This is my favorite time of year. The weather is cooling. The days are shorter. The marsh turns yellow-green. The trees give color and then leaves fall. The sunsets are breathtaking! Naturally thoughts turn to Thanksgiving followed by Christmas but the focus and simplicity of Thanksgiving invite me to give thanks and that is so important. The Bible has much to say about being thankful, giving thanks and counting our blessings. Psalm 100:4-5 tells us to “4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.
Ann Voskamp, in her book, One Thousand Gifts, encourages the reader to think about these things. “Eucharisteo means ‘to give thanks,’ and give is a verb, something that we do. God calls me to do thanks…to give the thanks away. That thanks-giving might literally become thanks-living. That our lives become the very blessings we have received. I am blessed. I can bless. Imagine! I could let Him make me the gift! I could be the joy!” “A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ.”
In this season, let’s spend time reflecting on our many blessings, big and small, good and hard, while thanking God for all he does for us. Heartfelt thanksgiving produces joy! May we never forget the words of our beloved Mildred Wilson, “Lord, give me a grateful heart.”
This newsletter is full of important information! Take time to review and respond! May God bless you in this season from the Thanksgiving table to the stable manger of baby Jesus.