Cheering Me On

My precious friend Cindy is now rejoicing in Heaven. Life's pain, sickness, and battles are over and she has sweet rest with Jesus. God brought this widow into my life to teach me and encourage me. It was a priviledge to be her friend these past 2 1/2 years. From Heaven she now cheers me on in a different way then she did here on earth.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ephesians 5:20

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" Ephesians 5:20

Did you catch that? Read it again slower. "...always for all things..."

Giving thanks is easy when a child is born, how about when it takes an early flight to heaven?

Anniversaries are wonderful times to give thanks, how about when you are alone on that day?

How do you express thanks for an accident that killed one man and emotionally and spiritually cripples another?

What about financial troubles?

Death of a young child? a young adult? a relative dying painfully of cancer? A pet dies tragically and sends the children into an emotional tailspin? How hard it is to give thanks in these situations...

I am trying.....the Lord and I have talked about this....and I am trying.

Letting Him lift my head and count my many blessings is a great way to start. And the rest, the hard things to thank Him for.....that is when I plead for grace. Without His power I can't give thanks always for all things. And it all comes back to the verse in John 15:5 "...for without me ye can do nothing."