The Duke Family

Philippians 4:11 says
"...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances"

A hard lesson I have had to learn over the past year is thankfulness. True, hard, in the will of God thankfulness. It's an ongoing process and lately has been a common theme everywhere I turn. A few weeks ago I mentioned a book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I have been reading it with an amazing group of women. We are reading it slowly. Soaking it all in. I am just about to start the third chapter this evening. The author discusses being content in your life right where you are. Seeing the beauty that God sets before you daily.

Yesterday at church we had a guest speaker named Scott Rigsby. Let me just say, WOW! He is a double amputee who became an ironman in a very short amount of time, beating all sorts of odds. His testimony is awesome! He is content and thankful despite his "tragic" circumstances.

In Sunday School yesterday, our teacher had us in Colossians 1. Verse 12 says, "...and giving joyful thanks to the Father." JOYFUL thanks. This wrapped me right back around to my book where I have been reading and praying about joy....chara.

This past year has been full of the unexpected. Anyone who knows me well knows I am not a big fan of the unexpected. Stirs up a little anxiety. I have learned more and more this year that when we walk by faith, we have nothing to be afraid of. My life has undergone more changes than I can count on my hands in a pretty short time span. Many of those changes were sad, one was down right tragic, and more recently one was over the moon, click my heels together happy! But the Lord calls me to be thankful in ALL circumstances, not just the happy ones. We must draw the good out of everything. Even if you have to look really hard for it, it is there. Even if you don't see it right away, you will.

So join me if you will. Think about all that YOU have to be thankful for.