Joyful Thanksgiving

Joyful Thanksgiving!
Sometimes, rejoicing and expressing gratitude can be difficult. Have you ever wondered why God considers it 'good' to thank Him? It’s because showing gratitude shifts our perspective! When we joyfully praise and thank the Lord, everyday struggles, hardships, and setbacks become more manageable. Instead of dwelling on our difficulties, we begin to focus on God's immeasurable goodness. Additionally, gratitude helps us recognize our ongoing reliance on the Lord, deepening our appreciation for His care and provision.
Friends, being thankful can also ease our worries. We often find it hard to feel grateful when burdened, but that’s when we need to sincerely thank the Lord. In those moments, a priceless transformation happens physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our burdens lighten, inner chaos calm, and we can pause, reflect, and rejoice in the Lord. Joyful thanksgiving and praise boost our faith! Remembering our blessings and recalling God's past favor reaffirms His faithfulness. Reflecting on how God has worked in our lives gives us strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!
Onward and Upward +
Fr. Greg
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A Thanksgiving Prayer from the 2019 Book of Common Prayer
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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 to 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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