In honor of the Thanksgiving celebrations of my Canadian brothers and sisters, I thought I’d play off of Richard (who has a *STUNNING* new layout created by the lovely Rachel) and his latest post.

Last November, I finally broke down and attended a small group at church after avoiding them. I was talking with our then congregational council president and she imparted a piece of wisdom that has been really meaningful this year. She said:

I Thessalonians 5:18 does not read “for everything give thanks.” It reads “in everything give thanks.” You may not be able to give thanks for everything but you can praise God in all your circumstances.

She is so right — we may not give thanks for our circumstances; but we can *always* give thanks while in them. I can give thanks even after losing my job. I can give thanks after beng denied candidacy. I can give thanks even after burying a close family member. Why? Because the God I serve is a God of justice and mercy and a God who has a purpose for everything under Heaven. That alone is worth some major thanksgiving.