Do you like donuts?

Not the gross stale kind, but the freshly made, moist, melt-in-your-mouth, sugar-glazed donuts you get from a bakery. Or the kind that have a generous coating of chocolate icing? Oh dear, I’m not even a donut fan and my mouth is watering just thinking about it! They are no doubt awful for you, but you have to admit that this round tasty pastry with the hole in the middle tastes like a bit of heaven.

Have you ever heard the saying: “As you go through life make this your goal – look at the doughnut and not the hole.”?

If I gave you one of those delicious donuts (hint, hint, you'll want to be in church on Sunday) wouldn’t it be sad if you just complained about the hole in the middle? Wouldn’t it be sad if you focused more on what wasn’t there rather than what was? Sadly, you and I both know people who go through life focused on what’s missing, never really acknowledging all the good things they do have.

If you are on social media (particularly Facebook) you will know that there’s been an exercise circulating called the “Gratitude Challenge”. As the name suggests, someone nominates you to list three things for which you are grateful and you must do it for seven consecutive days.

It’s more challenging than you might think. That’s because for many of us, it’s easier to be negative than positive. The truth is that this show of gratitude is personally rewarding and fulfilling. You don’t have to be on Facebook to try it. Check out what Paul says in Colossians 3:16.

We have so much to be grateful for. We are so fortunate to live where we live, to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy, to embrace the love and friendships that complete our lives, and to have the riches we have. We are so blessed.

This weekend as families gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving around turkey dinners and other family traditions remember the wonderful blessings we have been blessed with.

“As you go through life make this your goal – look at the doughnut and not the hole.”

You are blessed!

Bring a friend and join us this Sunday, as we continue our series called Blessed!