give thanks and praise!

Give Thanks and Praise!
There are times when rejoicing and giving thanks are challenging. Have you ever wondered why God tells us it is "good" to give thanks? It's because expressing gratitude readjusts our focus! When we praise and thank the Lord, everyday hardships, difficulties, and losses feel less burdensome. Instead of obsessing over our challenges, we focus on God and His goodness. Furthermore, gratitude helps us recognize our dependence on the Lord, fostering a deeper appreciation for His continuous care and provision. 
Friends, expressing gratitude can help release our anxieties. We often struggle to feel grateful when we’re burdened, but that is precisely when we must offer the Lord heartfelt thanks. In those moments, remarkable transformation occurs physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our burdens seem lighter, internal turmoil subsides, and we can pause, reflect, and rejoice in the Lord. Offering thanks and praise strengthens our faith! Remembering our blessings and recalling the times God has shown His favor toward us reaffirms His faithfulness. Reflecting on how God has worked in our past provides us strength for today and hope for tomorrow. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed, remember the blessing and power in offering God thanks and praise.
Happy Thanksgiving  
Fr. Greg

A Beautiful Thanksgiving Prayer from the ACNA Book of Common Prayer
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at tasks that demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments that satisfy and delight us. We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he conquered death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen

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