Happy Thanksgiving… ALWAYS and FOREVER!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
An EVERYDAY holiday!
It’s that time of year (cue music) – the holiDAYS begin! But… do they begin OR is this just a dim mirror view of heaven’s everyDay?
God’s lesson plan for me this week has been a crash course in the difference between my version of our famous holiday and His.
Mine (our’s) is a once-a-year – family gathering – eating – sharing – eating – serving – eating – did I say eating…
His is Rock Solid endless event, with a foundation poured & built upon by our Redeemer, Savior, Messiah, King.
You know, the kind of Gift that changes lives!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
But I thought we were talking about Thanksgiving – NOT Christmas!
Have you ever received or given a gift so extraordinary that the response of the receiver was unforgettable and exactly what you knew was needed/planned/hoped/waited for, WITH ALL YOUR HEART?
This… our response to God’s extraordinary gift… is God’s version of Thanksgiving! Rejoicing ALWAYS – praying WITHOUT CEASING – giving thanks IN EVERYTHING.
In hindsight, this Thanksgiving Day, was ANOTHER extraordinary (though dimly seen this side of His mirror) gift! God’s gift to me this Thanksgiving was to SEE His Heart!
His knowledge of our need at the same moment of His grief in separating us from Himself and the problem of eternal consequences of sin (Genesis).
His plan of salvation not judgement (For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:17) so that He would not remain separated from us, His fearfully and wonderfully made sheeple (sheep/people – Psalm 100:3/Psalm 139:14).
His hope that we would receive – believe – confess and be saved. Romans 10:9-11 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes , resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
His patient waiting, not wanting ANY to perish (2 Peter 3:9).
I remember those gifts I have given that literally GLOWED because of the receiver’s response. Precious memories that forever impact my heart as if it happened just a minute ago.
For the gifts that I received, did my response create similar memories in my giver? I pray so! All I can say is, I’m in training!”
Having seen Abba’s heart, Thanksgiving will never be the same again. The one-day meal has become an everyday feast!
Colossians 3:17 Whatever I do in word or deed, I will do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father because I now know this will make God’s heart delight with joy and He will dance for joy and sing over me (Zephaniah 3:17 TLV Adonai your God is in your midst— a mighty Savior! He will delight over you with joy. He will quiet you with His love. He will dance for joy over you with singing.’)
Knowing I can make God HAPPY, I will enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5) What son/daughter does not want to give their parent the gift that will eternally fill their heart?
I’m not talking Christmas here, sheeple!
Thanksgiving… thankfulness… is the fruit of love.
An endless circle for both giver and receiver of heart filling love.
THIS is God’s will… Love and Being Loved…without end!
Can I get an Amen?!
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks!
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.