Thanksgiving
"Therefore, since we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken; let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe." - Hebrews 12:28

Thankgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Traced back to the English festivals, Thanksgiving Day has been a national holiday in the United States since 1863. On November 22nd, all Americans will remember with gratefulness the many blessings that they have received.

In 1620, the first Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts. Their first years in the New World were difficult, food was scarce and supplies were low. Nearly half of the group died during the first year. However, an English speaking Native American, named Squanto, came to their aid. He taught the people how to plant and harvest crops in the new American climate.

With great thankfulness, the Pilgrims called for a thanksgiving feast to celebrate their bounty. The Native Americans were invited to participate and the feast turned into a week-long celebration fo thanksgiving to God.

Thanksgiving Day is a time when the church can draw the entire community to focus on giving thanks to the Creator of the universe, who has given us "every good and perfect gift." - James 1:17

Thanksliving

Thanksgiving is a lifestyle, so let's insert the word 'living', and we have thanksliving. Let us take the whole month of November and be a thanksliving people. Yes, we all have problems. Yes, we all have struggles. Yes, we worry about things that we cannot change. Yes, we have so much and forget to say "thank you". Yes, 1/3 of the world goes hungry and we are blessed with so much.

What we can do is live each day by thanksliving.

Thanksliving is living for Jesus Christ and understanding his teaching. Jesus had such a way of talking with everyday objects of life, helping us to see God. Jesus takes a mustard seed and if you have faith so as to remove mountains, nothing will be impossible.

In Luke 17:15, Jesus heals 10 people and tells us only one comes back to thank him and glorify God. I hope all of us will be like the one who returned and say, "thank you God for Jesus Christ. Thank you that he died for us and saved us from sin and death."

May our lives be turned around from Thanksgiving to thanksliving.

Happiness and Joy,

Rev. Ken Valentine