Give Thanks!

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100 NIV84).

Yesterday, by government proclamation, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day.  For most of us, it was a day of fellowship with family and friends and a time of gorging ourselves on all our favorite family dishes, including the desserts.  Hopefully, it included a Thanksgiving prayer somewhere along the way.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder how many of us sincerely entered God’s presence with thanksgiving. How many of us took the time to praise His Holy Name and consider the blessings in our lives?

I ask those questions of myself as well, so I want to take a moment and mention just a few of the ways that God has blessed me.

I have a family who loves me and cares for me.  They bring joy into my life in so many ways. They are also a tremendous help to me.

I have three very special friends who make me laugh, encourage me, and keep me accountable.  They have helped me grow so much.

I have so many other friends who share my love for God’s Word.  They have taught me so much as we study together.  They also bring laughter and fellowship, which we all need.

I have great neighbors who are Christ followers and who look out for each other.

I have been blessed with great health despite my age, and I count that as a blessing from God every day.

I have found renewed purpose in life by using the talents and abilities that God has given me to serve Him.

This list could go on and on, but I think you will get the picture.  Maybe it’s time that you start your own list.  Count your blessings and see what God has done! 

I Thessalonians 5:18