GIVE THANKS
WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
GIVE THANKS
TO THE HOLY ONE
GIVE THANKS
FOR HE’S GIVEN
JESUS CHRIST, HIS SON
Archives For thanksgiving
This past Sunday I had the pleasure of going and hearing my son preach at the church where he is the youth director. Since this was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, he delivered the obligatory Thanksgiving message, with a twist. In his message he made reference to the following statement that we heard Jeanne Robertson talk about Friday night. “We find what we are looking for.” He told the story of the two believers who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus but did not recognize Him and related this event to how we sometimes fail to recognize the blessings in our life while they are staring us in the face.
It was his point that the two who saw Jesus face to face on that dusty road did not recognize Him despite the fact that they knew of all the events that had taken place the past few days. Like those two who were blinded to the fact that the greatest miracle and blessing that has ever happened was standing right in front of them, we sometimes fail to recognize the blessings that we have right in front of us.
This past weekend I was listening to The Message on Sirius XM while driving. During one of the breaks between songs, one of the artists, I really don’t remember who it was, described the depths of despair which he found himself before he found God. This got me to thinking about how I found God.
I don’t have a great story of conversion, I do remember well the day that I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, but I wasn’t on the precipice of hell when it happened. I was a young teenager and accepted Jesus one night during revival at our small country church.
You see, for as long as I can remember, God has been in my life. Sure there have been times when I didn’t act like I wanted Him in my life, but He never left.
As far back as I can remember, God has been a part of my life. I attended Sunday school and church as a small child, remember the Whuppin Bush, and continued to attend until I left to go to college. I have always known that God was with me and that we were in this together.
The holiday season is upon us in full force. Over the past couple of days I have noticed more and more signs that Christmas is fast approaching. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I would think that today is December 12th rather than November 12th.
This past week most major retailers have “leaked” their Black Friday specials. Of course, you have to take the term “leaked” with a grain of salt. There was nothing leaked here but rather a carefully planned release of information and upcoming advertisements to get shoppers excited about the upcoming sales events.
This past Saturday one of the major outdoor sporting goods stores opened up their Santa’s Wonderland and welcomed Santa to take pictures with the kids.
I have seen numerous Christmas advertisements on television this past week, including the little chocolate kisses that have transformed into a handbell choir for the holidays. At least I haven’t seen Santa riding the Norelco razor down the snow covered hill yet.
If you are reading this then congratulations. You have made it through another “After-Thanksgiving-Black-Friday-Super-Saturday-Sellout-Sunday-Cyber-Monday-Shopping-Extravaganza.” It seems to get bigger and bigger every year. This year most stores started Thanksgiving evening or midnight Friday morning. If we continue on the path that we have been on for the past couple of years, it will be starting the Sunday before the fourth Thursday and everyone will think that Thursday is a holiday to celebrate the start of the Christmas Shopping Season. After all, isn’t that what it has become for many? Continue Reading…
