1 Thessalonians 5:14-22

"Dear Father, holy God, Help me always to be joyful and to pray continually, giving thanks to you in all circumstances, since this is your will for me..."

How can we really do this? David Bratton shares with us some important ideas about praying without ceasing and obeying, honoring, blessing, and working for the justice that blesses God.

"Dear Disciple, In his first letter to the Thessalonian Christians, Paul wrapped his teaching on My coming back in glory — which we will..."

"See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful...."

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil."

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

"Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Does crazy stuff happen to you? Crazy things happen to all of us, but we can face them with joy because of God.

And there I began hunting out places of worship through tears of joy in pain. Melissa Troyer reminds us that giving thanks -- and finding reasons to give thanks -- is a decision we make every day in all circumstances, especially when it is hard to be thankful!

Isn't time to do this with everything else going on? Thanksgiving is something that is needed, commanded, and celebrated: so let's give thanks.

"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

"Be joyful always."

"Dear Disciple, Some messages of truth are hard to hear. Nevertheless, a family has to have expectations of family members if it is going to function...."

"Dear Father, patient one, Give us hearts that gladly show respect for those who labor among us and who lead us and admonish us in the Lord. Fill us....."

"Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them....."

"Do not stifle the Holy Spirit."

Inspirational illustration of 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -- Be joyful always ...

e-card image of 1 Thessalonians 5:19 -- Got Spirit? Do not put out the Spirit's fire.

So can we learn to be more thankful? Rick Brown gives us insights on abstract prayers and the Rabbi's teaching that would help us be more thankful.

What do you look like when you are not trying look any certain way? Deonna Shake uses her vast coaching and playing experience to introduce a key concept called "default face" and reminds us that how we carry ourselves says a lot about us.

What would a frank conversation between us and God about thankfulness look like? Tom Norvell shares an imaginary but important conversation between himself and God.

How are you handling the situation you currntly find yourself in? We can learn to give thanks and be content if we will reframe our current situation and see how many blessings we actually have.

How in the world can you praise the Lord at a time like this? Mike Barres reminds us that life is full of hardship and curve balls, but we can learn to praise the Lord anyway.

On this day when many pause with their families to give thanks to God, let’s remember what the LORD God has done to bless us! Phil Ware reminds us to give thanks for all of our blessings!

Yes, you are your brother's keeper From Cain to Jesus to Paul to us, we are responsible for each other. We are our brother's keeper. But, and this makes all the difference, we are to hold each other accountable to the teachings of Jesus as members of a family, wanting the best for each oth

God wants us to live our lives to the full, inviting him to permeate each moment of each day, including our sleep time! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to invite God to permeate every moment of every day, including having our hearts tuned to God with night songs.

Arguing kids and the morning's first sunlight lead to thanksgiving? Ann Voskamp takes a morning breakfast, washing, dishes, arguing boys, and books in multiple languages and turns it into a time of joy, happiness, and eucharisteo.

This is a team we can all be thankful for! Ron Rose reminds us that Thanksgiving is about those who have blessed us and our being a blessing back by letting them know and thanking them.

Imagine if we all came together at the same time and prayed for God to intervene and help us overcome our world's problems! Phil Ware explains the unified, simultaneous, hour of prayer on January 1 and December 31 as all the time zones gather together to pray.

Got anybody praying for you? Everyone needs someone praying for them; this prayer is for you and we pray without ceasing!

Why give thanks for that? Mike Barres talks about a hunting trip with his wife and how they were so thankful for just heat and food and the simple things of life.

Could you ever imagine that 80 cents could mean so much? Sending thank you cards or notes can be such a powerful and special blessing to those who receive them and are just the kind of thing the Lord would have us do!

I was very comfortable right where I was. Jordan Harrell speaks to women about something she was told by another woman teacher that revolutionized her relationship with her husband.

Do we really have all these choices or is there only one choice? Righteousness is not a choice but it is defined by God and his will, not by popular culture, media, and we cannot compromise and or flirt with evil.

If you can't be passionate about it, how important is it anyway? Phil Ware continues his series where he shares his dad's values with his adult children, and this one is on living with passion.

"Dear Friend, The support of those who work for Me as their calling and vocation has always been a touchy issue among some of My people. Paul ran into..."

What I learned about a healthy relationship with God from my dentist visits. Just as my teeth need regular care and maintenance, so does my relationship with God.

What do we do with folks bent on destroying themselves? Sometimes those who show themselves to be very self-destructive just need someone to help them get some rest and encouragement.

Some people have a hard time being thankful. Christians do not. There are reasons some people have difficulty giving thanks. We Christians see things differently.

When's the last time you used your divine Twitter account? Phil Ware reminds us that drive-by prayers and tweeting heaven and tweet prayers are ways to include God in all of our everyday activities and build upon our life of prayer.

Our God will even cry for you Jesus wept when he saw the pain and grieving caused by death. He still weeps with us when we are hurting.