journey onWord with us

Every year as Thanksgiving approaches, we can look back over the last year and say as Charles Dickens did in A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times and the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”  Each year, past and future will have joys and difficulties, smiles and tears, new energy and tired bodies. In 1621 when the pilgrims gave thanks, it was not without the heartbreaks of the last year. When President Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving a nation-wide holiday in 1789, he knew the struggles behind and before them. But with a grateful heart he declared it to be a day of prayer and giving thanks to God. Over 200 years later, the day is still special, there are still joys and difficulties, but God is still good and genuine thanksgiving to Him is in order.

For many, Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday of the year. Families gather, the turkey and trimmings are great (and so are the leftovers), football comes in the afternoon, and often there is a four-day vacation. If you are like me, those items alone create thankfulness, but there has to be more.

Psalm 103:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

When life seems too difficult, He cares ……… He is good and His love endures forever
When the sun is bright, and we can smile …. He is good and His love endures forever
When we pray, He has the answers …………. He is good and His love endures forever
When we are fearful, grace is available ……… He is good and His love endures forever
When our financial world fails, He doesn’t … He is good and His love endures forever

With all the joys and sorrows during the last year, one thing has not changed … and never will. He is good and His love endures forever! As you move toward Thanksgiving Day, let those words ring clear. You may (like me) have a tendency to get caught up in all the earthly joy of the holiday, but God’s grace has been poured out on our country and on our lives, and He deserves our biggest thanks and highest praise.

In a few days, another Thanksgiving will come and go. Let the reality of God’s love and His grace cause you to say with me: He is good and His love endures forever!