ARE YOU THANKFUL?

Today is not just a national holiday where friends and family traditionally gather to eat,be merry, watch parades and football, but it is a time of pausing to reflect about the true meaning of this day and what we are truly thankful for as well. In the United States we can tend to take alot for granted until the threat of losing it is imminent. I am thinking of our freedom for one. That is why the Pilgrims came over here in the first place to this new land because they were under religious persecution and wanted to be free to worship God and read their Bibles and be free without threats from their government in Europe.They did not want to be under tyrannical rule of their time. They paid a dear price for this, crossing treacherous seas to an unknown land and huge wilderness. These brave souls endured disease and suffered death and pain. They celebrated their safe passage over here to a new land and their harvest as well. The modern day Thanksgiving was declared a holiday on 3 October 1863 by President Abrham Lincoln although the Pilgrims came to this land in approximately 1619. Sadly today the world has all but forgotten it's Christian roots and turned it into 'turkey day".

Let's  not take for granted our food, clothing, shelter, running water, electricity, and  living in a free country.Thanks to the military men and women who protect our freedoms in dangerous lands.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:18  it says "to give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of Christ Jesus concerning you." Colossians 1:12-13 says" and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" I am very thankful for friends and family, for good health, for having money to be able to do things we enjoy, for having doctors to go to when we are sick as many countries do not enjoy this luxury and there is so much more. 2 Timothy 3:2 mentions that in 'latter days people will become unthankful and unholy." Perhaps in todays' society we are getting a little bit like that.

So today as you sit down to a feast be thankful not only for the hands that prepared it and the freedom to enjoy it but reflect on thanksgiving as a whole. Do not take for granted what you have. Psalm 100:4-5 says " Enter his gates with thanksgiving  and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations". Today and everyday pause and say thanks.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus we thankyou for all you have provided. Not just on this Thanksgiving Day but every day of our lives is a true gift from you. Forigve us for when we complain. You have a plan for our lives and a purpose. We thank you for the freedom we have in the United States of America to read our Bibles openly without threat of persecution. Help us not take that for granted as in many countries people are jailed for saying they love Jesus. Father we thankyou for the family and friends you have blessed us with as well. Thankyou for this day we can celebrate with them together. Thanks for giving us life. In Jesus Name. Amen.