A Branch In the Vine

It’s not the happy person who is thankful but the thankful person who is happy. Anonymous

I love this quote!

If you've spent any time reading the apostle Paul's writings, you most likely would say that Paul is a happy, joyful person...and this despite many trials and much suffering. Listen to these verses from our current study book, the letter to the Colossians:

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you... to make known... the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory...To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:24-28 NIV

Now if it is true that...

It’s not the happy person who is thankful but the thankful person who is happy.

...then I think it's reasonable to believe that Paul's joy and happiness sprang from a thankful heart.

So this week at A Branch in the Vine is Thanking Week.

In each of the four chapters of Colossians, we read a "thankful word" (such as thanks, thanksgiving, gratitude, etc). Read through Colossians again (yes, again :) ) and see if you can find all of them.

Here's a hint: there are 2 in chapter 1; 1 in chapter 2; 3 in chapter 3; and 1 in chapter 4. [Let me know if you find more.]

Then list what Paul says he's thankful for. Go on also to list what he says for US to be thankful for.

After that, start a list of your own. Start a section in your journal and list 5 today...then 5 more tomorrow...and then the next day...

Or maybe you'd like to take up Ann Voskamp's challenge in her best-selling book One Thousand Gifts: Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.

Start your own list of a thousand (just 3 a day will do it in a year). For some fun help, see her July Joy Dare...download and print it out for yourself.

And last but not least, if you would like to see gratitude spring forth from a believing heart, read Rich Brown's story, Moi Joy. He and his wife Karen have been working with the Moi tribe in Indonesia.

Many of these naturally treacherous, ungrateful people were transformed when they received the good news of the Lord Christ. View the moving, spontaneous testimony of one man. Immediately after his conversion to Christ, Mbanapeoma gave thanks to his Creator and to the missionaries. Don't miss this!