Last night I visited two large stores by my home. Of course, they were decked out for Christmas and had on display every Christmas decoration, toy, and pre-packaged ready to give gift right there front and center. Several of my friends have announced that they have completed their Christmas shopping and have the gifts wrapped and ready to go and yes, one of them has the Christmas tree up for a week already! The radio has a totally Christmas channel up and running. I ask....what happened to Thanksgiving? Is it just a stepping stone to the Christmas festivities? Has the true meaning of Thanksgiving and the focus on praise and thanks to God been hijacked by the commercialism of Christmas?
There is plenty of time to prepare for Christmas, but let's first stop and give thanks. Let us not be so rushed and so preoccupied that we fail to understand and enjoy the season and experience true thanksgiving. Let's not get so caught up in food, and black Friday that we miss the point. Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to share our faith and give thanks to God. Through His grace we stand delivered. Through His goodness and love we enjoy a blessed life.
Lord, God you are great. It is your majesty and glory that we acknowledge on this Thanksgiving Day. May we always give you thanks and praise. You are the One who provides, sustains and loves us. We raise up our hearts and hands in thanksgiving to you. Thank you for your love and for all our blessings today and always. Amen!
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4
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