Thanks

 Happy Sunday!

"Give THANKS to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed."(1 Thessalonians 5:18 Voice).

The Apostle Paul had been through many different circumstances.  He was Qualified to encourage the Believers to be thankful no matter what they experienced.  He told the Corinthian Church, "You think you are so wise—yet you listen gladly to those fools; you don’t mind at all when they make you their slaves and take everything you have, and take advantage of you, and put on airs, and slap you in the face.  I’m ashamed to say that I’m not strong and daring like that! But whatever they can boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I can boast about it, too."(2 Corinthians 11:19-21 Living Bible).

He goes on to describe some of what he endured,
"They say they serve Christ? But I have served him far more!
(Have I gone mad to boast like this?)
I have worked harder, been put in jail more often,
been whipped times without number,
and faced death again and again and again.
Five different times the Jews gave me their terrible thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods.
Once I was stoned.
Three times I was shipwrecked.
Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day.
I have traveled many weary miles and
have been often in great danger from flooded rivers and
from robbers and from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the hands of the Gentiles.
I have faced grave dangers from mobs in the cities and
from death in the deserts and in the stormy seas and
from men who claim to be brothers in Christ but are not.
I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights.
Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food; often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.(2 Corinthians 11:23-27 Living Bible).

Don't miss this!  This same man consistently encouraged others!  He didn't share the stories of all he'd been through everywhere he went, and if the Corinthians hadn't been hoodwinked by false teachers he likely wouldn't have shared it here.  BUT he did share it and hundreds of years later it can still inspire, teach, and train us how to be thankful no matter what!  This same man wrote, "God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others."(2 Corinthians 9:8 CEV).  This same man said, "But THANKS be to God, who always leads us in Victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume."(2 Corinthians 2:14 Easy-to-Read Version).

Psalm 106:1 says, "Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia