The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7
I have so much to be thankful for that I can’t begin to list each thing. I have a husband who is hale and hearty after many months of being much less so. I have healthy, happy children and grandchildren. Ken and I enjoy a comfortable home, and we have wonderful friends who are there when we need them. We have a caring and giving church family. But the very best gift we have is the presence of Jesus in every aspect of our lives.
Last Thursday evening, Aldersgate hosted the annual Nixa Night of Thanks, and what a blessing it was. The praise band led us through a musical celebration of thankfulness that really touched our hearts. Our message for the evening, offered by the pastor of Victory Baptist Church, struck a chord in each person I spoke with afterward. Other church leaders, including Pastor Sarah, led us in prayer and scripture and an explanation of some of the areas in which the Nixa Ministerial Alliance assists those in our community who are having a hard time.
It was a noisy and joyful service, and I, for one, loved every minute of it! I often wonder if we really understand the meaning of thankfulness. We utter the words often, but has it become a habit? I can honestly say that the thankfulness and joy that were expressed in that service touched me deeply and brought tears to my eyes. And the warmth of everyone who shared the time of food and fellowship, which followed that wonderful service, wrapped up the evening perfectly.
Many of us will enjoy all the trappings of a holiday meal and visit with family and friends on this Thanksgiving Day. Others won’t. Let’s all be mindful of those who are far away from family and perhaps haven’t had time yet to make friends. Of those who are sick or alone, those who can’t afford good food, or perhaps none at all. Pray for all of them as Jesus would and be oh so thankful for the blessings in your life.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and THANK him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you Iive in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
On Sunday, we begin the season of Advent. We’ll be thinking about gift shopping, decorating our homes for the Christmas holidays, planning the family dinner, and maybe a few cookies. All these things are a wonderful part of this very special time of year. As Christians, it becomes more important as each year passes that we do everything we can to keep the true spirit of Christmas alive and burning bright, then share it with those we meet.
We find it easy to see Jesus as a tiny baby sleeping in an animal trough. And He is often pictured hanging on the cross. Obviously, these two events are the backbone of our belief in salvation. But they are only two days of our three-hundred-sixty-five-day year. Jesus is with us every day! He’s always nearby! We need to recognize Him as our everyday best friend.
As we begin our reflective journey to the manger, take time to get to know Him. He heals our hurts, shares our joys, and guides us along the pathways of this life…if we give Him the opportunity.
