Thanksgiving

      Thanksgiving day was like a "marker" in years past.  It became the kickoff for the Christmas season.  It was also the day of a big feast in many homes throughout America.  After some years, a typical football game would come into the picture.  While the turkey would be cooking you would have time to sit down in front of the TV and watch the Macy's parade with reminders that Santa would be coming.  Our home wasn't one that centered on the religious time of the year, but more on the traditional with an emphasis on the meal itself.  It would take hours to prepare but was finished in about 15 minutes.  The bones would be picked clean and put aside for numerous meals in the days to follow.  Things are a little different in our present household.  We have chosen to move from the traditional to the religious in that the center of the days activities are upon what God has done for us and not what we have done for ourselves.   Psalm100:1-5 says,  " A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."  
     Thankfulness is more a manner of living throughout the entire year.  We soon realize that everything that we have is from the hand of God.  Bible accounts remind us of the situations where God blesses and where God takes away.  We can see the examples in Job and in the accounts of Joseph as he was sent by God to go ahead into Egypt and to prepare a way of providing food for the Israelites.  We see Moses leading a rebellious people out of Egypt and towards the "Promised Land."   We see the first advent of the Lord Jesus Christ as He came to live, minister, die, be placed in a tomb and then gloriously resurrected having made the payment for our sin.  At least, The American holiday becomes a reminder that it is God Who has blessed us and for that, we truly are thankful.  So, take a moment on Thanksgiving Day and pause to say, perhaps a special, Thanks be to God for so many blessings.  Praise God today and maybe you can say, "Thank you LORD for saving my soul."