Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil 4:6-9) WOW! What a powerful and prophetic message! How many of us are filled with anxiety? How many of us are finding it difficult to pray to God and give Him thanks during these times within which we are living? St. Paul exhorts us to offer prayers of petition and, with thanksgiving, to make our requests known to God. This seems difficult when at times, everything around us appears to be falling apart. The truth, however, is that things are not always as bad as they appear to be. When we take time daily to focus on the positive things going on around us, we can be surprised! The more we thank God in all circumstances and entrust everything to Him, the more we are able to see the good and appreciate the gifts God is giving us in the midst of suffering and trials. When we are looking for the good, we begin to discover what is good. We begin to discover what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise. St. Paul exhorts us to stay focused on these good things throughout our daily journey with God. This week, I plan to take extra time daily to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me all the good things going on in the world. I plan to give thanks for the blessings. I plan to write down in my journal everything for which I ought to give thanks to God daily! I encourage everyone reading this to consider doing the same. God is always blessing us. The problem is that we are often so preoccupied with the negative junk that the world, the flesh, and the devil are constantly throwing at us. Let us resolve this week to consciously have an attitude of gratitude. Let us put away the old, stinking thinking, and take out the new positive attitude. Let us thank God ahead of time for all His blessings and gifts that we can expect to come our way. Your brother in Christ Fr. Jim Lowe, CC