Have a Blessed Thanksgiving 2009

Here’s a new twist to an old saying:

Due to the recent financial difficulties, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off!

Now, I know that things are not as good as they could be; but, heaven knows they could be worse. So on this special day that we as Americans set aside to give thanks ….let us do just that….GIVE THANKS!

In fact, in God’s word that is an imperative; a command from the Great, I AM.

Throughout the Psalms, David continually wrote to praise the Lord and to give thanks. In Chapters 106 and 118, he begins each psalm with this admonition, “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” Time and time again, David reminds us to give thanks…to let our hearts overflow with thanksgiving. In fact, in over 33 passages in the Bible, we are commanded to give thanks to our Father who is the giver of every good gift.

On this Thanksgiving Day, maybe you’re bank account isn’t as fat as you would like…but if you have any spare change just lying around the house, you are already wealthier than 75% of the world’s population. If you have a roof over your head, clothes and shoes to wear and get even one meal a day, you are living above the poverty level of 85% of those in third world countries.

Yes, times are hard for many of us here in America, but that does not relieve us of our command to obedience to give thanks to our Heavenly Father. But, we should give thanks not out of duty or obedience, but rather out of love and gratitude for the immeasurable blessings of God on this great nation.

Times may be hard and they may become harder…but we, as followers of Christ, are called to a higher standard of thanksgiving…we are to praise him and give thanks in ALL things…the good and the bad…in the best of times and the worst of times.

Today, do this….set aside some time to make a list of the things for which you can give thanks and after each one, BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS….tell Him, personally, what and why you are thankful and how, even if that blessing were striped away, you would still give thanks and bless his name…..for scripture tells us, “What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul.”

That is my prayer of thanksgiving today…not for the blessing of my beautiful wife or the sweetness of my lovely daughter, although both are my joy and treasure; but, for the saving of my soul …that my name is written in capital letters in the Lamb’s Book of Life and that my eternal destiny is settled …and one day, very soon, I’m going home to be with my Savior.

If you, too, know the indescribable joy of being a child of the King….then,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING…..MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH MANY MORE,

WPQ