Thankful and Joyful

There is an old European story about a traveler who came upon an empty barn where the devil had stored seeds which he planned to plant in the hearts of people. Various bags were marked, "Hatred," "Fear," "Doubt," "Division," "Despair," "Unforgiveness," "False-pride" and "Lust.”

The devil appeared and struck up a conversation with the traveler. He proudly told the traveler how easily the seeds he sowed sprouted in the hearts of men and women.  "Are there any hearts in which these seeds will not germinate?" asked the traveler. A melancholy look appeared on Satan’s face, "These seeds will not sprout in the heart of a thankful and joyful person."

Still enjoying the effects of the Thanksgiving weekend, this Sunday morning at the Gateway Church www.gatewaycofc.org we will "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is Good" (1 Chr 16) and ready ourselves to move into the "joyful season." It’s beautiful how being thankful smoothly leads to being joyful. In fact, we can’t have one without the other. Let God’s great kindnesses saturate your thinking in the days ahead and these memories will bring such peace no amount of upcoming stress will be long lasting.

Shalom,

<>< John