A Season of Thanksgiving

November 2021

Message from Pastor Tom: 

Looking at this field of pumpkins made me smile, as I know many of them probably held prominent spots for different Halloween celebrations and decorations. It got me thinking about the blog for November, and of course, the word thanksgiving came to mind. I wondered how many are truly thankful for this bounty of growth, as we see here in the picture above. In fact, how many even take the time to be thankful for what God has supplied for them throughout their life. I find many don’t even know our Lord and Savior, rather they feel because of their own hard work it is well deserved. They believe everything is there for their use and enjoyment not giving a thought to where, how, or the work it takes for just one pumpkin. They don’t realize that if it were not for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there would be nothing.

Since the Pilgrims observing that first Thanksgiving Day in 1621, and then President Lincoln proclaiming it a national holiday in 1863, Thanksgiving Day has been a vital part of our national life. This is a time for us to reflect and be thankful for our families and for what God has supplied for us. Gratitude and thanksgiving to God is a very important exercise. It is something all of us ought to do. However, it’s not only just a day of thanksgiving. The Bible tells us thanksgiving is also something that ought to be an attitude of our heart. When you pick up your Bible, please take the time to read Psalm 103:1–22 to your family, your friends, or yourself, and reflect in this time of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is historically a day to praise and thank God the Father for blessings and to ask Him to heal the wounds of the nation. It was also a national day of penitence to humbly repent for our sinfulness and disobedience. In our sin, we fail repeatedly to get the proportions right. Only with divine redemption are we able to grow toward a balance that goes somewhat like this: Christians are thankful for all God’s gifts, especially his eternal gifts, and especially the surpassing value of knowing His Son Jesus Christ. He entered into this thankless world and died on our behalf for our incurable ingratitude. Jesus was the manifestation of the perfect life of thankfulness. Scripture shows us an impressive amount of times Jesus gave thanks to His Father.

So this Thanksgiving, let us all be thankful for the bounty our Lord Jesus Christ makes available to each of one of us and live a life of appreciation. All we must do is reach out and let His light shine through us, illuminating clearly and perfectly the path He has chosen for you and your family.

Heidi and I ask you join us in praying for peace for our country, our leaders, and those who are racially and spiritually persecuted worldwide. Please enjoy a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. May God richly bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2