tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410435198545998622011-11-27T16:53:42.777-08:00Ashcraft Ministries NewsletterGARY ASHCRAFTnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1441043519854599862.post-34316777458574357992007-12-08T00:53:00.000-08:002007-12-08T00:54:44.827-08:00Have you ever made one of those lists where you jotted down all the pros and cons of a certain situation or decision you had to make? It works the same way in retrospect of the things we all have to be thankful for, instead of complain about. It never hurts to look at things from a different point of view, at least that's what my calendar said this month, but nevertheless I believe it. So join me in taking a look at life since last Thanksgiving.<br /> <br /> Maybe you've gotten a new job, had a new baby, gotten married or like myself are just moving forward to whatever God brings with each new day. I never cease to be amazed at the glory of God's handiwork. Have you been healed this year, been blessed financially, spiritually restored, or kept the Holy Ghost fire burning, kept your health, kept your sane mind, and kept your family in tact? No matter what, we've all got more to add to the pros side of our list because we have far more to be thankful for than we are even aware of. Sometimes its just seeing the glass half full instead of half empty. Have you heard the old saying, "no news is good news"? It's not good news that makes the headlines and people have a tendency to remember (and talk about) the negative far longer than the good. But as God's people we don't have to live in the world's "norm". It's our privilege and our obligation to praise God and share with others all He's done for us.<br /><br /> Join with me for a "mini vacation" to retreat to a place of reflection and thankfulness. We all have "war stories" to share, but its not our verbalized pain that draws the Lord's attention. The Word tell us that when we speak of Him in our daily conversations with one another He comes near to listen. It's His joy to be the topic of our conversation and the subject of our thoughts. Thankful conversations + thankful thoughts = happy hearts.<br /><br /> "Thankfulness unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1441043519854599862-3431677745857435799?l=garyashcraft.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>GARY ASHCRAFTnoreply@blogger.com1