The apostle Paul gives thanks no less than 34 times in the New Testament. Nearly all of the letters he wrote are explicit concerning being thankful to God for something or someone. For him it is a natural expression of worship that flows out of the deep and rich doctrines that he is trying to convey.
In a previous generation on my wife's side of the family a very wonderful tradition was established which we continue to this day. As we gather around the dinner table and just before we slice into the beautiful golden brown turkey with all the stuffing (yes, it’s actually stuffed) we pass around a small dish containing kernels of dried corn. When everyone has taken as many kernels as they want, we send the dish back around the table and we put the kernels back in. As each person replaces the kernel he or she also says one thing for which they are thankful to God.
Another similar and equally excellent tradition we have done is the creation of a Thanksgiving tree. Throughout the month of November we take a paper leaf and write one item of Thanksgiving on it and then tape it to a branch on the two-dimensional tree, usually made of construction paper. These are great memories and also serve as reminders that we should make the giving of thanks more of a habit all year round not just this time of year. Whatever your tradition, we encourage you to make regular thanksgiving a part of the life of your family.
So this Thanksgiving we at Light City Bible Church are so thankful for each and every one of you. We are grateful to God for bringing us together in the work that we are confident Christ is accomplishing in the community of Wabash and beyond. It brings us great joy to gather with you as often as we do and we look forward to when the gatherings will be more often and more regular. It is our hope and it is our prayer that the body of Christ that he is assembling will be one that is full of giving thanks. We have much reason for exuberant Thanksgiving to our great God. Below are just a few such examples.
As you gather with family and friends and loved ones to give God thanks please know that we sincerely thank God whenever we think of you. It is our desire to never stop giving thanks for you and that our Thanksgiving will result in our prayers for you. We love you! Happy Thanksgiving!
Keith
2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
2 Thessalonians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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