Thanksgiving is coming and for most of us it is a time to pause and reflect on what we are and should be thankful for. If you believe in God, then it should be a lot! Everything we have ever had and ever will have, including our next breath is only because of Him. With this in mind, shouldn’t we have an attitude of gratitude? Followers of Christ know that Jesus’ sacrifice was voluntary and came only because He loves us unconditionally. So, “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). Then, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”(1 John 4:11).
So many of us feel that if we help someone else, then we are doing God a favor or that we should expect something from Him in return. Here is a little reality check, God does not need ANY favors or indeed anything from us. He has already done for us well beyond what we deserve! He doesn’t owe us anything! The things we do for God, be it loving others or following any other of His commands should not be a performance for Him or others, but as a response out of love and appreciation for what He has already done.
Unfortunately, for many of us Thanksgiving is a necessary time of reflection, but shouldn’t a thankful heart be what motivates our lives EVERY day? Do I have an attitude of gratitude? Am I acting on it? Something to think about…
Only in America, can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance. Only in America, are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink. Only in America, do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front. Only in America, do banks leave both doors to the vault open and then chain the pens to the counters. Only in America, do they leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage. Only in America, do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering. And finally in keeping with recent events, Only in America, do they use the word "politics" to describe the process so well; "Poli" in Latin meaning "many" and "tics" meaning "bloodsucking creatures".
Come to church this Sunday. Get right with God. Lighthouse of Faith, 141 E. Main St. in Canton. Services are Sun. at 10:30 am. Call 570-673-5912 or visit www.lighthousecanton.com Until next time, look up and smile!