“Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” (Eph. 5:20 NASB)

The key  

The key to being thankful for “all things” is understanding and believing that God is going to work all things out for you no matter how they may look. Having lived a few decades helps me to see how things, no matter how disastrous they may have looked at the time, eventually worked out to be blessings in disguise. Therefore, I can thank God ALWAYS, in EVERY kind of circumstance whether negative or positive, knowing with full assurance that its all going to eventually turn out as blessings.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 NIV)

Therefore ..

“I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.” (Psalm 7:17 NIV)

“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.” (Philemon 1:6 NLT)

If you have put your trust in Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you have received many good things as a result. Here are some of them.

You are a new creation!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

You are A child of God!

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 ESV)

You are His workmanship!

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 3:10 ESV)

You are in Christ and without condemnation!

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1 ESV)

You have become the righteousness of God!

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21 ESV)

Your body is the Holy Spirit’s temple!

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” (2 Cor. 6:19 ESV)

You are God’s friend!

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15 ESV)

Therefore, proclaim His excellencies!

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

“The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8 NASB)

What you see is what you think about

Our brains are similar to computers in that they both are programmed by what is fed into them. And, what goes into them affects what comes out of them. The Bible warns not to set anything before your eyes that is worthless, because it affects what you think about and what you think about is what you are!

“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.” (Psalm 101:3 ESV)

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” (Prov. 23:7 NASB)

An enlightened heart

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” (Eph. 1:18 NASB)

your eyes can light up your whole body  

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matt. 6:22 NASB)

“’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matt. 25:40 ESV)

Each morning, I visit a friend who lives in an assisted living facility near where I live. A couple of times, as I went into the building, I saw an elderly woman all dressed up with hat and gloves, sitting at the entryway. As I passed by her, I said hello and told her she looked lovely. She smiled,  thanked me and told me she was waiting for her son who was coming to get her for the day. On the way out, I saw that she was still sitting there waiting. I don’t know the rest of the story, but I felt sad for her. I know there are some who are simply confused. But, I also know that some have become “out of sight, out of mind” and simply are forgotten by their family and friends.

We are to visit widows and orphans

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27 ESV)

We are to plead the widow's cause

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” (Isa. 1:17 ESV)

We should especially remember our relatives 

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (2 Tim. 5:8 ESV)

 "Each one of them is Jesus in disguise." -  Mother Teresa

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2 NASB)

You never know when an opportunity to share the good news about Jesus will come along

You should be prepared to share your faith at all times, whether you feel like it or not. Jesus did so with a woman he saw drawing water at a well. He had stopped there to rest and to get a drink of water. He was hot, thirsty and tired from a very long journey, yet he recognized the opportunity and took advantage of it, to tell her about “living water.” (John 4:4-26)

Do you know how to share Jesus?

If someone handed you a Bible and said, “Show me what it says I must do to become a Christian.” What would you do? Unfortunately, most people cannot because they don't know how. That's unfortunate, because God’s followers should be prepared to share the good news at all times, “In season and out of season”. (2 Tim. 4:2)

You can share a Gospel Tract

Even if you aren’t able to show someone the way to Jesus by turning to verses in the Bible, you can give them something printed that has it spelled out for them.

That’s how I first heard the good news

I learned how to become a Christian from a little gospel booklet (gospel tract) I found in someone's glove box one evening. I was out partying with my buddies and we stopped at a liquor store. While waiting in the car for them, I looked in the glove box for matches to light a cigarette. I didn't find any, but I found a little booklet called, “This was your life”, by Chick Publications.” I don’t know who put it in there, my friends weren't Christians, but I’m grateful that someone did, because it told me how to receive Jesus. It explained how we are all sinners separated from God by sin and that Jesus had died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. It told how to pray a simple prayer to receive Jesus. I prayed that prayer and my life was forever changed! You can get gospel tracts like the one that helped me at www.chick.com/gospel-tracts, or from your Bible book store, or online from the American tract society. www.mwtb.org/pages/tracts. There are lots of different ones to choose from.

By the way, I created and printed a gospel tract a few years ago with the title, “People Can Be Recycled, Too!” Many thousands of them are printed and distributed each year. Some businesses even pack one in every shipment they send out. Who knows where they will end up, maybe even in someone's glove box! If you want a free sample of one, email me at [email protected], and I will mail you one.

You can also see an electronic version of it online

Feel free to send this link to anyone you wish to share Christ with.

www.mikefrench.com/recycledpeople

 “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:2-3 NIV)

Asaph just about slipped  

In Psalms 73, Asaph tells how he looked around at the prosperity of the wicked, compared his situation to theirs, and it greatly distressed and discouraged him. In fact, it just about caused him to slip, until he came to his senses and turned back to God’s truth.

The wicked seem healthy, prosperous and strong!

“They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for. They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.” (Psalms 73:4-9 NLT)

It is distressing and confusing to watch

“And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. ‘What does God know?’ they ask. ‘Does the Most High even know what’s happening? Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply’”. (Psalms 73:10-12 NLT)

It can cause you to doubt yourself and question God!

“Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?  I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.” (Psalm 73:13-14 NLT)

Wrong thinking is not good!

“If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.” (Psalm 73:15 NLT)

Remember the destiny of the wicked

“So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.” (Psalms 73:16:17 NLT)

They are headed toward destruction and terrors!

“Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.” (Psalms 73:18-19 NLT)

God sees and knows the truth about their silly ideas!

“When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.” (Psalm 73:20 NLT)

We belong to God and have a wonderful future with Him!

“Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. (Psalms 73:21-24 NLT)

God is the strength of your heart!

“Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.” (Psalms 73:25-27 NLT)

It makes you want to share about the wonderful things He does!

“But as for me, how good it is to be near God!  I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.” (Psalm 73:28 NLT)

“Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.” (Col. 1:11 NIV)

God helps us do all things!

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13 NIV)

When trials come, be hopeful, patient and faithful in prayer

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 NIV)

And, have the same attitude of mind towards each other that Jesus had

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” (Rom. 15:5 NIV)

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (Psalm 37:23 NLT)

Looking backward is easier than forward

Looking backward over the past usually enables you to see how God had directed you along the way. But, it's not usually so clear looking forward. So, It helps to remember how God had led you in the past and understand that He will continue to do so in the future. It also helps to understand what God’s Word says on the subject and then stand firmly on those promises by faith.

The Lord establishes your steps

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Prov. 16:9 ESV)

The Lord directs your steps

“The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Prov. 20:24 NLT)

The Lord lights your path so you can see where to go

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:195 NLT)

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 NLT)

My pastor died suddenly last winter!

No one saw it coming! He was a devoted, gifted man of God with great vision. But suddenly he was gone in an instant. It was a shocking reminder that we should be doing what God has created us to do because we don't know when suddenly we will no longer be here to do anything more. The verse of Scripture At the top is now printed on his gravestone.

Before your time is done here…

Is there Someone you should be sharing the good news with? A family member, or a friend? Perhaps, there is a neighbor you need to speak with? You don't know how much time you have left here, or for them. Don't wait any longer to speak with those you care about. Do it now!

How will they hear the good news if you don't tell them?

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? (Rom. 10:14 NLT)

Now is an acceptable time

“For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation.’” (2 Cor. 6:2 NLT)