Day: November 6, 2014

October and November are my favorite months of the year. The weather is cooling down, leaves are changing and the air is fresh and crisp.

Thanksgiving is in November and I personally get a tad bit upset that it is passed over so easily. In many ways, Thanksgiving is the beginning of the Christmas season, at-least from the business world. I know many that have no problem shopping early, but I do. If people want to shop on Thanksgiving, that is up to them and they can choose for themselves I guess. For me, Thanksgiving is important in so many ways.

It seems over the past number of years that Thanksgiving Day has become the lost or forgotten holiday. We are already hearing about how stores will be open on Thanksgiving and lists are being made. Of course if you have one of those lists and you go to Black Friday that actually begins on Thanksgiving, you risk life and limb. I guess it is the forgotten holiday because we don’t put an importance on being thankful and giving thanks to God. The almighty dollar is taking over the day of thanks. Don’t ya think that if it is Thanksgiving, we should be offering thanks?

One of the things I enjoyed when I went to church at the Nazarene Church is that on Wednesday evening, we would have church and we would give thanks. We would sing songs, offer prayers and share what we are thankful for. It seemed very appropriate to be at church to offer our thanks and thank God for our blessings. Now days that doesn’t happen. Instead people are lined up at Wal-Mart, Kmart, Kohl’s and whatever other store that may be offering the prized gift. Giving thanks must not a big money-maker.

There are many things we can be thankful for. We have freedoms that many countries doesn’t. We have the freedom to gather together and hear Pastor Ray preach freely. I’m pretty sure that my pastor is thankful that he can share his faith and what the Bible says without being persecuted or have to have it approved.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing in the world. I’m thankful that God loved me so much that He sent His son to die for me and everyone else. We are told in John 3:16 that God loves us and that even means He loves Americans and those from any other country, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.”

This year I hope that we can focus on the blessings we have. There is so many horrible things going on in the world. I think of Pastor Saeed that is still in prison for sharing his faith. Asia Bibi is on death row for drinking from a cup in Pakistan. I’m thankful that I have the freedom to pray for those who are persecuted and on death row. I’m thankful that I can pray for our president and our government. I don’t have to agree with what they do, but I do think that no matter what, prayer is the only way to make a difference.

I do want to touch on Christmas though on this post. Thanksgiving is very important to me because it comes before Christmas. I am thankful that Jesus Christ was born. I’m thankful that Jesus died for my sins on the cross so I could live. He paid the penalty for my sins and for the sins of the world. As a Christian, I would say that Thanksgiving and Christmas goes hand in hand.