This was a good Thanksgiving for me and my family.  I had one set of parents in town for the week along with one of my nieces.  It was a great time, and I was very thankful.  Our thanksgiving service at The Rock was fun, interactive, and a big hit.  It was a time of expressing thanks publicly.  For some reason it seems that no matter what is going on in our lives on Thanksgiving we can usually find something to be thankful for.  This is what 1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands us to do all the time.

I realize that some of you may be reading this and thinking about your current circumstances and wondering how you can give thanks every day.  The short answer is I don’t know, but I thought I would share some things that have helped me give thanks when times are difficult.  Here are five tips:

1. Start with the hope we have in Jesus

I know it seems obvious, but sometimes the most obvious truths are the ones we forget the most.  This life on this earth is sure to be difficult.  Whether you are experiencing some kind of loss or major transition in your life it is only temporary as is this life.  There is a life to come, and that is where we find hope to get us through difficult times.

1. Live in the past as much as the future

Living in the moment is great when things are going well, and it is in those moments we must remember to thank God for giving them to us.  When the moment is painful, we must remember the past when and thank God for the times He protected us, provided for us, and even blessed us.

1. Compare

Yeah, I know you are not suppose to compare, but sometimes the thought of those who have less or hurt more can help us to see how blessed we really are.

1. Serve

Serve those who are in need.  There are opportunities all around us to serve others, it doesn’t have to be at the Salvation Army.  Service should be our lifestyle, not something we do during the holidays and not something we only do when there is a special event.

1. Love

When we are busy loving, we often find ourselves giving thanks for those we love.  The power of love never ceases to amaze me.  If I will take the time to love God and others the difficulties of this world seem to fade.  When my eyes are on a goal much greater than those that are self serving  my focus allows me to more easily navigate the rough waters.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 …give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.