Why Thanksgiving?

Wow!

 

What a week!

It seems like everything that could go wrong did. This week has been frustrating, irritating, exhausting, and many other adjectives I can’t say. It has been many work-related projects that had serious issues that required immediate attention.

The strange thing about these issues is that the problem projects spanned over a six to eight-month period. However, all the problems were discovered this week.

Even worst, all the problems traced backed to me. Now, people want answers and the problems resolved…..yesterday.

This is supposed to be a joyous week. This week is Thanksgiving. For me, a three-day week with a four-day weekend. Thanksgiving is a time of food and fellowship with family and friends, enjoying one another and relaxing.

However, I’m having to answer one phone call after the other, in between putting out fires via email response. Each time the phone rings, or the email chimes, I think the problems cannot get worst, but they do.

So, now I’m forced to ask these questions:

–What’s going on?

–Why is this happening to me?

–Why is this happening now?

–How can I solve this problem?

–This had to happen this week?

–Are you kidding me?

–Seriously?

And the big question, why should I be thankful?

I know just enough of the Word of GOD to know not to say the last one out loud, however, I know that GOD still knows our hearts.

Finally!

My three-day workweek is over, and I’m in the car heading home. I can finally enjoy the holiday, but the problems of the week are still pressing in my mind. And worst, the problems will be waiting for me when I return.

I know what will get my mind off work, music! So, I turned up the volume on the radio, only to realize that the news station is on. Before I could change the station, a news report catches my attention.

Driver runs vehicle into a crowd killing several and injuring dozens of people; some of them are children. Then, as I began processing that tragedy, there’s an update on missionaries being held hostage for over a month.

I then realize, the victims of those horrific crimes, would love to change places with me. Some of them are in ICU or in serious condition. Others have been discharged from the hospital, but they may be still healing from their wounds.

What about those kidnapped missionaries? They went to another country to spread the Word of GOD, and now they’re held captive, and their lives are threatened. I know they would love to trade places with me for my trivial work-related problems.

I think about the family and friends, the spouses, parents, siblings, and children of those victims. Some are praying for their loved ones to make full recovery. Others know their loved ones’ lives will change, and unfortunately, some know their loved ones will never come back home.

When I put all that in perspective, I have every reason to be thankful. I’m able to drive home. I’m in good health. I will be able to spend time with family and friends. Yes, my problems still exist, but at least I have a job that I can have problems to solve.

Remember, Thanksgiving is always a choice. That’s right I said, “Thanksgiving is a choice. Just like faith is a choice. Also, forgiveness is a choice, likewise, thanksgiving is a choice.

Have you ever gone out of your way to purchase the perfect gift for someone, only to find out they didn’t like it or didn’t even say thank you?

Yes, me too!

How did it make you feel?

According to the Bible, there are consequences for being thankful and unthankful. Let’s look at the consequences of being unthankful.

Romans 1:20-31 (KJV).

In verse 21, Paul is writing to the Romans speaking about the ungodly and unrighteousness. They weren’t thankful and became vain and foolish.

In verse 23, they made likeness of GOD, into false images of man, and animals.

In verse 24, “GOD gave them up to uncleanness through the lust of their own hearts”.

From verses 25 – 31 we find that unthankfulness can lead to all kinds of evil, and eventual judgment of GOD.

Also, look at these two verses on unthankfulness.

2 Timothy 3:2  (KJV) “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.”

Luke 6:35 (KJV) “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for HE is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

However, there are benefits to being thankful. Let’s look at Jesus.

The Bible shows Jesus giving thanks before some of his most famous miracles.

Jesus gave thanks before he fed the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. (John 6:11 KJV).

Jesus also gave thanks to GOD before he raised Lazarus from the dead. (John 11 KJV).

Jesus wasn’t the only person in the Bible who saw a great miracle after giving thanks. Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten with many stripes, and thrown in prison with their feet bound. At midnight they began to praise GOD so loud that the other prisoners heard them. Then, all the prisoners began to praise GOD along with Paul and Silas. Suddenly, the prison shook, and it caused all the prison doors to open. If that miracle wasn’t enough, not one of the prisoners escape from the prison. (Acts 16 KJV).

There is power in giving thanks. We need to have a lifestyle of thanksgiving to GOD. That doesn’t mean that we believe GOD sends us problems so we can be thankful. However, when we are faced with problems, we should find a way to thank GOD. Even if it is for GOD to deliver us out of the problem or situation.

Below I have included several scriptures concerning giving thanks to GOD.

Before I go, I fell led to pray. Please join me.

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to you in the name of Jesus. I pray for those who were injured in the attack on those hit by the SUV. I pray that those who are injured, are healed, and make a full and speedy recovery.

I also pray for the missionaries that are still being held hostage in Haiti. I pray that they are released unharmed and soon.

I also pray for the man who ran over the people with the SUV and the people holding the hostages have the Gospel preached to them, and they get saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Finally, I pray for all the family and friends of the people who lost their lives, who were injured, and those who are still captured. Please provide them comfort during this time, and please minister to them your love. For anyone of the family or friends that are not saved, I pray that they will be.

Thank you, Father GOD, for all these things, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen!”

Thanksgiving Scriptures

Palm 100:4 (KJV) “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.”

Palm 118:1 (KJV) “O give thanks unto the LORD; for HE is good: because HIS mercy endureth forever.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Philippians 4:6 (KJV) “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GOD.”

Isaiah 51:3 (KJV) “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”

  2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NIV) “¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

G. Edward Wyche