Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise !
Psalm 95:1-2

Once again Thanksgiving is upon us, and I’m not ready for it.  For me as a Pastor, Thanksgiving tends to get overlooked.  The fall is so busy in the church with the start of all the new programs and classes.  Even in October I start looking ahead to Advent, Christmas, and the start of a new year.  If it wasn’t for Thanksgiving, I don’t know if I’d ever stop to think about the things that I am really thankful for.  Just for tomorrow’s big day I thought I’d share some things for which I am truly thankful.

• My Family – I know it sounds cliché, but I am very thankful for my family. 
  • I have four wonderful children.  They can try my nerves, they’ve given me gray hairs, and sometimes I wonder how much I could get for them on eBay.  But the joy they bring and the pride I have in them far outweigh anything else.  I love watching them grow and learn, to see their unique personalities emerge.  Thank you God for these wonderful blessings.
  • I have a wife who knows me and still loves me, and for that I am eternally grateful.  She gets me, and that’s quite a miracle.  I wake up every morning and she’s still there – and I’m the luckiest guy on earth.  I know I don’t deserve her, I often take her for granted, but I do thank God for bringing us together and giving us the love we share.
• My Job – I have the opportunity to do what I love for a living, and that’s something rare.  I am blessed to be called to the ministry; I get to share on a daily basis the Good News of God’s love; I get to witness the grace of God changing lives; I’m called Pastor and I am trusted and respected as a teacher of God’s Word.  Some days I am overwhelmed by the calling, but I am thankful that God has led me here to serve Him and His congregation.
• My Nation and those who defend her.
  • I thank God that I get to live in a nation where Liberty and Justice are the foundation of our society.  Some might say that those great ideals are being eroded, but the fact that we can say that without threat of violence or repercussion is evidence that we are still a free nation.
  • I am truly grateful for those men and women who volunteer to serve this nation in the Armed Forces.  Every day they offer themselves in defense of our freedoms, they fight to protect our way of life.  They don’t hear it enough, so I’ll say it again, “Thank You!”
• My Salvation in Christ – Most importantly, I give thanks to God for the gift of Salvation He has given in Jesus Christ.  I am constantly aware of how little I deserve God’s love and favor, how far from Him I strayed.  Left to my own ways, I would never earn God’s forgiveness, nor would I even care.  But God, who is rich in mercy and love in Jesus Christ, has made me alive with Him, has washed me of my sin, has called me to walk with Him, and has filled my heart with hope.  Thank you, Father, for your love for me in Jesus my Lord!

Have a great Thanksgiving, and may you find many things for which to be truly thankful!

SDG