Thanks-Living

I saw the following sentence sermon on a church sign: Thanksgiving is Good, Thanks-Living is Better. We need to develop a spirit of thankfulness that supercedes a holiday or just an occasional thought. Read Colossians 1:12 or I Thessalonians 5:16-18 and hear what Paul says. He basically tells us: 1.Always be joyful;

2. Continually pray;

3. Give thanks in every circumtance.

The poem below I used in my sermon today. I like its message:

EVERYDAY THANKSGIVING

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl

when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear.

There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against

the morning light as long as possible, thank you,

Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off

rising, thank you Lord, that I have the strength to

rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is

hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and

tempers are short, my children are so loud

thank you, Lord, for my family.

There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks

like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at

times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food

we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job is often

monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity

to work. There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate

from day to day and wish my circumstances were

not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life.