Rejoice and Be Thankful!

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

For some of us, 'tis the season to feel sorry for ourselves, especially when we look around and consider all the evil and mayhem going on in the world. Or when we consider our personal lives, state of our businesses and employment, or our personal finances.  Some of us may be suffering from sickness and disease or strife in our family relationships. And then when we turn on the news, things only seem worse!

It's times like these that we have to force ourselves to "look at the birds," as Jesus instructed, and see the good that the heavenly father is doing. Consider the blessings in your life and rejoice over those wonderful things, just like the Apostle Paul did when he wrote these words to the church at Philippi while suffering horribly in a dank, smelly prison.

For me, all I have to do is look at one of my darling children and I crumble with thankfulness! If I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food on my table, and gas in my car, then I am thankful still. 

And yet, for most of us Americans, we possess so much more than the bare necessities of life. There are many people on this planet who would consider all of us kings if they saw how we lived. Our grocery stores are filled with goodies and our pantries and freezers are full to overflowing. We ladies have clothes, shoes, and purses bulging out of our closets. And most of us have 2 cars in the garage.

But these are mere material blessings that will rot and fade away with time. Even family will grow up and move away and then grow older and die (aside, I plan on going up at the Rapture! ).

But what of the spiritual blessings we have been given in Christ Jesus? These are more precious than refined gold and priceless jewels. These are like untapped treasures that overflow into our lives like those clothes and shoes that protrude from most of our closets.  If we truly had eyes to see and ears to hear all the Lord has given us, we would fall to our knees and rejoice with thankfulness!

The Apostle Paul obviously had eyes to see and ears to hear the wonderful things of God. He prayed that the church in Ephesus would likewise have this revelation - it is a wonderful prayer found in Ephesians 1:17-23 that I often pray over myself.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places , [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

If we consider these truths, then we can only rejoice and be thankful that we have such a marvelous heavenly father!

Happy Thanksgiving! May you continue to be richly blessed!