THE CREED THAT I LIVE BY: IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!

The longer that I live, the more I realize how important it is to have values and a belief system to live by. One that I live by is, "In Everything, Give Thanks". This creed comes from a Bible verse found in I Thessalonians 5:18. The reason that this verse means so much to me is because I am a BELIEVER. I believe in the goodness of God. I believe in the sovereignty of God. And most of all, I believer that God has my best interest at heart.
For this reason, I believe that it really doesn't matter what happens to us in life, the only thing that is important is that we recognize GOD in that situation. If we can see GOD, we'll be able to also see the GOODNESS of whatever that circumstance is... no matter what.

Does it mean that everything that happens to me is good? By my human way of seeing things, the answer is "no." But aren't you thankful that your way of seeing things is not necessarily THE WAY that it is? What would happen if no matter how bad the situation you were in looked, you sought the "beauty" and the glory in it? Would it change your attitude? Your perspective?

I believe in praising God, I don't care what happens in my life. I've had some things to happen that you certainly cannot "see" -- at least not without having spiritual eyes -- anything good in them. But when you purpose in your heart to "bless the Lord" and to be grateful rather than to lament and complain, the whole flavor and tenor of your life changes. The darkness leaves, and the light comes.

God is a GOOD GOD, and this does not change no matter what happens to me. This is the creed that I live by and that I encourage others to try. So next time something painful or disappointing happens to you, praise God. The next time that the world attempts to drown and to pull you down, start to bless and praise and magnify God with everything you've God. Why? Because you're happy for the pain? No! Because you're happy that in your most painful circumstances, God RULES! And most of all, God is "EMANUEL"... God is WITH YOU in that situation. If God be FOR YOU, He is more than the world against you.

I wrote this because in business, we will definitely encounter challenges. We will even encounter enemies. Some of our competitors will not only slander us but they will hate our very existence. Even people who you thought were your friends, you'll find that they only pretend to support you while secretly they stab you in the back. Today, when I came home from a wonderful YTB training, I faced similar challenges. I received some very nasty emails from traditional travel agents who hate that I'm even in the travel industry as a professional. Then someone that I had welcomed into my business with open arms decided to go elsewhere. Was I disappointed? Sure, but what I did was to begin praising the Lord, because I trust Him, no matter what. God is GOOD and no matter what happens, I refuse to change my testimony. I hope that my testimony will encourage you to do the same.

And the best part? When I checked my email, this was in it: Enjoy!

In Everything. “In everything that I have created, your pain, your struggles and your disappointments, there is beauty. In everything the devil has created, even that which appears to be beautiful, is at its core, ugly." From the sermon, “See the Beauty”
Listen http://www.theonlineword.com/s/5352.wma
Read http://www.theonlineword.com/pdf/5352.pdf