Thanks

Today I'm going to be starting things out a little backwards. If you have been reading these thrice-weekly stories often enough you will know that I usually include a link to a song or a video at the end of my blogs. But this time I thought I would offer this video FIRST to kind of set up what I am going to be writing about today. Please, watch the faces of the people in this video and then return for some thoughts about . . . Thanksgiving.

Groceries For Free

We here in this country have a day on which we take off from work and spend time with our families. We give thanks to God for His many blessings. At least that was the plan years ago when George Washington proclaimed the first Thanksgiving Day. These days our thoughts are more about who's going to win the big football game or who's making it to the biggest sale on Black Friday. That is NOT what this holiday was intended to be used for.

In the video, did you see the looks on the faces of those ladies who were gifted free groceries? That was the look of thankfulness. It was the look disbelief, that someone would give them something so valuable to them. Totally undeserving of what they had been given, they couldn't handle the generosity, their tears of joy paying tribute to their unknown benefactor.

That look . . . the look on the faces of those ladies . . . it is the same look we should have on our faces when we come before our Lord in prayer. We should have that look when we worship in our churches. Have you seen that look in YOUR church lately? We should have that look, the tears of joy, when we surrender our hearts to Christ, repent of our sins, and make that life-saving decision to follow Jesus.

I was blessed to be able to pray with a couple of teens as one of them made that decision. There were tears all around. What a special and God-honoring moment that was. If we could only bottle moments like that, those emotions, and open them up in times of want or need.

This Thanksgiving I encourage you to not let those special moments slip by. You WILL have them. Be ever-watchful and pray that you will not miss a single one because they most definitely are fleeting.

I had one such moment the other day. As I was recovering from what had turned out to be food poisoning, I received a message on Facebook. It was from a young friend I had met in our church's youth group where I was a leader. I hadn't heard from her in a year and a half but suddenly, there was her encouraging message right when I needed it most. My day got remarkable better after that! :)

Each of us is an "encouraging message" waiting to happen. Don't wait for those rare, special moments to happen to you. Create them yourself, or rather, allow yourself to be used by God's Holy Spirit. Be the inspiration in someone else's life. Not only will you lift the other person's spirits up but yours will soar right up there as well. Give thanks this week for all of your many blessings because, when we really think about it, we have been given SO much.

The God of the universe who created us and loves us, sent His son to die for us! That's worth a thank you or two. Because God knew we could never make it on our own, He offered us a way that we could STILL be with Him, even though we don't really deserve it. All who sin against a Holy God  deserve death, yet He gave us an option, an out. By placing our faith in Jesus, by simply submitting to His will and not our own, we can receive forgiveness for all of our sins. ALL of them! Yes, even THAT one! More thanks are in order my friends!! We serve a great King. We need to remember that, and act like it, every . . . day . . . of our lives.

"12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:12-17

Thankful by Caedmon's Call