The Power of Thankfulness

19Mar
 
 
Are you old enough to remember nuclear bomb drills? We would all be ushered out into the halls and were told to kneel and put our hands behind our necks. Having seen pictures of atomic blasts, even as a grade-schooler, I could not see the point. I recall asking one of my teachers why we could not just stand at the window and watch the blast. We were only a few short miles as the crow flies from the Grand Prairie Naval Air Station. Those nuclear and tornado drills gave me nightmares. In my curiosity, I found something to divert me from the negative, albeit, I may have been a strange little kid.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV) Aren't you glad it doesn't say "for all circumstances!" I'm not sure I could give thanks "for" disease. As followers of Jesus, we are to lift our eyes heavenward and offer thanks "in" all circumstances.
 
None of us are enjoying the isolation, the financial hardship, and especially the heart-breaking reports of hundreds and thousands of people around the world stricken with COVID 19. But if it had to happen, aren't we glad we have the internet! We can get more up to date information than we can emotionally handle. There have never been so many options on TV and radio to keep us informed or to distract us for a few minutes from the darkness of this setting. We can connect with one or a hundred friends at one time in live sessions and still be socially distanced. Cell phones keep us in touch in the most convenient ways.
 
We have amazingly disciplined, talented, and dedicated scientists and medical doctors constantly laboring to find solutions to this new virus. In years past, plagues just wiped out everyone who was not resistant enough to survive. Admittedly, these words and thoughts are little comfort to those who have and will lose loved ones to the virus but giving thanks for what we do have in these dark days, waters the seedlings of hope.
 
I recommend you follow this link and let this song pour “Sonshine” in your soul! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blbslHDgceY
 
 

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Posted by Ron Lawler

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior when I was a teen. A friend had invited me to attend church to help out in a Sunday School attendance drive. At the end of the worship service I asked the Pastor how I could know for sure I would go to Heaven. He had someone show me from the Scriptures how to receive Christ and from that day to this, I have had an assurance of Christ as my Savior and Heaven as my eternal home.

Within a few weeks I sensed a building desire to enter into full time ministry. My church observed me and confirmed the call. Upon graduation from High School, I enrolled in Bible College and I have been in ministry ever since. I was ordained to the ministry by my home church in Texas in 1974. It has been my privilege to be Pastor of Preaching and Teaching at Family Bible since 2005.

Cheryl and I were married in 1973. God has blessed us with two children, Rachel and David, and four grandsons.

Favorite part of ministry? - Researching and discussing questions about the Bible.

Favorite verse? - "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

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