A Time for Thanksgiving by Sharon K. Connell

What is Thanksgiving? Is it merely a holiday to you? Time off work? A huge family get-together where you eat so much you feel bloated by the end of the day? For some, it’s an excuse to party, overeat, and drink too much.

Romans 1:21 (KJV) says, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Is that what our forefathers had in mind when they had their first Thanksgiving feast? No! They were thankful for being alive. Pure and simple. You’ll find various accounts of what happened after the first year the pilgrims made it to America, but remember, none of the people writing their opinions were there to witness that first feast of harvest. There were always good Christian people who celebrated the grace, mercy, and bounty of our Lord. And I’m positive some of them were among the first Europeans to come to America. They were thankful.

What is your favorite way to celebrate Thanksgiving? It happens to be my favorite holiday of the year because it’s the only one that is based on thankfulness.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15 KJV)

When Thanksgiving Day rolls around, I love to plan for a nice meal. I take advantage of the special day to use the best plates, glassware, and table service. Of course, we have turkey. Not because the pilgrims had it, which none of us can be sure of, but because it has become a tradition in this country. Not all tradition is bad. We have cranberry sauce, sage stuffing, sweet potatoes, and usually corn. Afterward, we enjoy pumpkin pie with ice cream or whipped cream and coffee. Lots of coffee.

But regardless of what we eat, we always have in our minds our Lord and the gift he gave on Calvary. The number one reason to be thankful is that Jesus Christ took our place with His sacrifice on that old rugged cross. He paid for our sins, so we wouldn’t have to, and all He asks is that we accept the precious gift He’s given to us. Now there’s something to truly be thankful for every day of our lives.

May I challenge all of you to give thanks to our Lord every day for His gift of salvation, the breath you breathe, the roof over your head, clothes on your back, your family and friends, for providing for you every day? There are so many more things you can be thankful for. You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving Day. Our Lord God wants to hear from each and every one of us daily. Set aside a time for Him. Maybe a quiet time in the morning before your busy day starts. Perhaps before you retire for the day. Start a journal of thankfulness. Write down all the things you’re thankful for, and then give God the praise for them.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: (Psalm 92:1 KJV)

Another way to give thanks to our Lord is to read a part of His Word daily. Never mind those who tell you to read a certain number of chapters, pages, or more daily. Read what you can read. Ask our Lord for wisdom while you read, even if it’s only a verse for the day. Then close your eyes and wait to hear from our Lord. It’s called communication, and it all starts with being thankful.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)

Sharon K. Connell

Author, Sharon K. Connell lives in Houston, Texas from where she writes Christian Romance Suspense, containing a bit of mystery and as much humor as she can get into a story. She’s also written many award-winning short stories in a variety of genres.

Sharon attended college in Illinois, graduated from the Pensacola Bible Institute in Florida, and holds a certificate in fiction writing from the International Writing Program through the University of Iowa.

She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Scribes Critique Group, Houston Writers Guild, and CyFair Writers. She is also the founder of the global Facebook Christian Writers & Readers group forum. Her monthly newsletter, Novel Thoughts, goes out every month to its subscribers in all parts of the world.

Visit the offical website of Sharon K. Connell https://www.authorsharonkconnell.com/

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