Giving of Thanks

I have regressed way too much from posting about the most important thing in my life; Jesus.

By my calculations; in the New American Standard Bible, the word "ThanksGiving" appears 41 times. Mostly in the Psalms, but from the beginning of time (Leviticus 7:12-15) through the end of time (Revelation 7:12), we are instructed to give God all the Thanks.

If our mom's raised us properly, we are very quick with our thank yous. Wal-Mart, McDonalds, co-workers, strangers holding the door for us, stranger NOT holding the door for us (but that would be a very sarcastic thank you). If we can thank these random people for their random acts, how much easier it should be for us to thank our Creator.

• When making a sacrifice, do so with ThanksGiving: Leviticus 7:12
• When looking out into the horizon, looking out into the world God created and the beauty He crafted, do so with ThanksGiving: Psalm 26:7
• When embracing life and the tragedies overcome, do so with ThanksGiving: Psalm 30:1
• When singing out praises to God, do so with ThanksGiving: Psalm 147:7
• When taking comfort in the knowledge that God is in fact in control, do so with ThanksGiving: Isaiah 51:3
• When providing comfort and service to others, do so with ThanksGiving: 2nd Corinthians 9:12
• When praying for yourself and your relationship with Jesus, do so with ThanksGiving: Colossians 4:2
• When praying for others and their relationship with Jesus, do so with ThanksGiving: 1st Timothy 2:1

Let's not lose sight of the fact that Thanksgiving is so much more than the turkey, stuffing, parades and football. Christians came here to be free from religious oppression. On that first thanksgiving, Captain John Woodleaf proclaimed "Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god" (thank you wikipedia).

I encourage you to take some time and give God all the thanks he so richly deserves. I thank God for my wife, for my children, for the life he has so richly blessed me with, for another day, for His power, for His almighty control over all, for family & friends (current and lost, far and near), for good health, for times of strife which allows me to grow closer to Him, for His listening ear and forgiveness, for the cross, for a perfect resurrection, for the Holy Trinity, for the freedom to Thank Him out loud.

God is Indeed, Good.