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Celebrate Thanksgiving first
pastor corner

The holiday season is in bloom. You cannot enter a store without seeing the decorations or hearing the music.

I hope that you are not a Scrooge. After all, we still have 38 more days of it.

I have written before that I remain a big kid when it comes to Christmas. I enjoy the lights and the music and the gifts. I like to give gifts. I like to receive them.

There is something special about something that you receive on Christmas Day. Even when it is not the right size, it just seems to fit.

But before I get ahead of myself, let me remind you to take care and remember the holiday that is one week from today. Thanksgiving remains my favorite day of the year. I love the food, the parades, the football and the family.

I expect to have a full house this year. And I am looking forward to every minute of the chaos.

Thanksgiving reminds me of the goodness of God. I pause to express gratitude for the many ways he has cared for my family, my church and for me. He has been so good.

Paul wrote, "In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Notice that he did not say, "For everything." Rather it is in the midst of every circumstance that we can give thanks.

There are things that happen to us that we find frustrating. But we trust God to bring good to our lives, and so we give thanks.

I will share this with you. I am frustrated with the retailers who have chosen to jump the gun and open on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, I have a made a list, and I will check it twice when I do my shopping. I will be that Scrooge for those places of business.

I am confident I can buy what I want from places that allow their employees that one day to rest and give thanks. I’m not trying to start a revolution, just making a commitment to the Lord and myself.

And this much is certain. Next Thursday as I look around and see my wife of 37 years, my sons and daughter-in-law, and my dad, I will obey the words of Psalm 136:1 where it says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." Indeed God is good. And so I give thanks.

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