Leaders, Give Thanks!

Give Thanks.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances.

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.

Leaders, Give Thanks in All Circumstances with a Grateful Heart!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

That’s all circumstances.

Not just the good ones. Not just the fun ones. All.

Sounds wonderful, but how do we do that?

I have the privilege of singing with the Chancel Choir of Bel Air United Methodist Church in Maryland. Last week we sang a hymn entitled “Come with Thanksgiving” arranged by Lloyd Larson and written by Pamela Stewart. I think the third stanza especially gives us a clue for how we can give thanks in all circumstances.

Live with thanksgiving; rejoice for the gift of life.
With every breath give your thanks to the Lord on high.
Now may we be more faithfully committed in our resolve
that we may give the lives we live completely in answer to God’s call.

Live with thanksgiving.

Rejoice for the gift of life.

Give thanks to our Creator.

Give our lives completely in answer to God’s call.

Have you ever noticed how hard it is:

• To think positive and negative thoughts at the same time?
• To rejoice and complain at the same time?
• To be grateful and grumpy at the same time?

Today and every day let’s choose life.

Today and every day let’s choose gratitude.

Today and every day let’s give thanks in all circumstances with a grateful heart.

Happy Thanksgiving… whether you’re reading this post on November 27, 2014, or March 4, 2016, or August 10, 2017. Whenever you read it, please join me.

Let us give thanks to the Holy One
in all circumstances and with a grateful heart.

Photo by Flickr (Holly)