THANKSGIVING VS GIVING THANKS

Bet you are thinking, “There is no difference.”  But let’s be honest.  When we hear the word “Thanksgiving”, the Norman Rockwell painting comes to mind.  We see a family sitting around a table, a very large, perfectly cooked turkey, dressing (stuffing), smiles and the mother still wearing her apron. 

When we hear the word “Thanksgiving”, we think about having the day off work (except for the people in the kitchen working for hours to prepare a meal that will be consumed in ten minutes), taking a nap after eating that turkey, football games, a dog show, and the long drive home with tired children.  Somewhere in there, we might actually go around and have everyone tell something they are thankful for.  That is, if we can get it in during halftime or a commercial.

Thanksgiving:  The fourth Thursday in November.

vs

Giving:  To make a present of

Thanks:  Expression of gratitude

When I read the meaning of the words giving and thanks, I wondered if I had been doing it wrong all these years.  Over the years, I have made it about me.

·                  I am so thankful for indoor plumbing.

·                  I am so thankful for family.

·                  I am thankful for sunrises and sunsets.

·                  I am – I am – I am.  It was all about me. 

But now?

TO MAKE A PRESENT OF OUR EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Can you hear me Lord?  Is my voice rising to your heavenly realm?

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

My soul is smiling.  Can you see it reflected in my eyes?  Lord, God, I come before you with a song so full of joy it cannot be contained 

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

You made me.  I am yours.  Shepherd, I rest in your pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

My thanksgiving is so strong no gate can keep me out and your courts will echo my praises.

I will raise my hands as I give you thanks and praise your name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Lord, as my grandmother prayed, so shall I pray.  Your faithfulness surrounded her and that faithfulness will surround my children and their children and their children.

AMEN.  AND AMEN.

Happy Giving Thanks Day!!!

 

 INVISIBLE

The Old Farmer’s Almanac said the ancient Greeks believed that topaz (November’s birthstone) could make a wearer invisible.  I am a November baby and I have a ring, with a topaz setting, on my finger at this very moment.

“Bill, can you see me?” I asked.

He replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

I hate to tell the learned Greeks, but it doesn’t work.  Besides, I don’t want to be invisible.

I want people to see me!!  I want my Sunday morning hug!  If Terry could not see me, he could not give me a hug.  If I were invisible, no one could smile at me and I could not talk to them.  (Oh my.  Not talk.  That might be a big problem.)  My kids and grandkids would not know where I was and the grandkids might trip over me.  Compared to them, I am more than a bit short.  If I were invisible, how could my actions show people God’s love?

BUT (You know the capital BUT means I am going to turn this around.).  BUT … are there people that are invisible to us?

Do we even see them?  Do we turn away?  Do we look right through them?  Often, we don’t want to see them, because then we would have to be an example of Jesus.  Do we see:

• the homeless man or the person sleeping in their car?
• the single parent struggling with a tired child?
• the person cleaning the restrooms or the floors, at a business?
• the person sitting in the back pew?
• the “different” student who no one will sit with?
• the person who wears strange clothes or is covered with tattoos?

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

“when did we see” ….  Do we even see them?  Do we turn away?  Or are they invisible?

 

CHANGING PLANS

I keep a monthly calendar on the refrigerator.  Meetings, haircuts, doctor’s appointments, activities I want to do, activities I might do, and birthdays.  As soon as I have it printed off, the phone will ring, and I will have to make a change.  The month never turns out like I think it will.  The calendar starts neatly with different colors for each type of activity.  By the end of the month, it is a mess.  How can so many plans change?  I am sure your life is like that too.

I wonder what Jesus’ calendar looked like.  Actually, I can answer that.  Every day — think of that: EVERY DAY — would be the same.  When Jesus looked at his calendar to see his schedule, it would read the same day in and day out.  Sunday: Do my Father’s will.  Monday: Do my Father’s will.  Tuesday: Do my Father’s will.  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: Do my Father’s will. 

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”            John 6:38-40

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.           John 3:16-17

  And that is just what Jesus did.  He did the will of His Father.

  Bless his heart.

  Question: Is doing God’s work written on your calendar?