Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21 NASB
Recently, Melinda and I were blessed with our eleventh grandchild! This great blessing came in the midst of great personal trials for me. I had been diagnosed with vocal cord damage almost 6 months before and, as if that were not enough, I received an initial diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (which has since been confirmed). Needless to say, it was difficult to not dwell on my circumstances - especially since these diagnoses meant a paradigm shift for us in our public ministry as well as in out finances. My soul was suffering and in great anguish. So much so that on many days I did not feel like moving…did not feel like a man…felt defeated.
Of course, I knew these were all lies and I knew that somehow, someway, God would use all these things for my good and for His glory. I honestly felt as if my life was being pulled away from me. Melinda - my wife - was amazing as she sought to speak truth and hope to my soul…but even this - knowing I was taking a toll on her - caused me great anguish. I did not feel like facing anyone in public and basically began to withdraw from life. The enemy - the liar - had me so focused on ME and my pain and my potential loss that I had to literally speak out loud to my own soul at times, “That is a lie! This is not who I am! God loves me!” I was reminded of the time King David made a tactical error in battle and the wives and children of his army were taken captive by the enemy. David’s response was key for me:
“Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”
1 Samuel 30:6 NASB
David encouraged himself in the Lord! For weeks, I practiced this daily - even when I did not feel like it. It felt as if I was constantly preaching to my own soul for hours each day, often leaving me emotionally spent and needy. My wake-up call came when Theodore Fox Songer was born on January 14, 2019. This was two weeks prior to the official diagnosis of Parkinson’s - but it was a wonderful blessing just to have my mind taken off of ME for a change! During the all-nighter the birth of Theo became, I preached this truth to myself: “Don’t focus on what you don’t have. Focus on what you DO have…”
After Theo was born and we said our goodbyes that afternoon, we had a two-hour drive back home…with having gotten very little sleep during the night. To keep myself focused on the road and to stay awake, I prayed for Theo. As I pondered what to pray for him, I began to think about the possibility of what I would want Theo to know should there come a time I was no longer around. The Spirit began to direct me to the focus of my own circumstances and trials and I began to pray this over my newly born grandson,”Father God, help him to always have a grateful heart regardless of his circumstances…”
Soon, I began to speak the words ‘always be grateful’…and as I spoke them, a melody began to form in my heart. As I sang the lines concerning the fact that we can choose to be joyful just as easily as we can choose to be sad, the song began to be born. By the time we arrived home, I had most of the song as it is…and then it dawned on me: The song was just as much for me as it was for my grandson…just as much for the believer as it is for my grandchildren and children. We are people of choice. We may not have a choice as to our circumstances or even to what tempts us, but we always have a choice as to how we will respond to those circumstances and temptations. Always.
It then becomes a matter of perspective. Simply put, we can choose to see what the liar wants us to see or we can choose to see what the Father wants us to see. The last time I checked, this was God’s Word regarding this matter:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose.
Romans 8:28 NASB
Victory looks like life lived and seen from the Father’s perspective - in spite of our circumstances…and the first step in this victory begins with a grateful heart…no matter what…we can always be grateful.
Dennis Jernigan
…in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB
Always Be Grateful
WORDS & MUSIC
Dennis Jernigan
January 14, 2019
For Theodore Fox Songer
Verse
Some people choose to live like they're dying
Some people choose to enjoy their life
Some choosing joy in spite of the things they don't have
Some live controlled by their circumstances
Some see a wall some see second chances
Don't waste your time controlled by the things you don't have
Chorus
You can choose joy in the midst of the sad
Even in sorrow you can choose to be glad
Always be grateful
Always be grateful for all that you have
Go through the storm while enjoying the rain
Gaze at the healing
Just glance at the pain
Always be grateful
Always be grateful for all that you have Just
Verse
Some people choose to only see sorrow
To live in the past or live in tomorrow
Live in the present in spite of the things you don't have
Some people choose to see only darkness
Live in the pain of bitter and heartless
Don't waste your time controlled by the things you don't have
Chorus
You can choose joy in the midst of the sad
Even in sorrow you can choose to be glad
Always be grateful
Always be grateful for all that you have
Go through the storm while enjoying the rain
Gaze at the healing
Just glance at the pain
Always be grateful
Always be grateful for all that you have Just
Chorus
You can choose hope in the midst of despair
Even when lonely you can meet with God there
Always be grateful
Always be grateful for all that you have
Go through the fire
Come out shining like gold
God loves you with love that will never let go
Always be grateful
Always be grateful for all that you have
Chorus
You can choose joy in the midst of the sad
Even in sorrow you can choose to be glad
Always be grateful
Always be grateful for all that you have
Go through the storm while enjoying the rain
Gaze at the healing
Just glance at the pain
Always be grateful
Always be grateful for all that you have