In Everything Give Thanks? - Ruth L. Snyder

As I write, my heart is heavy. Yesterday morning (October 25) in a community less than 50 kilometres from where I live, a van smashed through a fence and a window/wall into a school, pinning three grade 6 students underneath it. Five other students were also injured. The three girls were removed from underneath the van, pronounced to be in critical condition, and flown by STARS to Edmonton. Today one of the girls died. Police are still investigating the incident. Here's a report from the Edmonton Journal.

The Apostle Paul tells us in I Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (KJV) When tragedy strikes, giving thanks is usually the last thing on our minds. After all, there seems little to be thankful for, at least from a human perspective. Perhaps some other Scripture verses can shed light for us.

• Psalm 50:23 "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (ESV)

• Hebrews 13:15 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name." (NIV)

• Psalm 107:22 "Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing." (NASB)

In her latest post, Lynn Dove reminded us that thanksgiving is a choice. It's easy for us to be thankful for things we like - obedient children, finding a beautiful dress on sale, hearing the birds sing, warm sunny days, etc. However, Scripture seems to indicate that when we choose to offer thanks during difficult times, we are actually worshipping God - offering him a "sacrifice of thanksgiving."

God doesn't expect us to thank Him for the tragic death of a young girl. However, we can thank Him for the following:

• God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Events do not change God’s character.

• God is with us and walks with us through the difficult times ("When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2 NIV)

• God hears our prayers, even when we don't know how to pray. ("In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26 NIV)

• God will work all things out for His glory ("And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 NLT)

Today I'm choosing to give thanks. It's a choice that will bring honour to God. Do you agree?




Ruth L. Snyder
www.trusteesnyder.blogspot.com (Education information)
www.ruthlsnyder.com (Ruth's writing and family life)
www.earlyyearssuccess.com (Information for caregivers of children ages 0-5)
Follow Ruth on Twitter:www.twitter.com/@wwjdr

Thanks be to God - Bryan Norford

You may recall eastern Canada received heavy rain at the end of last week. Friday evening, our daughter Alex, was driving the highway from Montreal in heavy homeward bound traffic during darkness and heavy rain.

The film of water on the road built up under her front driving wheels, and the car began aquaplaning. She lost complete control of the vehicle, and it began spinning hitting the median a number of times before crossing the traffic lanes and stopping on the right parking lane.

Thankfully, she made contact with no other vehicles during her gyrations, and the car stayed upright. The engine was still running and automatically she pulled off the road. None of the following vehicles stopped—including her husband, following her a few cars behind!

In the rain swept darkness, he didn’t recognize the car at the side of the road. Alex watched him drive past. Whatever our attitude to modern technology, Alex was thankful that they both had i-phones; he returned in minutes.

The car sustained major bodywork damage; the passenger door was jammed, but Alex seemed to be alright. But her concern was the baby; she was halfway though her pregnancy. Very emotionally distressed, she called my wife Ann while waiting for the ambulance.

She was thankful that her four year-old son was with a friend, not with her in the car. But having a record of several miscarriages, she feared for the safety of this second son she was carrying. Ann prayed with Alex on the phone, praying protection through Psalm 91, and then called Alex’s sisters to pray also.

At the hospital, she had an ultrasound. The baby’s heart was strong, and he appeared to be doing a happy dance. An ultrasound on Alex’s torso found no internal bleeding; but the attending physician advised her to watch for any signs of latent damage.

Released from the hospital, relieved and thankful, she drove home with her husband and called us. She was feeling sore all over, bruised from the seat belt, and had a headache, but otherwise felt well.

Saturday, she posted on Facebook: incredibly teary eyed today. A very emotional 24 hours to say the least ... car accident, baby scare, offer on home, counter offer sent back ... all on the 37th birthday of this lady's life! I'm soooooo incredibly grateful!

Today, she is at her gynaecologist for further checks, but cautiously hopeful there is no hidden damage. But above all, we are thankful to God for the good news so far, and know we can trust Him for the future.

A fitting tribute to Thanksgiving week.