“Happy Thanks Giving” 

Dear Faith Family, 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful, Colossians 3:15. 

Stable, attractive flooring?  No problem.  Secure sink on stable floor carefully bracketed to the wall?  No problem.  New faucet tightly attached to the sink?  No problem.  Running water?  No problem.  Fully attached drain-line with no leaks?  Now that’s a problem!  (Hypothetically speaking, of course!) 

Water just seems to come with an attitude of determination when it comes to finding a place to work its way out.  And that attitude seems to increase proportionately with the damage that it can create.  A hole in a hose in the yard?  Probably won’t leak.  Pinhole in a radiator?  That’ll leave you on the side of the road!  Not a tight seal on the drain line of the bathroom sink on hardwood floors?  That’s gonna hurt!  But I digress. 

Here's the point.  Water is going to find its way out.  It just does.  Seems to me that thanksgiving, like water, is going to find its way out.  It is the overflow of our hearts.  So, could it be that the lack of practical thanksgiving is an indication that our hearts are running on empty?  Maybe circumstances have been less than “good”.  Maybe busyness has overwhelmed you.  Maybe loss has grieved your heart. 

How do we refuel our hearts?  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.  Open His Word and fill your mind with truth.  Your heart will respond.  Make some time before the company, before the turkey, before the football game to spend with the One who is due your thanks.  Listen to Him tell you who He is and what He has done.  When His love grips our hearts, thanks giving will follow! 

We do need to be reminded to practice thanksgiving.  Scripture calls us to do just that.  And, maybe, just maybe, the practice of giving thanks actually helps us cultivate the right heart attitude. 

So, why not give your gratitude an opening?  Make a place for it to flow freely.  Take some time around the Thanksgiving turkey (or whatever else you might enjoy) to thank your God for the ways that He has protected you.  For the ways that He has provided for you.  For your family, by name.  Yes, each one.  For your ___________.  Go ahead, fill in the blank.  What are you thankful for?  Share it.  Out loud! 

Happy Thanks Giving, 
Pastor Karl