Part 3 – Are You Game?

 

Here is the final part of my thoughts for Thanksgiving, if you like you can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

As I write this my home is filled with the smell of apple and pumpkin pies. Our thoughts are filled with anticipation of welcoming home our son Josh who has been away at college in Indiana. It is a good feeling to know that our Father has blessed us so. I am also grateful for all of you who have graced Soulfari with your kind words of encouragement and grace.

I pray that this Thanksgiving will be one of overwhelming awareness of the Father’s love and care for you…He is worthy of all praise. Blessings, Jay

Oh, since Part one featured squirrels, I have include Josh’s latest movie in the post at the end…it’s one you won’t soon forget!

Are you game?

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton

To be ready to be grateful means you might have to let go of a few things.

I had to let go of some things in order for thankfulness to penetrate my spirit. Listen to this verse in 1Peter 5:7

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

To cast means to release, to throw out, to throw away, to let go of, to get rid of, to let loose of whatever concerns, issues, guilt, confusion, problems and worries that are burdens and obstacles in your life and leave them with God. Sitting at His feet, seeking Him that’s when our heart learns trust and that leads to a thankful spirit.

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”
Psalm 28:7

Being truly thankful means you trust more in the Provider than the provision.

“Lord, you have put joy in my heart, more than they have when their grain and their wine are increased.” Psalm 4:7

In this scripture, more than the provision itself, the Lord excites the heart of the Psalmist! The true provision is knowing Him.

Again, Relationship is essential to thankfulness

In Hebrews we see just how far God went in “personalizing” his contact with us.

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. (16) Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. Hebrews 4: 15-16

He’s reachable, he’s touchable, and we can approach the Father as sons and daughters. As ones who know Him and trust to act on our behalf.

One of the most memorable Thanksgivings was the one I spent in my dorm room at Evangel College in Springfield Missouri (the state of misery we called it). My roommate and I were basically stuck there over the holiday, with no money to return home we were obliged to accept the hospitality of our college home away from home. With only a box of Sugar Pops and a loaf of banana bread we shared Thanksgiving Day away from family and friends. We were bumming and not especially thankful, I remember thinking unkind thoughts about pilgrims and hoping all the balloons in Macy’s parade would suddenly fly off with some of their handlers still hanging on. It was the only time in my life that I longed to spend time with a turkey.

Then somehow (Hmm, I wonder), another student found out we were still on campus. He invited us to his apartment to share his small feast with him, which we accepted with drooling excitement. God had provided and I learned another lesson about being grateful, no matter the circumstances.

This season is not really about the pilgrims, or turkey or parades; it is really only about the Father and His faithfulness. It is a time of reflection, a time to celebrate the awesomeness of His provision for His people.

Lets read Psalm 70 again…but from the Message Bible.

Let those on the hunt for you sing and celebrate. Let all who love your saving way say over and over, "God is mighty!" (5) But I've lost it. I'm wasted. God--quickly, quickly! Quick to my side, quick to my rescue! GOD, don't lose a minute.

Father God comes and reminds us that we are not alone, that circumstances are opportunities to know Him more intimately. Are you game? Are you ready? We need to look for ways to give thanks-giving…to cultivate that spirit

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

The Greek word for thankful in this verse talks about cultivating an attitude, a lifestyle of thankfulness. Born from relationship with the Father we can offer up praise and GIVE thanks.

This Thanksgiving I’ll be thankful:

For the prayers for it means the presence of God will fill my home.

For the smells and aromas and the memories they stir.

For the crowd at my house for it means I have love in my home.

For the noise of children for it means their lungs are healthy.

For the laughter for it means I have joy in my home.

For the old stories retold for it means there is heritage to pass along.

For the sleepiness afterwards for it means all are content.

For the cleanup afterwards for it means we all had our fill.

For dessert for it means there is always something more to look forward to.

For leftovers for it reminds us that God gives abundantly beyond our imagination.

Amen…Bless you all!

  

 

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