great point. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. God bless you and yours.