Attention Word Slingers readers: Beginning December 11, 2019, all posts will be available at BaptistMessenger.com. Thank you for reading Word Slingers!

The air is crisp.  The leaves are such a beautiful and warm color right now.

The mood of our family is full-on holiday mode. It’s an amazing time of year, and I truly do love this time of year for so many reasons. God has truly blessed us as a family. We’ve seen some amazing miracles in 2017.

We’ve walked through some dark valleys, but God’s Word has been such a sweet rock for us to fall on.  So when I read 1 Thess. 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” it really has comforted my heart.  Honestly, some of the circumstances have been painful, but knowing that Jesus holds this entire thing has been so comforting, it has been a solid rock to stand on.  This year more than usual I’m really thankful for where I am at.  I’m thankful for the people who are in my life.  I’m thankful that God is molding and shaping me to look more like Him.

God tells us over and over again in the Scriptures to be thankful. You and I have every reason in the world to be thankful. Think about this. Jesus has come and has offered to us the ultimate sacrificial system. He took our place on the cross.  Sin, death, and hell have no hold or say in our lives. Because of what Jesus has done on our behalf. And because of that, we should look like Clark Griswold’s house at Christmas time. The whole town should know where we stand.

The world around us is looking for answers.  The people you work with are looking for hope.  We as believers have that hope bottled up inside of us. It’s high time we unscrew that cap and let the grace of Jesus out for the world to see.

So today I want to challenge us as believers to live in a state of showing off the grace of Jesus Christ to the world around us, and, as a result of doing that, thankfulness will be extended.  Don’t believe me?

“Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:13-16).

Be Thankful!