March 14th, 2017 Eric Rubino

Thanks Living


By Peg Yarbrough Rhone
 
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Col. 3:15
 
Our God is so good ALL the time. And we can dwell on His blessings as we celebrate this Thanks Living every day.  In the midst of all the cacophony of life, let’s be mindful of thanking God for His many blessings.
 
I love to thank God, and I endeavor to live in the spirit of Thanks Living every day, throughout my day. Thanks Living is an awesome habit to build. The benefits are too numerous to mention, and there is no down side to it. Did you know it’s nigh impossible to be thankful and depressed at the same time? Depression stems from a deep well in ingratitude. When you are grateful, you will find yourself a healthier and happier in every way, when you go through your day counting your blessings.
 
Being thankful improves your attitude, blesses God, and opens the doors for more blessings to follow into your life.  
 
But here is some a sobering Food For Thought:
What if the only people and things you had in your life today were those you thanked God for yesterday?
 
Hmm… I wonder who you’d have left? 
 
Thanks Living is definitely the way to go.  And here are just a few benefits.
 
Thanks Living brings us into the presence of God.  

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

Thanks Living brings a sense of peace.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Col. 3:15 

Right before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he openly expressed his thankfulness.

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.  John 11:41

Paul lived in the spirit of Thanks Living; more than things, Paul was thankful for people, and continually shared with the believer’s his thankfulness for their lives.   
 
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.   Rom. 1:8
 
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;   I Cor. 1:4 

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Phil. 1:3

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.   I Th. 2:13

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;  II Th. 1:3 

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;   II Tim. 1:12 

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,  Philem. 4

Paul was thankful that he was given the opportunity to serve his brethren in the Lord.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;   I Tim. 1:3 

Paul thanked God for the gift of holy spirit, and utilized it mightily.

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: I Cor.. 14:18 

Paul was one thankful guy, and he set an example for us to follow. Thanks Living is the way to live each and every day.  With a heart full of appreciation for everything, big and small, the Lord has blessed us with.  And Thanksgiving, of all days, we can take the time, with friends and family, to recall, to speak out loud, some of the many people and things we are thankful for, and praise God for His goodness.  As King Hezekiah said:
 
Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. I Chron. 29:13
 
So, what if the only people and things you had in your life today were those you thanked God for yesterday?  What would your life look life?

Thanks Living is the way to live, each and every day.  There is no better way.  
 
I am so thankful for each and every one of you, and look forward to standing beside you in the presence of our Lord one day.  I can only imagine how thankful we will be on that joyous occasion. Until then, may you have a day every day, being mindful of the goodness of the Lord, and walking in Thanks Living.

Giving Thanks Always,
Peg