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April 2nd
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“ Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1Thessalonians5:16-18 ( NIV ) |
Most of us are lucky enough in a lifetime to find someone who we can truly use as a Christian example. I was fortunate enough to have two parents who were excellent role models and displayed Godly attributes. My dad taught me many things with his words and actions. He taught me to be thankful. I learned this lesson after my dad had passed away. He led a relatively healthy life so it did not surprise me that when he got sick, he would pray at the altar at the close of a church service. I assumed he was asking God to heal him and extend his life. It was not until later, when we were preparing for his funeral that I learned why he approached the alter. He was not asking for healing, but thanking God for the wonderful life he had. It was easy to be thankful when things were going well, but in the midst of being so sick, his first priority was to be thankful for what he had, and not to be concerned with asking for more. What a tremendous impact this has made on my life! It reminds me to be truly thankful for even the little things others do, but more importantly to be thankful to God for all he has done and continues to do. When I was younger, I was taught how to pray using the acronym PRAY: P – p raise and thanks; R – r epent; A – a sk for others; Y – ask for y ourself. Every time we pray we should praise and thank God first. It is often difficult to remember this because we are anxious to ask God for so many things. During this Lenten season – let us be thankful to those who have set good examples for us in their lives and enabled us to see Jesus through them. Also, let us thank Jesus for giving us the ultimate gift – everlasting life through His death and resurrection. To quote from one of my dad's favorite songs, Give
Thanks :
MICHELLE REICHNER |