“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and  receive you unto  myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3 KJV)

Those are the very words of Jesus. We are thankful He has gone and made ready our heavenly home. Isn’t that just like Jesus, to have prepared a home for us after this life for those who have accepted Him as Savior. He has made ready not only a home, but a mansion, assuring that we will never be left homeless.

Think of it, a home eternally in heaven, whose gates are pearls and streets paved with gold! This is a home needing no down payment, nor continuing mortgage, nor up-grade or re-financing! Jesus paid it “all off” with His precious blood, once and “for all.”

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” ( 2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV).

In God, I will keep on thanking Him for securing my future.  By Hertistine Washington keeponthanking.com

“Thanking God for the flavor of His favor.”

“Thanking God,  I can cope as long as I have hope.”

“Thanking God, He’s always right every day and every night.”

“Thanking God, He’s big enough to handle all my rough stuff.”

“Thanking God for the goodness of His blessings, regardless the lessons.”

“The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3 KJV). I thank God I can smile. I have so many reasons to do so. Why do you smile? I would like to share forty reasons why I love to SMILE, everyday: I smile because:

(1) I can (2) It’s a gift (3) It’s welcoming (4) It’s easy to do (5) I love it (6) It’s contagious (7) It’s a privilege (8) It’s free (9) It encourages others to smile (10) I look better (11) It feels good (12) It’s attractive (13) It’s accepting (14) It adds and never subtracts (15) It’s inviting (16) It makes my day (17) It makes me happy (18) It expresses my joy (19) It reflects my pleasing response (20) I’m free to do so.

(21) It shows softness (22) It removes frowns (23) It encourages warmth (24) It promotes kindness (25) It erases the hard look (26) It’s my choice (27) No one can smile for me (28) It demonstrates hope. (29) It conveys much without saying a word (30) It eradicates intimidation (31) It soothes my spirit (32) It promotes connectivity  (33) It lowers my stress (34) God loves me (35) God smiled on me (36) It relaxes my mood (37) It make me approachable {38) It raises my spirit (39) It’s gives comfort, and… (40) I’m blessed by God who made my lips to be flexible enough to do so.

If I happened to miss the reason why you smile, please share :)!

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1 KJV).

In God, I will keep on thanking Him for giving me reasons to smile.  By Hertistine Washington /keeponthanking.com

“Jesus went deep enough to be buried, and rose high enough to be exalted forever.”  

“Loosing some battles may be a blessing. The battles aren’t ours anyway.”

“God’s Word will change you; just keep reading.”

“There is no lack or slack in God’s Word, and that’s a fact.”

“Sin will never escape God’s notice.”

How  long has it been since you had a good night’s sleep? A night free of worries or  pressing issues? The other night (although nothing was pressing on my mind) I could not sleep! But there I was into the midnight hours, wide awake and alert! After a while, I thought to do what I encourage my readers to do from my book, (“Something to Thank About from A to Z,” xulonpress.com), to take advantage of those waking hours to thank God. I began meditating and thanking Him for who He is in my life. I was blessed. Pretty soon, I found myself waking up at my usual time. Needless to say, I fell peacefully asleep.

Now, I’m aware we all have experienced some troubles that may prevent us from getting a good night’s rest. Life happens! But the key is, learning where to take those troubles so they don’t affect our night of rest. God desires for us to sleep well, so we can arise to a great morning!

Worried or not, I encourage you to start using those sleepless midnight hours to express gratitude and praises to God. Then watch how He rocks you to sleep. He’ll be so gentle you will never know when sleep arrives. I also encourage you to continue to thank God and pray to lay all your cares at Jesus feet so you can sleep sweet. Good Night!

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep” (psalm 127:2 KJV)

“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet” ( Proverbs 3:24 KJV).

In God, I will keep on thanking Him for a good night of rest.  By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

“For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9 KJV). This scripture reminds me of what we have in Christ, completeness. We have “all” in Him; not half. Who wants a package to arrive with only half the intended contents? I thank God, He doesn’t work in halves! He gives the whole thing. He doesn’t give us half love, and tells Jesus to love the other half. Nor does He instructs the Holy Spirit to do whatever  part He wants. They work together as “one” performing the desired results for wholeness… eternal salvation.

Jesus is God. He loves, entirely; redeems, completely; saves, fully; and comforts continually. When we accept Him as our Savior we get the full contents within the package; God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These cannot be separated. What one says, so says the other. They all agree in one.

This package is for anyone who is willing to accept it. It won’t change, but it will change you. Thanking God there are no IOU’s or cash on delivery. This package is freely given and paid in full by the precious Blood of Jesus.

“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthinans 1:21-22 KJV).

In God, I will keep on thanking Him for the whole package… God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.    By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

Thanking God, no matter what you’ve heard, Jesus is the Living Word.

Thanking God for making it possible for us to lie down in peace and sleep.

Thanking God for always knowing just where we are.

Thanking God for the privilege to help somebody.

Thanking God it pays to ponder a thought before acting on it. It may be a false thought.

Thank you Lord for your grace, mercy, and unfailing love. That’s the prayer I was praying as I woke up this morning. I had gone to bed praying for the victims of the recent disasters that have affected so many. Though I wasn’t affected, that night I had a dream I was right in the mist of a flood. Up to my knees I was immersed in water. I remember thinking as I was clinging on for dear life, “I didn’t know my day was going to end up like this!” Then I thought, “But God did.”  Suddenly, I felt a sense of calm. Although I wasn’t aware how my dream was going to end, I felt assured I would be okay. I still had hope because even in my dream I had a sense that God was still in control; He had me in His arms. Knowing this caused me to wake up, thanking Him.

As my mind began to focus on to the reality of the morning I though, it’s easy to thank God when times are going well. But what about when things are not going so well, times of turmoil, hardship, and disaste, as many are experiencing today? How do we encourage others (even ourselves) to hold on to a spirit of gratitude when all have been lost except life itself?

I tell you my friends, first we must believe and take God at His Word. He is in control. We must be compassionate and understanding that during these times people hearts are broken and in need of hope. They need to know “why” they should still expressed or maintain gratitude in times that appear hopeless. There is a scripture that reads, “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope” (Psalm 130:5 KJV).  Knowing this scripture will help people to get through the most difficult times of their lives.

There is another scripture that reads, “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing” (Psalm 107:22 KJV). When I read this Psalm, I realized the Israelites were going through some pretty difficult times in the wilderness, yet God encouraged them to maintain gratitude in spite of what they were going through; “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8,15,21,31)

God wanted them to know He was still their God, keeper, and protector; as He is ours. He is Good. Knowing this helps us to hold on in hope. Even when we don’t feel like offering thanksgiving, we are encouraged to do so. Though hard times will arrive we should, through faith and God’s strength, offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving to Him simply because of who He is; not based on how we feel. God is definitely aware of our feeling; He knows our hurt. Still, we must be thankful and pray, asking God for words to encourage others to hold on to hope, regardless of what they’re going through.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to everyman that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15 KJV).

In God, I will keep on thanking Him for the Hope that lies within me.  By Hertistine Washington/ keeponthanking.com

“Nothing can penetrate the shield of faith.”

“The purpose of any lesson is to learn it.”

“When we feel spiritual weak it may be time to eat… the Word.”

“We can bear anything, as long as we know God holds the rein.”

“Let’s give God the glory for His story.”

“Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. A-men” (1Peter5:14 KJV). We are thankful there are a number of ways to say hello in different languages and cultures. Just to name a few: Bonjour (France), Hola (Spanish), Hallo (German), Hello (American). Who doesn’t want to be greeted after entering a room, coming home, arriving at work, or at church? Surely we all do.

Saying hello must have been important to Jesus, or else He wouldn’t have asked us to greet one another. To say hello is probably one of the warmest and easiest acknowledgements we have the privilege of sharing with one another. It’s a small interaction that makes a big impact. It can make a person feel warm and welcome. Let’s be grateful God has given us the good sense to greet one another by saying hello; we just might get one in return.

So as you prepare to go, don’t forget to say “hello.”

In God, I will keep on thanking Him for giving me the grace to say “hello.”  By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking,com