It’s that time of the year.
It’s Thanksgiving. Cool-weather, trees changing color, leaves falling, football. The day we gather with family and friends to celebrate.
Too often we think of thanksgiving only as being the fourth Thursday of November or, we may go to a worship service if they are even offered, but most of the time, we are just busy preparing food or cleaning our homes for guests who will be arriving. We are too busy to give thanks.
We are too busy to say Thanks for the job we have; the roof over our heads; the heater/air conditioner for our home; the car(s) we drive; a bed to sleep in; the clothes we wear; the food we eat; the cooking items to cook our food; a hot shower, with soap; shampoo/conditioner; toothpaste/toothbrush; a comb or razor; a phone, tv, computer. Not to mention our spouses, children, parents, and families. You get the idea; so many things we take for granted in our lives. So how do we go from being self-centered to sharing what has been given to us?
We say THANK YOU!
When and to who do we give thanks? When: always! Who: God, Lord, Christ Jesus!
- 1 Chronicles 16:8 – “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”
- Psalm 118 verses 28-29 reads – “You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever.”
- Colossians 3:15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Once thanks are given; then we give. This is the second part of Thanksgiving, where we give because we know that all that we have been blessed with comes from God. We came into this world without, and we will go out of this world without. We cannot take anything with us. In between, we are stewards of what God has given us.
We may see the ads on tv or request from shelters for donations. Too often we switch channels or toss the request in the recycle bin. We take our lives for granted and ignore what is going on around us. Some of us will use what is given wisely, others, not so much.
God, however, gives us direction.
- Deuteronomy 15:10-11 – “Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart, then because of this, the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”
- Matthew 10:8 – “Freely you have received, freely give.”
- Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each man should give what he has decided to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful given.”
When we choose to obey God in our giving to others, their lives and our lives are richly blessed.
This year. remember to say thanks for all your blessings and give as much as you can to bless others. Then it truly will be a day of THANKS-GIVING!
Peace,
Joyce Trevolt
