Giving thanks

The apostle Paul writes, "in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18). As Christians celebrate Thanksgiving each year and enjoy time with loved ones, we hope they will continue to display the same kind of gratefulness to God for our many freedoms and blessings in the sincerity exemplified by our courageous forefathers.

Every Thanksgiving season I sit down and write a list and then meditate about all the blessings I have been provided from the Creator of this world, Jehovah God. Below is a small portion of my list for this year that I will be sitting down with and giving thanks to Jehovah God.

I am thankful for:

• That I have been blessed with three great sons and 10 grandchildren.

• That I still have good physical health.

• That I serve in a church with wonderful God-fearing people.

• That I have been chosen as a child of God and had all my sins paid for by His only begotten Son Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

• That I will live for all eternity giving praise and glory to God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ.

You might ask why would I do this every year? The answer is simple; it is commanded by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when He said the following in the Gospel of Mark after He had healed a man of demon possession:

"Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." Mark 5:19

Christians are able to give thanks for being children of God. We are part of His family, joint heirs with Christ. On this Thanksgiving, let us not be silent about the free gift of Christ with our earthly family and friends who we say we love.

Instead of sitting down and spending all your time watching sports, binging on movies, going hunting, looking at the sale ads to make preparations for the upcoming shopping or talking about trivial matters; how about just sitting at the table with your family and friends and go around and have each person list one thing that they are thankful for that God has blessed them with this year and one thing that they are praying for in the coming year. Surely, each of us can come up with those two things without too much effort.

I pray your family will have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday as you give thanks for all our Lord has done for you. Know this one thing:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16