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The Way I Feel About Thanksgiving

Humbled, and thankful, at Fort Hood

Do you feel the way I do? I love Thanksgiving, and not just for that delicious food. I love Thanksgiving because of all our holidays it is the one that seems most directly biblical. Even Christmas, once celebrated as a memorial to Christ’s incarnation, has been so polluted that we annually struggle just to keep Christ “in it.”

But Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving still seems, in my view anyway, to embody two essential themes of scripture: humility and thanksgiving. These are two of my favorite qualities, but two with which I continually wrestle. On good mornings, I wake up and pray, praising God my Creator, Jesus my Savior, and the Holy Spirit my enabler. On too many other mornings I get busy and march off, oblivious, forgetting to thank the Lord for every breath and step and meal. Until, that is, someone or something stops me and I remember that God owns me and I’m his servant. Then I realize that I will be happiest when I make humility and gratitude so much a conscious part of my existence that I am constantly left wondering why God should be so kind and forbearing with an undeserving person like me!

Among the many passages of scripture that reflects these two important qualities is one of my all-time faves, the benediction of Romans 11 (33-36):

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen!"

Last week, Nancy and I were blessed to visit with our son and his wife at their home near Fort Hood, Texas. A highlight was our participation in our son’s promotion ceremony, from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant. After a short speech from his Captain, a Colonel removed David’s old insignia and his wife and mother were privileged to attach the new. Our son was given an opportunity to speak, and he began, “I’d like first of all to thank the Lord. The Scriptures say that everything is from him and through him and to him…” He went on to thank his sweet wife for her support, and to appreciate his fellow soldiers for their willingness to help him learn. I believe he also thanked Nancy and I too - his hard-working Mom deserves it! - but by that point I wasn’t listening so carefully because I was reflecting on the beauty of the attention he focused on the Lord, there in front of his whole platoon (a new one, since he has transferred after returning from Afghanistan) and at least a dozen other officers.

Fort Hood, though a giant city, is still smarting from the murderous rampage of the Army Major who killed 13 and wounded 30 on November 5. What that community desperately needs the most is for each soldier’s attention to be turned to the just and loving and gracious God who – in Jesus - supplies the righteousness he requires. From him, through him and to him are all things! Turns out that is what I need to be reminded of too, every day. To him be glory forever!

"Lord God, at this precious Thanksgiving holiday help me to be always humbly mindful of your constant provision of everything I need: air for breath, food for sustenance and grace for salvation, so that my gratitude spills over in joy that brings glory to you!"

Pastor Dale

From the ministry of Bear Creek Church | P.O. Box 4732 Medford OR 97504

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Do you feel the way I do? I love Thanksgiving, and not just for that delicious food. I love Thanksgiving because of all our holidays it is the one that seems most directly biblical. Even Christmas, once celebrated as a memorial to Christs incarnation, has been so polluted that we annually struggle just to keep Christ in it.

But Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving still seems, in my view anyway, to embody two essential themes of scripture: humility and thanksgiving. These are two of my favorite qualities, but two with which I continually wrestle. On good mornings, I wake up and pray, praising God my Creator, Jesus my Savior, and the Holy Spirit my enabler. On too many other mornings I get busy and march off, oblivious, forgetting to thank the Lord for every breath and step and meal. Until, that is, someone or something stops me and I remember that God owns me and Im his servant. Then I realize that I will be happiest when I make humility and gratitude so much a conscious part of my existence that I am constantly left wondering why God should be so kind and forbearing with an undeserving person like me!

Among the many passages of scripture that reflects these two important qualities is one of my all-time faves, the benediction of Romans 11 (33-36):

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen!

Last week, Nancy and I were blessed to visit with our son and his wife at their home near Fort Hood, Texas. A highlight was our participation in our sons promotion ceremony, from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant. After a short speech from his Captain, a Colonel removed Davids old insignia and his wife and mother were privileged to attach the new. Our son was given an opportunity to speak, and he began, Id like first of all to thank the Lord. The Scriptures say that everything is from him and through him and to him He went on to thank his sweet wife for her support, and to appreciate his fellow soldiers for their willingness to help him learn. I believe he also thanked Nancy and I too - his hard-working Mom deserves it! - but by that point I wasnt listening so carefully because I was reflecting on the beauty of the attention he focused on the Lord, there in front of his whole platoon (a new one, since he has transferred after returning from Afghanistan) and at least a dozen other officers.

Fort Hood, though a giant city, is still smarting from the murderous rampage of the Army Major who killed 13 and wounded 30 on November 5. What that community desperately needs the most is for each soldiers attention to be turned to the just and loving and gracious God who in Jesus - supplies the righteousness he requires. From him, through him and to him are all things! Turns out that is what I need to be reminded of too, every day. To him be glory forever!

Lord God, at this precious Thanksgiving holiday help me to be always humbly mindful of your constant provision of everything I need: air for breath, food for sustenance and grace for salvation, so that my gratitude spills over in joy that brings glory to you!

Pastor Dale

Written By: Pastor Dale Meador

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