Happy Thanksgiving

Once again, Thanksgiving and Christmas arrive suddenly for many of us. Another year passes in a flash before us. If we list what each of us have been through over the last year it would amaze us all as to what we have said and done over this year or in this flash of time. Indeed, life is but a flash in the timeframe of eternity.

Yesterday we were born; tomorrow we die.

“O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15.55-57) For this, I am thankful this Thanksgiving.

I am also thankful that I “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5.18)

When I reflect back over the years, I admit that I have been through a lot of great times and a lot of difficult times in my life. And as difficult as satan clouds our ability to see the blessings and beauty of each and every day, God proves time and time again, that if we give thanks in all circumstances, that God is with us through any storms that come our way.

This time last year was a difficult time for my family. One of my brothers had heart surgery which included five by-passes. It pained me to look at all of the equipment hooked to him. I know the pain for him was even greater. But thanks be to God, his doctor diagnosed his problem before he had a heart attack. And thanks be to God, that he is healthier today than he was a year ago.

For those who have great health, a great family life, a great job, a great home, and a great church family, thank God. You are rich indeed! For those who have poor health, a poor family life, a poor job, a poor home, and a poor church family, thank God. Yes, continue to thank God and He will get you through this difficult time in your life. I believe this.

In ways we can never understand, God is with us unto victory from the situations we face in the here and now.

For those of us who have been blessed we need to be using our resources to help those who are poor in whatever areas of their life. We need to be in ministry of some sort to help others.

This is a fact – I give not because I feel obligated. I give because everything I am and everything I have are direct gifts from God. I give because God has taken care of me. I give because I am thankful to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I give because I think it is my God-given responsibility.

I give to victims of Mother Nature; I give to individuals with special needs; and yes, I give to the church where I attend Sunday school and worship. I enjoy giving to the first two ministries because they do not know who I am. I am not winning brownie points or making a name for myself. I am simply doing the Lord’s work in a way that is acceptable and comfortable to me.

First Corinthians 2.14 sums this up best for me: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ, always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

Thanksgiving for me is spreading the fragrance of Christ to others. Happy Thanksgiving.