Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The other day I went looking for a new pair of brown dress shoes. I have several pairs of nice shoes but most of them are casual. I wanted a brown pair of dress shoes. I ran into the shoe store and spent a few minutes trying on shoes. When I found the pair I wanted I paid and left. As I was leaving the store it suddenly dawned on me that I had on a comfortable pair of shoes and at least two more pair in my closet that fit good not counting tennis shoes. Then I thought about all the people around the world who would be thankful to own even one pair of shoes. Many will never own a pair of shoes in their entire lives.
When I lived in Honduras I would see all the young men at the Bible school hanging out their clothes to dry after washing them by hand. Many times their socks would have holes in them and instead of tossing them in the trash they would keep them for their mothers to repair. Money was too tight to throw away a pair of socks that could be mended. After watching that, I promised myself that I would never be unthankful again. How easily that promise was broken once I was back in the prosperous United States. I am not feeling bad about the fact that I am blessed and I don't feel bad for buying a pair of new shoes. I believe I should look nice when I go to the pulpit. But I did take a moment to thank God for all of his blessings and to ask his for forgiveness for any complaining I had done.
What about it? Is there too much complaining in your life? Now would be a good time to think of all God has blessed us with and spend some time being thankful. We may just find that things are not as bad as we once thought they were.
Thankfully,
Spanish Pastor Jones
The other day I went looking for a new pair of brown dress shoes. I have several pairs of nice shoes but most of them are casual. I wanted a brown pair of dress shoes. I ran into the shoe store and spent a few minutes trying on shoes. When I found the pair I wanted I paid and left. As I was leaving the store it suddenly dawned on me that I had on a comfortable pair of shoes and at least two more pair in my closet that fit good not counting tennis shoes. Then I thought about all the people around the world who would be thankful to own even one pair of shoes. Many will never own a pair of shoes in their entire lives.
When I lived in Honduras I would see all the young men at the Bible school hanging out their clothes to dry after washing them by hand. Many times their socks would have holes in them and instead of tossing them in the trash they would keep them for their mothers to repair. Money was too tight to throw away a pair of socks that could be mended. After watching that, I promised myself that I would never be unthankful again. How easily that promise was broken once I was back in the prosperous United States. I am not feeling bad about the fact that I am blessed and I don't feel bad for buying a pair of new shoes. I believe I should look nice when I go to the pulpit. But I did take a moment to thank God for all of his blessings and to ask his for forgiveness for any complaining I had done.
What about it? Is there too much complaining in your life? Now would be a good time to think of all God has blessed us with and spend some time being thankful. We may just find that things are not as bad as we once thought they were.
Thankfully,
Spanish Pastor Jones