Thanksgiving is upon us. Beloved, I love this time of year when we can step back and have time with loved ones. To me it is a time for recalling good times with family and friends. These memories are good for the soul, reflecting on the people that helped shape our lives, giving thanks for the time they shared with us. It is with a multitude of thankfulness that I approach the Holiday season.
Being thankful is a key to happiness in this world today. Bad news seems to abound, it seems to come from all directions. This is the devils plan, he wants to knock us off our game. If he can keep us from having a grateful heart he knows that anxiety, depression, and ungratefulness will be in our everyday experience. We as a people should be the most happy and thankful people on the planet. We have a Saviour that has a throng of blessings the He has given and He is still willing to impart to those that will receive His love and His grace. Our focus on Christ and the gifts He has given (i.e. family, health, salvation) helps us maintain a state of Thanksgiving.
One of the greatest gifts I have received from God is my parents. I am so thankful for their support and love. I know you all have received an abundance of awesome gifts from the God of love. Yet the greatest gift ever given to this world came as a baby in a filthy little manger. God the Father sent Jesus to this earth to seek and to save that which was lost. During the month of December a large portion of world celebrates the first advent of Jesus the Christ, we call this Christmas, and I am in a state of Thanksgiving because of this.
The sad thing is that we have Christians that would rather make a stink about the pagan side of Christmas and how this is not the real time of His birth. At a time when most of the world is open to the idea of a Saviour that came to this world to save we have people that are turning people off from religion because we have to be right about the origin of the Christmas tree (trees were created by God, pretty certain about that). Sure there are pagan ties to Santa and the Winter Solstice, but we can celebrate Christ without lifting up the other can’t we? Beloved, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and celebrate Him every day, including Christmas time.