Happy Thanksgiving

The apostle Paul over and over speaks about being thankful and how Christians are to function with an attitude of thanksgiving everyday. As I think about that, I'm struck by the thought of how this is just the opposite attitude our fallen nature takes. Really, it takes little to no effort to complain about most anything. Long shopping lines. Bills. Stress at work. Stess at home. The evergrowing high cost of living. A dissapointing this or that.........you name it.
It does on the other hand take effort to be thankful. Our selfish nature opposes it. We have to make ourself count our blessings or they will often go uncounted. I include myself. No wonder Paul makes it a top priority to often remind Christians to be thankful. Why??? Because we don't deserve any of the good things and times we experience. If we consider honestly in the light of God's word what we deserve............we would cover our mouth's .........and if we would dare speak it would be to say "Thank You Lord, Thy will be done"..............But you know the good things we enjoy. The things we easily take for granted. Health. Food. Clothing. A roof over our family's head, besides all the extra blessings like vacations, Christmas gifts and the like that most of us are blessed to enjoy. Friday outings. Friends over for dinner. Church family get togethers. Easter candy. A steak dinner. McDonald's. TV. Movies. CD's. ......on and on......(cell phones).............
but we actually deserver none of this. We deserve to live in misery. We deserve to eternally exist in torture. We deserve God's wrath justly expressed and poured out on us in Hell. Forever. And Forever.
But...........God has sent Jesus. If we have Him we have everything. Yes, everything. Eternal forgiveness of sins. What is a long line at Walmart compared to that?? What is a loss in a football game in light of that? What is a tought day at work in light of that? Mere light afflictions not worthy to be compared with what is coming to us...........Eternal Bliss with our Savior!
Let's be thankful and commit ourselves to encouraging one another to be thankful. We have so much when many have nothing. Many near and far do live in extreme poverty. May they one day find everything in Christ if they have not already. May we commit ourselves to that task and joyfully take our role in the gospel enterprise........whatever God has for us........let us do it with all our might so others may see Christ in us. And be thankful.
"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" 1Thes. 5:18

Happy Thanksgiving!