Thankfulness in a Post Thanksgiving Paradigm

Almost every blog entry I post goes through a number of versions before I even sit down to my computer and start writing.  The seed pops into my head and then I decide if I have anything I really want to say about it.  I essentially pre-write it in my head several times.  I don't know if this is a normal process for other people.  The ones that remain persistent long enough get written.  This post is a great example of that.  It was originally going to be a fairly generic "I am thankful for" enumeration.  Nothing wrong with that.  I think that publicly giving thanks is awesome.  But today I decided that rather than being a list, today's post will begin an initiative.  Let me explain.

I am not the type of person who participates int he various fads associated with facebook.  November being a month of thanksgiving is one of those fads.  Again I want to be clear I think that is an awesome thing to do.  I am just never motivated enough to do it.  But, God has really been pushing me on the angle of giving thanks lately in a way which is not related to the season.  My decision to act in proximity to Thanksgiving is mostly coincidental.  One thing which has been constantly been hammered into me is that we as Christians should ALWAYS be giving thanks for EVERYTHING.  Paul tells us to give thanks without ceasing.  James tells us gives thanks for trials.  Not to give thanks in the midst of trials (though that too) but FOR the trial.  I mean wow really?  But if there is anything we know about the early church it is that they were well acquainted with suffering and persecution and trial.  So James and Paul are not speaking from some disconnected reality where life is rainbows and sunshine.  And of course lets not forget that rainbows follow the flood.  In my long slow journey through Ephesians with John MacArthur he has just touched on the matter of giving thanks.  He lists 3 points: 1) give thanks after a blessing (duh) 2) give thanks before the trial (if you can see it approaching) 3) give thanks in the midst of the battle even when it looks like you are losing.  Very very hard truths.  Further it has been pointed out that a truly thankful person is characterized by humility and vice versa.

All of that to say that this blog post is the announcement of my initiative which is an attempt to truly have a lifestyle of thanksgiving.  I am announcing it like this for a few reasons.  First, so that you will understand what I'm doing and why without me having to constantly explain it.  Second, in hopes that some of you will hold me accountable.  I am likely going to have days where I just don't feel like doing it.  Don't let them pass unremarked.  Call me out.  I respond well to that sort of thing usually and it motivates me.  Third, I want an opportunity to talk about such an important concept of course!  Lastly: It's my blog and I can do what I want =P.  Or rather it is God's blog which he is lovingly lending to me as an outlet which might invalidate the previous point...  So what is this initiative?  Much in the style of posting something you are thankful for each day of November I am going to do that everyday for the next year.  I am fully confident that I can do it without any repeats (though I may accidentally repeat) and it will remind me each day to find God at work in my life.  I think this is going to be exciting and it will be interesting to see how it changes my perspective.  And I have nothing else to add so let the games begin!