AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

2 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I belive we should do exactly what the spirit said GIVE THANKS. I know there are times when we are pressed on every side(so to speak), but give thanks anyway. Times when we don't particularly feel like lifting our heads or our hands,but be careful,thats the time to really have an attitude of graditude. In every thing GIVE THANKS TO GOD, because its His will for us. He knows that an attitude of gratitude is not only his will for us, but its what will make us complete in him. It is God's will in Christ Jesus for us. Think about that! God's will is that we keep an attitude of gratitude towards Him and his son Jesus Christ.
Notice the two verses above verse 18, they say"REJOICE EVERMORE", and "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING" I believe they just maybe the reasons why we can always keep an attitude of gratitude. Hard to stumble when you're on your knees, and hard to be discouraged when you're rejoicing! Rejoice, Pray, and give thanks: the formula for an attitude of gratitude!
I read an article that said "People who practice gratitude are more compassionate, less materialistic, and live life more satisfied. Even science have proven that people who live more happy, peaceful lives have better health and wellness. Imagine that! Science is catching up with the WORD OF GOD!
Thoughts of Gratitude
1) Enjoy where you are while on the way to where you're going.
2)Try to see something good in every trial and thing.
3)Watch what comes out and what goes in your mouth.
4)Be content with such things as you have.
5)Get up with prayer, supplication and exercise!
6.)Give thanks both silently and out loud throughout the day.
7)Sing songs of thanksgiving, keep a song in your heart!
8.)Be mindful and do good to others every chance you get.
9.)Read Proverbs 15:13,15:15 and 17:22 DAILY
10.)Give thanks, with a grateful heart.

NEW YEAR MAKEOVERS

We are thankful to our God for the beginning of a NEW YEAR, with the excitement and expectancy that can only come with a "newness". But the word resolution brings with it a negative connotation to me. The word resolution makes us think of the failures of the past that we need to fix; and there lies the problem. In this new, bright and shiny year, lets turn this around, we'll makeover the new year. Instead of beating ourselves up over past failures and unfinished business let simply RESOLVE to make some things better as they come our way. If we failed to read the bible daily in 2007, don't say"I'm going to read 10 chapters everyday in 2008. Not only is this unrealistic, but its a recipe for disaster! Can the church say amen....I have an idea. God has given so many foods for us to eat and enjoy, but only a few have I even partaken of; you know same old stuff all the time! This year I want to get familiar with other foods God has provided(not another flavor pound cake) We know that pound cake isn't food anyway, food nourishes the body, heals the body and elevates the mind! Junk foods does none of those things, so why do we eat junk foods; another subject...later. This year when I enter the market, I'll find a new fruit or veggie and actually try it. I'll frequent co-ops and ethnic stores to find these wonder FOODS from our wonderful God. There, I feel better already! A new years MAKEOVER. No beating myself up over "woulda, shoulda, coulda". Its a new day now honey. I like to say,Yesterdays gone, tomorrow may never be, but we have this moment!!! Gotta go find my new food for the week. Be encouraged and MAKEOVER this new year, one step at a time......

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

I have a friend in North Carolina, her name is Evangelist Barbara Gardner. Barbara would always have this saying."expect a miracle". One this brand new fresh "New Year's morning", I woke with the same thought, and I do expect a miracle. What is a miracle? I call it some unexplainable feat! Man fall off 100ft. cliff and live; that's a miracle!, can't explain it. If tornado comes, person gets hurled in the air and live. A miracle is a good outcome to a bad situation. Can the church say amen! Think about that, a GOOD outcome to a BAD situation. In this new year, I'm looking for a miracle, I'm seeing the invisible, I'm expecting the impossible; the sky is the limit!!! Just believe and receive it, God will perform what is in his mind and in his heart.
The woman with an issue of blood got a miracle when she least expected it, but she heard about Jesus and made her way to him. We stay with Jesus and watch him work miracles in our lives and in the lives of all that call upon him. God is a miracle working God. We read and rejoice with those who received miracles in the Bible. But in 2008 let us write our own stories of how God worked miracles in our lives; oh Hallelujah! Remember 2008: IT AIN'T TOO LATE FOR YOUR MIRACLE!
Torrence

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

A GREAT DAY

I know I have sometimes tried to make a day a"great day", but as I now think of it I just commit myself to having a great day. In other words I will myself to have one. In my mind, and in my thoughts and in my spirit; this is a great day!!!. Psalms 118:24 says 'This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. A few verses above that says(verse17),"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord" I declare or I speak, or I say what He has done. He has given a day; He made it and I rejoice in it! No matter where you find yourself today, through the help of God "will" yourself to have a great day. And those things that are not favorable or that are difficult, ask God ; for He gives more grace! Have a great day!

2008----IT AIN'T TOO LATE!!!

One day several months ago, the Lord dropped something in my spirit. He said "2008: It ain't too late". I immediately grasped that into my innermost being. I began to rejoice and to see how that word could apply to my life and to the life of others. I started saying it out loud"2008, it ain't too late I made sure I let myself hear it, Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the "Word" of God. Those things that we may have thought were hopeless; God is able to bring hope in a hopeless situation. There are things in my life that I have almost given up on, no way this or that can happen. In some situations seem like even God can't help. Oh, but I have a word from the Lord; It ain't too late! Remember Lazurus? His sisters had all but given up hope(it did seem pretty bad), yet Jesus still said "shew me where you laid him? You see, we as a people may think the situation is hopeless,useless,Jesus coming so late. I hear Martha saying,"its too late, he's dead Jesus; where were you anyway(four days late). Have you ever heard yourself being a Martha? Do you have a problem that is now stinking, too late so you think. But don't despair yet; remember 2008:it ain't too late. Just show Jesus where the problem is laying, where did you put it,? Of course He knows, but tell Him anyway. Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want. Many times we tell everybody else; but go tell Jesus; tell Him all. Remember Moses at the Red Sea, what a hopeless situation,as seen by human eyes. But God sees from a different view point, and He invites us to have faith in his power; in his might, yes in his love for us. Yes, 2008, it ain't too late, let us look with expectancy in the coming year; knowing our God can and will help us with our "hard" cases. Yet realizing that there is nothing too hard for our God.

A CONTRACT OF FRIENDSHIP!!!!

After serious & cautious consideration.....your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2008! It was a very hard decision to make. So try not to screw it up!!!

My Wish for You in 2008 May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires ! May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address! In simplewords ........... May 2008 be the best year of your life!

Alexis

Celebrate!