I was reminded in my quiet time this morning of the scripture in 1
Thessalonians 5:18. Actually, to make verse 18 work you have to live and practice
the verses that precede it, I'll start with 15b, "..but always pursue what is good
both for yourselves and for all. (16) Rejoice always, (17)pray without ceasing,(18)
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for YOU."
The secret to verse 18 is in getting in the right Spirit and staying in the right
Spirit. How you ask? Do you spend your time pursuing good? Do you spend your
time rejoicing? Do you spend your time praying? Where is your focus?
God never says that everything in life is great, or even good. At the same
time not everything is bad or terrible. He tells us that in everything give thanks,
not that everything in and of itself is good, but when our heart, mind, and Spirit
are all in the right place, we can, and will, find a way to give thanks to God.
You may be thinking right now, 'yeah right'. I can prove it. "This is the Will
of God in Christ Jesus for you." Remember the old saying, 'God said it, I believe
it, that settles it'. and the reply, 'God said it and that settles it whether you
believe it or not.' lf it is the will of God in Christ Jesus for YOU, then it works, if
you let it.
Last week I talked about chaos and turbulence in life. Too often I find
myself 'waiting for the other shoe to drop', you know what I mean. lt's time
wasted waiting for the bad instead of pursuing the good, it's time wasted whining
instead of praying, it's time wasted grumbling instead of rejoicing, it's time
neglecting God instead of abiding in Him.
The only way to change is to get back to where we belong in our Spirit, in
the Word, in our prayer life, in our rejoicing. We are blessed beyond belief-and
we forget all about it. There are literally billions of people that would give
everything to trade places with you right now--even if was for five minutes.
God.
ln every moment, in every thought, in every circumstance, in EVERYTHING
give thanks to God. Pursue the good--it's a great day, it's always a great day to be
a child of God. 
                          Blessing, Prayers, and Love,
                                        Bro Tom & Sue