If you ask my family, they'll tell you it's quite unusual for me to be up at this time. It's 12:30am on Thursday, Nov. 22. Thanksgiving Day is here. We had a great dinner tonight (or rather, last night) with my brother and his family. Today, we give thanks for all God has done and given us. We'll spend time with family and friends, and even eat a good bit of turkey and all the things that go along with it. Not a bad way to spend the day.
I've seen many people posting their lists of what they're thankful for all month long. Many more will spend time around the dinner table today doing the same. I'm all for that, even if I didn't post all that I'm thankful for on Facebook or Twitter this year. But there's something I hope we don't miss - we should be thankful all year long. Every day. Good or bad. Happy or sad. Not just in November. Not just on Thanksgiving Day. But every day. I firmly believe that only God can do that in our lives. There are just too many ups and downs in this life.
I get the privilege of preaching at Wakefield Baptist Church this Sunday. In 1 Thess. 5:16-18, we are encouraged to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks to God in everything. In fact, Paul tells us that doing this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. There is nothing in this passage that qualifies how or when this is to take place. That's because it's to happen all the time. Only God can give us that ability, starting with the love He shows us through salvation. Then He extends it through grace for every day. If we live a life of worship to Him, we will be able to fulfill these truths.
The title of the message on Sunday is "Throw Out Your Thanksgiving Leftovers". Here's the idea. You are probably like me, in that we love this day of Thanksgiving. Not only for the reminder to give thanks for everything, but also for the delicious food we'll get to eat. We'll also ask everyone sitting around the table to tell one thing they are thankful for. For the most part, we only eat this combination of food and ask for lists of thankfulness once a year - at Thanksgiving. We sit down at the table and dig in, enjoying the food so much, maybe too much! Then we put the leftovers in the refrigerator, which become lunches and dinners for what seems like an eternity. But one thing I've noticed about those leftovers - while they still taste pretty good in the few days after Thanksgiving, those meals are never the same as they are on Thanksgiving Day.
It seems we get so excited about Thanksgiving week and the Thanksgiving Day meal. The food tastes so good, and we are so thankful for it and everything else. Then we deal with leftovers, and the excitement isn't quite the same. The food doesn't taste quite the same. And the longer time passes from Thanksgiving, the less excited we get. God's Word tells us to rejoice ALWAYS, pray WITHOUT CEASING, and give thanks in EVERYTHING. I say that same excitement from Thanksgiving Day should carry over to every day of our lives. Again, that's the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. I say our lives should be filled with giving thanks, not just at the dinner table, but throughout each day.
So, throw out the Thanksgiving leftovers. Maybe not the food, at least for a few days. But throw out the leftovers that cause us to only give thanks when the calendar tells us to. Throw out the leftovers that allow our hearts to get bogged down with the troubles of life. Throw out the leftovers that cause us to take our eyes off the One who loves us and knows exactly what's best for us. Now, that's true Thanksgiving!
Pastor Randy
