HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
One of the things that I noticed about the Christian school that my granddaughters attend is that it’s not some austere monastery where no one can speak out loud and everyone has to keep their head lowered and dress in drab clothing and listen to eerie music being piped in over loudspeakers. To be sure God is exalted on the campus and there are signs of it everywhere, but so are other things like learning, the arts, interaction with others, and just plain having fun. God is neatly integrated into all aspects of life as I believe He intended for us to live.
After decades of Bible study I strongly believe that God wants us to enjoy this life to the hilt. He has created a wonderful world for us to live in, but it’s up to us to learn to appreciate what He has done for us and take advantage of it.
Thanksgiving exemplifies this concept in a neat way to me. It is a time of thanksgiving to God for all that He has blessed us with, but it is also a time of celebration where we can join with others and enjoy those blessings and life.
Today we feast, spend time with relatives, sleep, laugh, and maybe watch some football, and reminisce. Throughout the weekend we will watch more football, shop ’til we drop, go hunting, play golf, visit friends, and so forth.
We should make some time to help others and perhaps drop off a Thanksgiving dinner (or gift certificate for one) to the less fortunate, and/or visit someone confined in the hospital or their bed. And we should take some quality time to spend with God who loves us with all of His heart.
We celebrated Thanksgiving a little early to allow our sons to spend time with their spouse’s side of the family and I can assure you that after feasting for two days on two turkey dinner feasts they will be well fed by Monday.
Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for me. I spent nearly all day with the kids and grandkids and as the party wound down I retired to my room at seven p.m. I put on my pajamas and laid awake and thanked God for all that He has done for me and my family. I asked Him to remove my shortcomings and strengthen me against temptation. I prayed that He would guide me and show me what He would have me do with my life.
I prayed for our business at Honey Lake Plantation Resort and that it would grow and prosper and enable me to use it as a witness to God’s majesty especially with the development of our non-denominational Christian youth Camp and our spiritual retreat programs. I prayed for my ministry and that people would come to learn of Jesus Christ as a result of my efforts.
I prayed for our country and for guidance in doing my part to bring about change in the direction it has taken. I asked God for help in mentoring my sons who have outgrown mentoring. I asked God to spare my father’s suffering and that when He calls Him home that He do it quickly and peacefully. I asked that He comfort Him as He prepares Him for His final undertakings in this life on God’s behalf and that his mission may be wonderfully and entirely fulfilled. I also prayed for my sister-in-law as she struggles with cancer treatment, and a myriad of people whom I know that are suffering all over the world.
I prayed for humanity and that the world would have a great revival and that many would enter into God’s rest. I asked God to make people realize that we should be thankful for what we have in all circumstance.
Paul gave us a guideline for our behavior in regard to thanksgiving not only for this very special weekend, but all of the time really: “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving”. I prayed that people would observe that little nugget, especially me.
Does all of this sound corny to you? Have you ever given it some serious thought and considered that just maybe you are missing out on the best things in life as God intended them for you? Ask yourself if you truly know peace, joy, love, and have hope in your life. The Bible states that those things are only possible through a close personal relationship with God. Either that is a lie, or it means what it states. Think about it; reflect upon it; take action on it! Draw close to God this weekend.
I pray for you this morning, that God will open your eyes as He has mine and allow you to see past yourself and the negativity that satan wants you to “enjoy”. I pray that God almighty will allow you a vision of the fascinating things He has prepared for you in this life and the next and that He will assist you in resisting the whispering in your ear from satan, that He will show you the way of escape from it and that you will take it and allow Jesus into center stage of your heart. I pray that you will enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday as none before it.
Be safe in your travels and enjoy this time with your family and friends. And enter into His gates with thanksgiving and praise won’t you?
Eph. 5:20
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thess. 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.