Hi there everyone.

 

          Well, here we are!  It’s December!  Man has this year flown by.  Just a few more weeks until Christmas.

 

          I remember how excited I was as a little kid when December hit.  The house got decorated.  The tree was put up and even some presents were under it.  The snow was falling in truckloads (I’m from Revelstoke, BC).  I could hardly wait until Christmas day.  And then, after opening all the presents, especially those from out-of-town relatives, we made phone calls to say our thankyou’s. 

 

          Turns out, my parents were encouraging us to do what was most healthy for us. 

 

          The Bible says that we are to give thanks in everything.

 

          One recent study from the University of California San Diego’s School of Medicine found that people who were more grateful actually had better heart health, specifically less inflammation and healthier heart rhythms.

 

          “They showed a better well-being, a less depressed mood, less fatigue and they slept better,” said the study’s author, Paul J. Mills. “When I am more grateful, I feel more connected with myself and with my environment. That’s the opposite of what stress does.”

 

          Not only is thankfulness good for our physical health, but our spiritual health as well.  We are instructed to be thankful because God deserves our thanksgiving.  He has done so much for us and has poured out His love so generously to us, that giving thanks just aligns us more correctly with the truth! 

 

          Thanksgiving fills us with joy!

 

          Maybe you could use more joy in your life these days.  Try this practice of giving thanks in everything.  Look for things that you can be thankful for and then give thanks!!!

 

          I hope you will be able to join us this weekend as we celebrate Jesus and focus in on our second part of the series “When Heaven Speaks.”  Pastor Michael will be talking about when the wisemen were warned in a dream.

 

          I will also be introducing Dallas Lundell who will be serving as our Pastor of Worship and Discipleship. 

 

          I hope you have a great weekend.

 

          I love being your pastor.

 

Pastor Tim