A Break for Thanksgiving!

Scriptures: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Our church always celebrates Thanksgiving on the Sunday before the Thanksgiving holiday. This year is no exception. Early in the morning yesterday, before the service started, many brothers and sisters were already in the church, busy getting everything ready for the celebrations. The Worship Band was on the stage practicing, people were getting their food ready for the pot-luck and arranging tables and furniture in the fellowship areas.

One of the sisters was putting fruits and vegetables on the altar as a symbol of the harvest the Lord has blessed us and as a symbol of our offering in return to God, the source of all blessings. She was also making flower arrangements while the Worship Band was practicing. As soon as the Worship Band finished one song, with their beautiful voices and the music arrangements, this sister stopped and made a comment on how wonderful it was to be able to praise, worship and, at the same time, offer our thanksgiving to the Lord.

When I heard her saying that, I thought to myself, how true it is! Year in and year out, our schedules are always filled with things to do, family chores, children education issues, church meetings, career challenges and opportunities, and the list goes on. Seldom do we stop, like this sister, and ponder for a moment how blessed we are year in and year out.

Life is amazing. The very same thing that brought meaning to us can very well deprive us of all blessings God has in mind for us, too. Sometimes our dedication to the ministry becomes a burden, or even a bondage, to us, like what happened to Martha (Luke 10:40). We see the tasks at hand and lose sight of the reason why we started the ministry in the first place.

Sometimes, the troubles we had were just too much for us that we were all so wrapped up in finding the solutions that we actually missed the solutions and the blessings thereof. We forgot that the sufferings we had could have been His means to make us stronger and more faithful. We forgot that the things we lost could have actually given us new doors and opportunities that we would otherwise not be able to see. We forgot that, in all things, He continued to work to make sure we are lead into His riches one thing at a time. And, whenever we lose sight of Him in our lives, we lose the drive and the capability to give thanks to Him.

Moreover, some may think this is the season of thanksgiving. But, to Apostle Paul, this “season” is a year-round season for he said we need to “be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18) “In all circumstances” was the setting for giving thanks, not just in good circumstances. How do we do that?

I think the key is to stop every once in while and ponder on the goodness of God, like that sister in Christ did. Whenever we stop, let’s take a step back and pray to God for His presence and guidance so we can see what He has done in our lives, how He has brought us closer to His heart in the width, the depth, the length and the height of His grace, and the kind of character He is building in us so we “may be equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:17)

So, this Thanksgiving, let’s take a moment to ponder who God is, how He has blessed us in every up and downs, and how He is the blessing for us in every situations. Praise and thank Him for He is good! Amen!

Prayer Requests:
For those labor in Christ

Prayer:
Father of all blessings, we thank You for the goodness You have shown us through Your giving and through Your taking away. We know that Your thoughts for us are thoughts of blessings. Help us to grow and live to be blessings You have in mind for all people around us because we pray in the precious name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus, Amen!