Remembering 2018 - Being Thankful

It is easy to be thankful when things are going well but what happens when things go very wrong?

In California, you have to evacuate your home because of fires or maybe lose a home you have lived in all your life as in Paradise, CA.

What is happening in California is unbelievable. An entire city of Malibu evaluated and homes gone up in flames. So many evacuated with little warning in other cities. The dense clouds of smoke over many cities. Fear on every side.

How can anyone be thankful in the midst of all these things? Only by the discipline of giving thanks to God in all circumstances. I don't think the first Thanksgiving was a pretty picture.

The people were only in survival mode and they were alive. Give thanks to God that they had food that day, and each other. Be Thankful.

If you know those who don't, express your Thanksgiving by giving to the poor. Serve food at a shelter. If you are rich, be aware that richness will fade away like a wild flower. What you have is temporary. Become a benefactor in a cause you believe in.

It is not what we are doing that counts: it is the hearts' attitude. The road to being a thankful person is tough but wherever you are you can start to change in this direction in 2019.

God's Love

God is after you. He knows where your story. He knows your deepest needs and longings and hurts. He knows you feel far away. BUT.....

His love is relentless. He does not want to punish you for the wrongs you have done. He wants to forgive you every single thing.

His love is relentless so in the baby Christ Jesus, Gods son, came from heaven to earth. He grew up and went about doing good. He had no sin but was punished by death on a cross. His blood poured down. His side was pierced.

In agony he cried out.....

"FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO"

Jesus asked for your forgiveness for your sins from the cross. This is an amazing gift. No one else could give this gift because only God can forgive sins. When you get a wonderful, unexpected gift your only response is to say "THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"

Jesus came down from heaven to this dark, dirty and estranged world. GOD WAS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF. Believe this and receive this and you will have the gift of peace inside you. This will be the proof of the Fathers forgiveness and acceptance of you.

THE THANK YOU PRAYER
Thank you God for sending Jesus Christ of Nazareth to us. Thank you that Jesus died on the cross shedding his blood for the forgiveness of all my sins. I thank you God that your love is relentless and I receive you Lord Jesus into my life trusting you to save me now.