"This shirt is dry clean only. Which means... It's dirty." --Mitch Hedberg

Give Thanks......
11-29-02

    Today is the day after Thanksgiving.  I realize I should have written something about this last week, but better late than never.  Are you really thankful for what you have in life or do you take it for granted?  I must admit, I take a lot of the things I have for granted - but that doesn't stop me from thanking God for all of it.  I never have to worry about where my next meal will come from, my friends and family are all in fantastic health, I have a place to live and a great job.  I am so thankful for all of these things.  But more so than all of these things, I am thankful to God for forgiving my sins, because He knows himself - there are plenty of them!  Sinning is obviously wrong, but as humans, it is in our nature.  We are not perfect - only Jesus is.  So no matter how strong our faith, or how hard we try, we will always be sinners.  This isn't something to be ashamed of, but is something we must realize and ask to be forgiven of. 

    Had Jesus not died on the cross for us, none of our sins could be forgiven.  A little lie I may have told, a candy bar I may have stolen, or the countless times I've been drunk - none of these could be forgiven had Jesus not died for my sins. For this I am very thankful. Does that make it right to sin?  By no means whatsoever.  If you realize something is a sin and do it anyway because you expect to be forgiven - think again.  You are forgiven if you are truly sorry and realize what you did is wrong - repentance, if you will.  Who is the person who steals, asks for forgiveness, then goes and does the same thing again while expecting forgiveness after the fact?  How do you not realize you have been forgiven, but are expected to not sin in that way any more?!  Hypocrisy is all around us, don't succumb to it.

    A short quote from the movie Swingers.  "Mike, you're problem is, you don't look at the things you have, you look at the things you don't have."    Think about it. 

    At the service I attended Wednesday evening, a little "exercise" was asked of us, and it really makes you realize some things - I urge you to do this as stupid and trivial as it sounds.  Close your eyes and think of the ten things you are most thankful for.  As Pastor Mike said, we need to be specific when thanking the Lord.  Don't tell him "thanks for everything", tell him specifically what you are happy for.  If I give a gift to a friend and they do not show appreciation for it - why will I keep giving them more gifts?  I want to know they are thankful and appreciative of my gift.  God works the same way.  Give thanks to him for everything he gives you, not by saying "thanks for everything", but by saying "thanks for the food which I am about to eat.", or "Thank you for the phone call I got from a friend I wanted to talk to today.".   If you do not thank God for these things - why will he keep giving them to you?  He as well, wants to see your appreciation for all He has done for you.

    The little exercise above, closing your eyes and thanking God for the ten things you are most thankful for, is really great.  By doing this, not only do you thank God for what is important to you - you really realize the things that are the most important things in your life.  It is spiritually and mentally gratifying to both God and yourself!  My ten things are none of your business, but I'd be a fool to say I or anyone else wouldn't list #1 and #2 as their friends and family.  Thank God for my/your friends and family!  Sure, Jesus will always be with you, but you need love and companionship from others in your life as well or is it really enjoyable to live?  I know mine wouldn't be enjoyable if it weren't for all of you.

    In the same way you thank God for specific things, you need to ask him for specific things as well.  Don't just say "I pray we have a great Christmas."  Say "I Pray that everyone arrives safely at Christmas, we have a fantastic dinner, and create unforgettable memories in the presence of those I love."  Ask and you shall receive, if you have faith, if you ask - you will receive.  But don't be greedy for what you ask of, and when God gives you what you ask for, give thanks and never stop giving thanks.  Ever.  Never stop giving thanks.

    Personally, this Thanksgiving, I am very grateful to God.  I thank him for my family and friends.  I think Him, this year, for giving me a job.  I think Him for giving me a place to live.  I thank Him for helping me to achieve my goals.  I thank Him for the hope I have in my heart.  I thank him for helping my friends whom I care deeply for in a few very specific instances, and in some cases, I thank Him for giving my friends a second chance.  I thank Him for giving me courage to explore what I feared or cared to not explore for so long - His son Jesus.  I thank him for overall happiness, and thank Him for placing hope in my heart that things will all work out for the best.

    My Grandpa said this (cut and pasted) in an email to me on Thanksgiving:
"It doesn't just have to last a day you know. Every day is a gift as we all
have learned. Be good to yourselves and continue to share all the great
things given to us all."
    So True!!

    Yes, it was an amazing year, probably the best year of my life - how can I not take all the time in the world to thank God for all He gave me?  Take away everything He gave me this year and I guarantee you I would be a miserable person, but thanks to Him, I am not.

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