We are about to enter into the Thanksgiving Season. We live in a world of disease, death and destruction but we also live in a world of deliverance through Jesus Christ. There is a major war in the Mid East that could escalate and pull the United States into it. Political powers have crippled the economy. It simply costs more to buy groceries, gas, and anything else for that matter. As a result, restuaruants and stores are closing their doors all around the country. I do not know the last time I saw our country so divided politically.
When I was growing up, schools were big about teaching reading, writing, and math. Today, that has been replaced with teaching about transgenderism, gender confusion and bathrooms and locker rooms with boys who claim they are a girl. I grew up with having daily devotions at the beginning of the school day and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. All of this has been removed and replaced with a demonic agenda. And we wonder why is this younger generation so confused. Well, there's your answer.
1 Chronicles 16:34 says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever" (NLT). David writes in Psalms 7:17, "I will thank the Lord because He is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High" (NLT). All of us tend to be whiners, complainers and "grippers" in life. God tells us this in Philippians 2:14, "Do everything without complaining . . ." (NLT).
I remember when families took all of Thanksgiving weekend to be together. Now, it has become so commercialized through Black Friday sales that start in some stores at midnight. I know people who tell me they can't wait until Thanksgiving weekend gets here so they can take advantage of all the Black Friday sales. I am not implying you should not take advantage of such sales, but as you do, send up a word of Thanksgiving to God for what you bought someone for Christmas.
This is a challenge because we are constantly around social media, people, and other media such as TV, radio, news organizations that make millions of dollars off of complaining. This Thanksgiving season, let all of us unite around something we call as Christians can and should do: how about sending a text to someone thanking them for their impact on your life or post on social media such as Facebook or Instagram a word of what you are thankful for in life every day up to Thanksgiving. Get creative with it. Instead of sharing, "I am thankful for my famil and friends!" What specifically are you thankful for about them.
We can overcome a spirit or attitude of complaining and criticizing with thanksgiving. Each day until Thanksgiving find a way to express a word of Thanksgiving for your salvation, relationship to Jesus Christ, your family, friends, your job, the home you live in and anything else in specific ways.
God bless,
Love you, Pastor Kelly