August 13, 2015 – Ephesians 5:20

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20Everything?  Give thanks for everything?  Even when we are scolded?  Yes!  Even then!  You are learning from your parents that God will discipline those He loves.  If your parents did not scold you, it may be that they don’t love you?With a room for toys, do you thank God?  With food each day, do you thank God?  With a bed to sleep in at night, do you thank God?  When you have a friend, do you thank God?Learn to be aware of all the good things in your life — and thank God for each one!  Sing praises, read his word.  Have a heart to heart talk with God.When I was little my parents taught me this prayer – Thank you for the food we eat, thank you for the clothes we wear, We thank you for everything everywhere….  I used to wonder about the ‘everything everywhere’ part.  Where does ‘everything everywhere‘ end?  It doesn’t.I often wonder what King David, who wrote many of the Psalms, was like as a little boy.  He grew up to be a man after God’s own heart.  If you ever read the Book of Psalms, you have an idea of ‘everything everywhere‘.  David sang praises, he prayed praises and he lived being thankful to the Lord.Did God discipline David?  Yes!  What did David do, go to a corner and pout?  No, David thanked God for teaching him.  David said, I am sorry.  David loved God more than even his gold crown, his power, his ability to take care of Israel.  For without God’s blessings David would be nothing.It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. Psalm 92:1