Thanks = Peace?

FriDudes - Getting Real. Pursuing Truth.

• Yes! You are in! Did you know that gratitude leads to peace? Feeling anxious, how much do you give thanks? Simple solutions can lead to amazing results. Here you go...
• For those living in the United States, the holiday of Thanksgiving has a simple beauty to it. Throw politics to the side. They wrecked plenty of dinner conversations. Booze and politics, Lord have mercy.
• Living on this broken, at times brutal, planet, odds are that you don't have peace beyond all understanding. Yet, there is a promise. You simply need to choose and practice it. And you are promised peace beyond all understanding. Sound too good to be true? I get it. I'm a natural skeptic. Yet this natural skeptic is an example. I can tell you that it truly works. Yet it isn't one and done. It is a lifestyle choice.
• First of all, think of your favorite people. Are they grateful? Or selfish? Do they tell you thanks? Or do they complain? Do they appreciate you or take you for granted? Do they do/say kind things for you? You are getting the point.
• Now you. Let's focus on you. If we polled those closest to you, what would they say about you? Which side do you reflect?
• Truth, I can be both. I was once voted the worst boyfriend in the world, not once but twice by two different women (one my eventual wife). So I rallied some, how?
• Phil 4: 6-8, if you want to be great. I believe this is one of the greatest verses for Giving Thanks!
• Whether you believe in God or not, check out this verse and promise...
• Philippians 4:6-8
  New International Version
  6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
  8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
• Peace beyond all understanding?! Could we use some more of that? Of course. Even an atheist would want that. Who wants to be around some one bitter and edgy? Yet here is the key. Instead of going to __________ your coping mechanism. I'm going to challenge you to pray. You may be lifting this verse 100X. There have been days that I have. Memorize it. Then you lift to God what plagues you. Tell Him what you don't like. And then, here is the key, look for the good. Give thanks for what IS worthy. Keep doing it. Surround yourselves with like minds/hearts committed to doing the same. You will experience peace beyond all understanding. I'm living proof and I know many others that will tell you the same. When in doubt, try it. Faith does not exist without doubt.
• So challenge for your and your loved ones when you gather in November or July. Any time. Practice above. Share where you are grateful. Share what you appreciate about who sits in front of you.
• Ending on a gratitude note. A special thanks to my dear Brother James from Compton and my dear Brother Casey for some of the most interesting episodes we have ever had. Giving God thanks for you for listening, supporting and sharing 1 Thes 5:11. Lord knows this world needs more Hope and Love.