{"id":24656,"date":"2018-12-02T03:30:20","date_gmt":"2018-12-02T11:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=24656"},"modified":"2018-11-29T13:58:09","modified_gmt":"2018-11-29T21:58:09","slug":"december-2-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/12\/02\/december-2-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"December 2, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cIn everything give thanks; for this is the will of God concerning you.\u201d\u00a0<\/i>1 Thessalonians 5:18<\/p>\n

Thankfully Seeking the Son<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

My daughter has a tree in her front yard that bends around a larger tree so that it may seek the sun. I also have a tree next to my home that has bent around my roof and a larger tree to seek the sun it desperately craves.<\/p>\n

As I stood there observing the result of a diligent and determined tree, I asked myself, “How often do I diligently bend around a huge obstacle before me so that I can seek the Son?”<\/p>\n

\u201cNot often enough,\u201d I answered myself. I have had to bend around a stressful situation or bend around a full schedule in order to seek the Son, but too many times my effort has fallen short, and I miss my appointment with Him.\u00a0However, I make it to appointments with doctors, dentists, and others that are very important, but isn\u2019t He just as important?<\/p>\n

Sadly, some trees do not make their quest around obstacles to find sunlight. They wither where they stand. Likewise, we may wither a bit when we put so many \u201cimportant\u201d events before seeking the Son-light, which for me is more than \u201cimportant\u2014it is \u201cimperative.\u201d<\/p>\n

I know it is difficult to stay focused on seeking Him and remaining thankful during this busy time. Thankfully Jesus is \u201cportable\u201d because He is in us so we can give thanks in all circumstances as we shop, cook and clean for company. We can \u201ccount our thankfuls\u201d as we patiently stand in line\u2014being kind, understanding, fighting frustration with thankfulness. Repeat after me (I do this over and over in my mind):\u00a0\u201cIn everything give thanks; for this is the will of God concerning you<\/i>\u201d (1 Thessalonians 5:18).<\/p>\n

I heard a story of a man who was robbed but wanted to remain thankful. He thanked the Lord that he had never before been robbed. He was thankful the man took his wallet and not his life.\u00a0With holidays upon us, we need to seek Him more, not less, and stay focused on remaining thankful in all\u00a0<\/b>circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus, we are profoundly thankful for You. Help us to take our minds off ourselves and see and meet the needs of others around us. Help us bend around those obstacles and strenuous circumstances to seek Your face, stay in Your Word, and remain focused on being thankful for Your goodness toward us, so we can bless the world around us. Thank You for Your faithfulness to us. Give us strength and joy unspeakable during this season so we can reach others for You.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

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