Happy Thanksgiving

Photo courtesy of: Ian Britton / FreeFoto.com

Happy Thanksgiving

On Thursday November 22, it will be Thanksgiving here in the USA. I hope and pray all of my readers have a joyful and blessed Thanksgiving.  For those who live elsewhere, I also hope and pray you have a joyful and blessed day.

Have you ever drove by a multi million-dollar home and thought: "Why can't I have that kind of wealth?" What about becoming a bit jealous at times while viewing rich and famous people on television? The thoughts come to mind, "here I am hoping to have enough money to make ends meet, yet they have soooo much." While I am dreaming about a rich life, little do I realize what misery many of these people experience. They maybe worried to death for fear of losing their fortune while constantly protecting themselves from those who would rob them blind. All the while, they dedicate their lives to obtaining more, yet never becoming satisfied.

The wonderful thing as a Christian, I have so much more to be thankful for. At one time, I was living in the kingdom of darkness. But now, God has brought me into the kingdom of light. I have an inheritance worth more money than all the wealth in the world could buy. This Thanksgiving I will remember and be thankful for all the wonderful blessings He has bestowed upon me while laying to rest any covetousness I may have over the things which I do not have.

"giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,"
(Colossians 1:12-13 NKJV)

Joy in the Fellowship of the Gospel

Thankfulness and Prayer

³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, ⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. (Philippians 1:3-7 NKJV)

As I look read this passage I must ask of myself, how much do I rejoice over the good work the Lord is doing in other peoples’ lives? Do I get excited when I have the opportunity to bless someone else? Do I look forward to these opportunities? How thankful am I to God for my church family? How much of my prayer life is dedicated to praying for those diligently serving the Lord, thanking God for all they do?

So much of the time, it is the hard and terrible things which draw our attention. When I know of someone who is sick or hurting, I am quick to pray. When someone is in need of help which I can offer assistance, I give it. The world is full of hurting people. My heart breaks when I see a child suffering from some disease, and that it should. I find joy when I see a criminal taken off the streets by the law, so that we citizens are safer. These are things we all should do.

I do not say to ignore the pain someone is suffering nor care if whether the police make our streets safer, or not. But let’s also rejoice over the good things in life. What a precious thing it is to have fellowship with the saints. Let’s lift up our voice in praise and thanksgiving to our God giving Him thanks for the godly people we are blessed to know. Let’s rejoice in someone else's victories. Let’s lift up our voice in praise when we see a pastor standing firm on the gospel, not compromising for the sake of being politically correct.

Thanksgiving is next week here in the USA. However, be it Thanksgiving, or not, let’s be thankful to God for other believers and their commitment to Christ. Let us all rejoice in the good things in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and thus, experience the joy of the “Fellowship of the Gospel.”

Happy Thanksgiving

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I have not been around much lately in blogger land, but all is good and I have so many things to be thankful for. One of which is I will be getting married in December to a wonderful Christian woman I have been seeing for the last couple years. I am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with this relationship.  Here in the USA tomorrow (Thursday November 24) is Thanksgiving, yet for all of us Christians, everyday should be a day of giving thanks to God for all He has done for us. He has given us eternal life and “supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians4:19) He leads and directs our paths and heals our broken hearts. He is always there to comfort us and gives us strength in the time of need. He is our Prince of Peace and anoints our heads with oil. Our cup runs over. The list goes on and on, let us all remember to lift up our thanks to God, not just on Thanksgiving, but every day.

 

¹⁶ Rejoice always,  

¹⁷ pray without ceasing,  

¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (I Thessalonians 5: 16-18)

 

 

(Psalm 23)

¹ The LORD is my shepherd;
         I shall not want.
 ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
         He leads me beside the still waters.
 ³ He restores my soul;
         He leads me in the paths of righteousness
         For His name’s sake.
       
 ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
         I will fear no evil;
         For You are with me;
         Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
       
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
         You anoint my head with oil;
         My cup runs over.
 ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
         All the days of my life;
         And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
         Forever.

 

I wish to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and may the Lord bless each and everyone of you.