[font="'Comic Sans MS"][/font][font="'Comic Sans MS"]In EVERYTHING. So often we skip over this verses. It completely contradicts our human nature to give thanks for things that are ‘bad.’ The way some people explain this verse, you could be forgiven for thinking they say, “In all the good things give thanks . . .” It doesn’t. The Scriptures quite simply state, “. . . EVERYTHING . . .” Repeat it after me slowly, “EVERYTHING.” Not some, not most, EVERYTHING![/font]
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[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Why is it that we should give thanks for everything? I mean, there’s nothing to give thanks about a broken leg, or is there? The answer to this question is not some long discussion. The Holy Bible tells us in Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. You really want to know why you should give thanks for EVERYTHING? Because if you love Jesus, EVERYTHING works for good. That’s exactly right. If you’re going to believe that the Scripture is 100% correct, that’s what it says.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Aww, come on, surely there’s another explanation. Or could it be that God is trying to tell us something? Could it be that God dares us to step out into the unknown and trust him? Could it be that God is watching from above waiting for us to have the presence of mind to lift our eyes off our minute problems and focus them on him? Could it be that Jesus doesn’t just want to hear our profession of faith, but he is daring us to live our faith?[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]I believe with all my heart that God dares us to stop blowing our little mole hills into mountains, step back and, say, “Thank you Lord, I know you have it all under control.” Sometimes it may be so hard to do. We find our tempers fraying and we feel like pointing to the sky and blaming God for letting it all happen. We feel like the whole world is coming to an end. The good news is, it usually isn’t.[/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]So often we lose our cool and blow steam at some small event in our life that didn’t go our way or a drawback. After it has all cooled down, we look at what the reason was and say, “That’s what it was all about?” Other times it’s something bigger. An injury or an accident. Even then, we have to come to the conclusion that we can’t change what has happened, and continue living. To kick up a fuss about the fact that you have a broken arm won’t change the fact that you have a broken arm. You can, however, take some time to relax from your everyday life, perhaps spend time with a friend, get closer to God, or even just plain relax. I have to do that ever so often. I’ll pull a muscle, and while I’m rearing to get out and play football and work, I realise that if I didn’t have this injury, I would probably have an overload from doing too much. Let’s say it again, “EVERYTHING.” Both the insignificant and the significant. In EVERYTHING give thanks.[/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Several recent experiences have made this Scripture one which is in the forefront of my mind. The best example would be about two months ago. My day started bad. I mean, really bad. My bike had broken several days ago and I was off the road as a result. I was feeling cooped up and really irritable. To top it off, I was not allowed to go to some function (Yep, I’ve already forgotten what function it was!) I felt like everything was falling apart, and it wasn’t even midday! [/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Bro Fulgence came over and he was going to give me a lift to a guy to fix my dad’s bike so I could use it (no, my dad doesn’t ride his bike much!). I was struggling inside, feeling like I was going to blow up and never come together again. I was wishing I could be at that function, which was starting about now, and waiting impatiently for the day to end. [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]We arrived at the bike place, a house where the guy sells second-hand bikes and fixes them as well, and while waiting I looked around. Leaning on the house, was this white road bike that looked like-new except for some surface rust from the rain. Wow, that’s a beauty, I thought. The rest of the bikes where obviously used and worn.[/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]From the day my bike broke, I had been hoping to get a bike to replace it. I wanted a bike that would last and had relatively good gears and brakes. And yes, those types of bikes are usually not that cheap! I was going to get a mountain bike which would cost me $400. My real dream though was a road bike, with dipped handlebars. That type of bike generally cost about the $700 mark. I watched the guy fixing Dad’s bike. [/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Finally I asked. “Do you have any road bikes for sale?”[/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“Yeah, that one over there.” he pointed over to the white road bike.[/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“How much?” my heart was starting to race.[/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“$100.”[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“I’ll get it.”[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]A few minutes later I was walking out of there with two bikes instead of one. I couldn’t help but realise that if I had gone to the function, I probably wouldn’t have got this bike and someone else would’ve got it.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]As I walked away, I breathed a thank-you to the One above. He was watching me after all! I felt like an idiot inside, making all that fuss about going to the function when God was no doubt up there saying, “You want a road bike, don’t you? I’ve got just the one for you, but you’re not going to be able to go to that function!” [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Funnily enough, while chatting with Fulgence, he asked me how much. When he heard that I had paid $100 for it, he said, “That’s too much! You should’ve bargained with him!” I laughed. I was just happy to get it for $100! [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]I got back home and after trying out my bike, headed in for the night. I was sitting in my room, when the phone rang. [/font]
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[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“Hi this is Tracy from Henny Penny (a fast food shop in my region), are you interested in coming in for an interview tomorrow?”[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]After the call, I just sat down on my bed. My application for the job had been submitted over five weeks ago. I thought I didn’t get anywhere near getting the job. True, I hadn’t got the job yet (yes, I did get the job), but it was still completely enthralling. That issue had been pressing on me for some time as well. I had really wanted to get a job. When I didn’t get any replies about my resume, I decided, “Oh well. Try again next time.” Wrongo.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]From that day on, I’ve realised that those little annoying things ALWAYS work out for the better. I’ve come to realise that, hey, I can give thanks in EVERYTHING, and hey, Jesus is always watching me and makes sure that EVERYTHING works for good.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]You see, there is no such thing as a rotten day. The day is as good or as bad as you want it to be. If you are Believer of Jesus, the Scriptures are very clear, EVERYTHING works for good. God has your best interest in mind. Everything works for the good of the Believer. Though I can’t see it, everything will work out. Sometimes all we have to do is tear our eyes off the ‘obstacle’ that is in our way, and re-think, re-focus. Take a look at the greater picture. In EVERYTHING give thanks. Show Jesus you trust his word, give thanks. If you can’t think of anything to give thanks for about a certain circumstance, give thanks for the fact that Jesus controls EVERYTHING and that if you continue to believe and love him, EVERYTHING will work for good. Surely that fact is something to be thankful about![/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"][/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Why is it that we should give thanks for everything? I mean, there’s nothing to give thanks about a broken leg, or is there? The answer to this question is not some long discussion. The Holy Bible tells us in Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. You really want to know why you should give thanks for EVERYTHING? Because if you love Jesus, EVERYTHING works for good. That’s exactly right. If you’re going to believe that the Scripture is 100% correct, that’s what it says.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Aww, come on, surely there’s another explanation. Or could it be that God is trying to tell us something? Could it be that God dares us to step out into the unknown and trust him? Could it be that God is watching from above waiting for us to have the presence of mind to lift our eyes off our minute problems and focus them on him? Could it be that Jesus doesn’t just want to hear our profession of faith, but he is daring us to live our faith?[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]I believe with all my heart that God dares us to stop blowing our little mole hills into mountains, step back and, say, “Thank you Lord, I know you have it all under control.” Sometimes it may be so hard to do. We find our tempers fraying and we feel like pointing to the sky and blaming God for letting it all happen. We feel like the whole world is coming to an end. The good news is, it usually isn’t.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]So often we lose our cool and blow steam at some small event in our life that didn’t go our way or a drawback. After it has all cooled down, we look at what the reason was and say, “That’s what it was all about?” Other times it’s something bigger. An injury or an accident. Even then, we have to come to the conclusion that we can’t change what has happened, and continue living. To kick up a fuss about the fact that you have a broken arm won’t change the fact that you have a broken arm. You can, however, take some time to relax from your everyday life, perhaps spend time with a friend, get closer to God, or even just plain relax. I have to do that ever so often. I’ll pull a muscle, and while I’m rearing to get out and play football and work, I realise that if I didn’t have this injury, I would probably have an overload from doing too much. Let’s say it again, “EVERYTHING.” Both the insignificant and the significant. In EVERYTHING give thanks.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Several recent experiences have made this Scripture one which is in the forefront of my mind. The best example would be about two months ago. My day started bad. I mean, really bad. My bike had broken several days ago and I was off the road as a result. I was feeling cooped up and really irritable. To top it off, I was not allowed to go to some function (Yep, I’ve already forgotten what function it was!) I felt like everything was falling apart, and it wasn’t even midday! [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Bro Fulgence came over and he was going to give me a lift to a guy to fix my dad’s bike so I could use it (no, my dad doesn’t ride his bike much!). I was struggling inside, feeling like I was going to blow up and never come together again. I was wishing I could be at that function, which was starting about now, and waiting impatiently for the day to end. [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]We arrived at the bike place, a house where the guy sells second-hand bikes and fixes them as well, and while waiting I looked around. Leaning on the house, was this white road bike that looked like-new except for some surface rust from the rain. Wow, that’s a beauty, I thought. The rest of the bikes where obviously used and worn.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]From the day my bike broke, I had been hoping to get a bike to replace it. I wanted a bike that would last and had relatively good gears and brakes. And yes, those types of bikes are usually not that cheap! I was going to get a mountain bike which would cost me $400. My real dream though was a road bike, with dipped handlebars. That type of bike generally cost about the $700 mark. I watched the guy fixing Dad’s bike. [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Finally I asked. “Do you have any road bikes for sale?”[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“Yeah, that one over there.” he pointed over to the white road bike.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“How much?” my heart was starting to race.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“$100.”[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“I’ll get it.”[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]A few minutes later I was walking out of there with two bikes instead of one. I couldn’t help but realise that if I had gone to the function, I probably wouldn’t have got this bike and someone else would’ve got it.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]As I walked away, I breathed a thank-you to the One above. He was watching me after all! I felt like an idiot inside, making all that fuss about going to the function when God was no doubt up there saying, “You want a road bike, don’t you? I’ve got just the one for you, but you’re not going to be able to go to that function!” [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]Funnily enough, while chatting with Fulgence, he asked me how much. When he heard that I had paid $100 for it, he said, “That’s too much! You should’ve bargained with him!” I laughed. I was just happy to get it for $100! [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]I got back home and after trying out my bike, headed in for the night. I was sitting in my room, when the phone rang. [/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]“Hi this is Tracy from Henny Penny (a fast food shop in my region), are you interested in coming in for an interview tomorrow?”[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]After the call, I just sat down on my bed. My application for the job had been submitted over five weeks ago. I thought I didn’t get anywhere near getting the job. True, I hadn’t got the job yet (yes, I did get the job), but it was still completely enthralling. That issue had been pressing on me for some time as well. I had really wanted to get a job. When I didn’t get any replies about my resume, I decided, “Oh well. Try again next time.” Wrongo.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]From that day on, I’ve realised that those little annoying things ALWAYS work out for the better. I’ve come to realise that, hey, I can give thanks in EVERYTHING, and hey, Jesus is always watching me and makes sure that EVERYTHING works for good.[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]
[/font]
[font="'Comic Sans MS"]You see, there is no such thing as a rotten day. The day is as good or as bad as you want it to be. If you are Believer of Jesus, the Scriptures are very clear, EVERYTHING works for good. God has your best interest in mind. Everything works for the good of the Believer. Though I can’t see it, everything will work out. Sometimes all we have to do is tear our eyes off the ‘obstacle’ that is in our way, and re-think, re-focus. Take a look at the greater picture. In EVERYTHING give thanks. Show Jesus you trust his word, give thanks. If you can’t think of anything to give thanks for about a certain circumstance, give thanks for the fact that Jesus controls EVERYTHING and that if you continue to believe and love him, EVERYTHING will work for good. Surely that fact is something to be thankful about![/font]
