GIVE THANKS!

In just a few short days, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Some of us will get up before dawn to put the turkey in the oven and some of us will start baking pies and cakes as early as today or tomorrow as we look forward with growing anticipation to what the special day will bring. Thanksgiving is a day that we sit around a table that is loaded down with food. We’re excited because our family and friends will be here soon and yes, we are even looking forward to the afternoon when we can sit in front of the television, watch football and dose in and out of our naps. Later, when we wake up from our naps, the leftovers and pumpkin pie will be beckoning us. Oh how I love this time of the year! How about you?

Finally, when the big day comes and after everyone has arrived, the golden brown turkey will be pulled from the oven and it will take its place as the centerpiece of our tables. We will finally be able to sit down and celebrate! Many people will say a prayer, thanking God for what He has given them throughout the year. Not every household will say a prayer of thanksgiving but most will at least require everyone to name one thing that they are thankful for.

As many of you know, my husband and I were out of church for several years. During this time that we were living in the world, I remember telling my husband how blessed we have been and he stated that he had worked hard for everything that we have. That’s what many people reading this right now are thinking to themselves. “Everything I have, I have worked hard for.” John 1:1-3 tells us that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” According to this verse, the Bible is telling us that Jesus was with God in the beginning. That everything was created through Him and that without Him there would be nothing, not one thing, nada! In fact, you wouldn’t be here to even work hard and certainly nothing that you have worked so hard for would be here. My husband understands that now, do you? Nothing would be here if it weren’t for Jesus.

I know that you have been blessed with the things that you have, but know and understand that the things you have are not important in the grand scheme of things. Thanksgiving is not important, your stuff is not important and even your family is not important! What is important is Jesus Christ! So, as you sit down to get ready to eat your big Thanksgiving meal, before you take your first bite, know and understand that it’s only because of Jesus Christ that we have anything that we call our own, even our very lives!

It’s not easy to remember that the things we have are given to us by our God that loves us so much. It’s not easy to remember on a day of celebration like Thanksgiving, that everything really is all about God and it is nothing about us. Yes, we should celebrate Thanksgiving because God has given us many wonderful gifts. He has given us the gift of family and friends to enjoy and celebrate with. He has given us the food we will prepare and enjoy. He has given us the television that we will be watching the big game on and He has even given us the comfy couch that we will be napping on. In fact, there is nothing that you have that was not given to you by God, not even this day!

On Thursday we will give thanks, not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus Christ has done for us! He gave life to us and then He gave His life for us!

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Psalms 136:1 (NIV)

On behalf of Lisa, Vanessa and myself we hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with much love and lots of laughter. Let this be a time to set aside petty differences and focus on the many blessings that God has freely given you!

@copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc