"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

When we came home last night after church we stepped out of our car to the strong smell of a skunk. "Pe-ew", I said. Brooksyne smiled and responded "Gloria de Dios* reminding me of an interesting perspective we heard in church this last Sunday. A Brazilian brother who only spoke in Portuguese introduced a song through an English translator and was recalling how his father-in-law would express appreciation for all of God's creatures. He would go out early in the morning and say "Good morning little skunk." Now how's that for a positive outlook!

I considered as I breathed in the aroma last night of this being a creature of God and functioning as God designed. Now thankfully it doesn't always smell that way in life but I merely got a whiff of the God-ordained defense mechanism and it was working very well. This morning the air is brisk and clear, and it looks like it will be a very pleasant day here in my neck of the woods. Thankfully the skunk smell is gone!
 
Today most of us will encounter some skunk smells; a few literally, but many more figuratively. How are we going to deal with them?

Our daily verse is very familiar and most likely many of you have memorized it.  You should!  Let's look at a single word in the text today.  "In."  I note a consistency in all major translations in using this word and I feel it's very significant. In this text Paul does not use the word "for".  He uses the word "in".  I believe he's speaking of living a thankful life; being thankful "in" the midst of pleasant circumstances and "in" the midst of difficult circumstances. 

The "everything" of life includes the good reports as well as the bad reports.  The worldly outlook of thankfulness includes giving thanks only for the good.  God's Word says "in everything".  After all, as Christians we have an assurance that God is working all things out for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

In living a life of thankfulness those of us who seek to do the will of God are clearly obeying a Biblical mandate.  Let us be thankful even when we get a whiff of skunk smell!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's note: *Glory to God!  I wish it was as natural to thank God for the skunk smell as it is when I smell the chocolate from Wilbur Chocolate Factory in Mount Joy. It smells just like Mom making fudge at Christmas and is a delightful aroma that comes to our neighborhood frequently.  But God has given discernment to our sense of smell to help rule out danger and it is a blessing we usually take for granted.

"Gloria de Dios for the blessed gift of our five senses.   Our surroundings become very much alive to us through our sense of touching, smelling, tasting, hearing and seeing.  Incredibly through Your marvelous provision when one or more of our senses is not working as it should, You have given us other resources to supplement our need.  I think of those who cannot read our devotional today but through their sense of hearing they can hear this devotional as Stephen reads it.  Thank You for hearing aids and many other modern devices that enable us to communicate and live a fuller.  It is in the midst of these difficult circumstances that we're more mindful of just how much we rely upon the goodness of others and the mercies of God.  Gloria de Dios!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Tomorrow I expect to post a separate webpage and share some photos and brief stories of some of our friends we visited during our travels in New England including several new friends we met.