Alright - so you would expect a typical Thanksgiving blog on Thanksgiving week - we should be thankful for what we have, etc. etc. etc.

Here's a more challenging thought:  How thankful are you then things are not going well?  How about when they really bad - like "lay in bed at midnight staring at the ceiling" bad.  The book of James tells us to "count it as pure joy when we fall into various trials..."  A tall order for sure.  

The reason?  It is in the times of difficulty and challenge that we most often grow in our relationship with Jesus.  In the bad times - I have the option to sit still in my pain and fear or to struggle in pure joy with it - knowing that my struggle will make me stronger in Jesus.

It is just like a butterfly struggling free from its cocoon.  If the butterfly didn't struggle against the bondage, he would never develop enough strength to fly...

This is one of those exiting weeks around FC.  We finished up the "Holy Cow" message series yesterday and we're getting ready to begin a new series called "The Apartment."  Every time we move from one series to another, we go through a big transition week.  We're already doing some stage set repainting, removing all of the equipment, bringing in new props and decorations, changing all of our computer templates and materials for the new series... it is a bit of work and the timeline looms large.

Life is a lot the same way.  In our lives, we go through times of change.  Perhaps it is a job, or a move, or God has redirected you to lose some attitudes, some thoughts, some actions - you name it.  None of us like change.  Change is always uncertain and it is always work.  But change is something that is always going on in life.  Check out this passage from Ecclesiastes:

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to reap that which is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

The truth: God is always going to be at work to change your life - to conform you to the image of his son.  So, are you resisting God's changing work in your life or embracing it?

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to reap that which is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

One of the hard things to do is live... today.  Not in the past, not in the future, but today.  My cats have a knack for this.  I can look into their faces and realize that they're not brooding over the past and they're not making plans for tomorrow.  They're living... today.

Wouldn't be great if we could consistently do that?  We receive God's forgiveness for the sins in our past and we actually let them go too.  We don't worry about tomorrow because God is in control.  Instead, we live today. 

What opportunity for his Kingdom has God given you today?  What blessing has God given you today?  What correction has God put before you today?

Our lives are happening right now while we're thinking about something else.  So, what are you going to do with the life God has given you today?