Giving Thanks In All Things

Why do we give thanks? I know that sounds like a crazy question.
Americans spent approximately $28.5 billion dollars on Thanksgiving this year.
The day after Thanksgiving, Americans spent approximately $460 billion dollars.
WOW! I have to admit that I was a part of that group that shopped after Thanksgiving for presents. Tara and I had our list of who to buy for this Christmas and it was a great day to get good deals. But do we really need these things?

I heard a quote on the radio as Tara and I were driving back from South Dakota which this pastor said:
"I use to complain that I had no shoes, until I met a man that had no feet."
It's easy to look around and see what we don't have. Commercials and advertising is there to tell us that we aren't good enough unless we have their product.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." It's seems easy to give thanks to God when things are going well. When the family is healthy, the job is going well, the cars are working well, the bills are paid, and the to do list is finished (atleast for now). But that's not what God intended for us. God wants us to give him thanks in all situations. As I was thinking about this verse this came to mind; when I complain and don't give thanks to God in all things, what I am showing God is that I don't believe that He knows what is best for my life.

We don't have a God that likes to make us unhappy. We have a God that loves us so much that He sent His son to die on the cross, a bloody death, for our sins. That in our repentance and faith in Christ we will have peace with God! How awesome is that!

Thank you Lord for dying on the cross for us and taking the penalty of sin on your shoulders. Thank you God for sending your Son to come and live a perfect life as an example for us and then die a criminals death for so that we might be free. Lord I pray that everyday would be a day of thanksgiving and that in all things we would thank You.

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel