Years ago, I learned a Praise and Worship song that tends to hang around in my mind. It goes like this:

Moving into the month of November, you're going to see all kinds of stuff that speaks to us about giving thanks. For a time, during the month of November, people would post on Facebook one thing that they were thankful for each day. An attitude of thanks is a good thing, but when we are thankful for a month, and not the rest of the year, it becomes a problem because it's only a transient act. Sure, it feels good to say thanks, but it's nothing more than that.

Colossians 3:16 tells us, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. We should most certainly be thankful for all the things that we think about, but we should be thankful for so much more. When we think about the first article, we remember that God created all things, and sustains us. When we think about the Lord's Prayer, the totality of our daily bread gets seen. When these things are brought together it's shocking to draw into consideration how much we must be thankful to God for. Our thanks should be for everything. There is nothing that doesn't go back to God Himself and His provision for us.

During the Thanksgiving Season, we give thanks for all manner of physical things, but as Christians, we know that there is more to it than just the material world. We know that we also give thanks for the work of Jesus. Jesus' work done for us brings us peace with God, and in that peace remarkable gifts are given to us. We praise God because we are given a family that we have, and will, celebrate on November 12 as we remember that we are Better Together. We rejoice as the Kingdom of Heaven expands with baptisms, and the family at Zion expands with new members. All these things are simply because of the work of Jesus given to us. These are His gifts that are given to us. We follow Paul in Colossians and give thanks for this as well.

I won't speak for you, but I have so many things to be thankful for. In the last year, we have been moved, and in that move the work of God has been seen. I've been given a family that is a gift from God. My family and I have been connected to the Body of Christ here at Zion. We have food in the freezer, and a roof over our heads. There are clothes in our closets. We have family nearby as well. Our friendships are growing. All these things are wonderful and worthy of giving thanks for.

I especially give thanks for Jesus though. He is the one who loved you and me so much that He did what we never could. He waged the war against sin, death, and the devil. He took my sin upon Himself and gave me His righteousness. This is something to truly be thankful for. As we sit down to thanksgiving dinner, take a moment and as you look at all the delightful foods there, consider what the Wedding Feast of the Lamb will look like - and give thanks. We will be there.

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One...

Pastor Phil