Prepping for the Holidays...

Now, I don't know about you, but in my day, the upcoming holidays for Thanksgiving and Christmas kind of snuck up on us. It's not that they weren't on our calendars and on everyone's radar, but there was no big rush to start the season of Thanksgiving ahead of the week or so before the date itself.

Nowadays, nothing could be further from the way things used to be. I was in a store two weeks ago and not only was the Halloween candy in full display as well as other fall decorations, this store already had all it's Christmas lights in place ...and they were playing Christmas music.

We all like to get presents and many of us find great joy in giving presents to those we dearly love, but this materialistic manner in which we approach Christmas has gone too far. Many of our American counterparts see the Thanksgiving holiday as a time to start our early Black Friday shopping early; therefore, how much time do we really do and honor what this holiday is really all about....being THANKFUL!

Now I know a lot of people look at all that is happening in our communities and across our nation and there are despondent....I GET THAT; however, I just returned from a two week river cruise in Europe and I can testify that we as Americans have it REALLLLLLLY GOOD! Even with all our problems, setbacks and disagreements, living in the USA is still the greatest privilege afforded to anyone who calls this great country, HOME. I found in talking with every service person on our ship, THEY ALL WANT TO MOVE TO AMERICA...AND THEY SEE THE NEWS AND KNOW THAT ALL IS NOT PERFECT.

So this Thanksgiving, let's do something different than in years past...forget shopping on Thanksgiving day and spend your time, your energy and your focus on the things (and the people) for whom you are thankful...you will be a better, more loving person as the Christmas holiday draws near...and you just might change the outlook of someone who still thinks that they really don't have that much to be thankful for.

It's the way Christ lived before us and it is the way those that follow Him have been called to live...PRAISING THE SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG!

BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE...HOPING IT SHOWS,

WPQ

Poem for the Day:

In harmony with one voice we raise

Our grateful songs of thankful praise.

In song and dance we do proclaim

That we are blessed in Jesus’ name.

May all creation spend each day,

Praising Jesus in every way…

And may the very rocks cry out;

The valleys sing, the mountains shout...

And echo through each humbled heart

As all who know Him do their part….

To sing and worship all our days

With hearts filled with eternal praise.

WPQ 2011