On Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. I love that it’s a time when family and friends get together and share a nice meal. After marriage, I’ve been blessed with a sister-in-law who cooks turkey dinner for the family. And as we gather and enjoy the food and fellowship, the day’s theme strikes home for me. This week, one of my daughter’s teachers from daycare asked me as I was dropping her off, “What are you thankful for?” I was caught off guard. She said that it was for a craft they were going to do. But, I zoned out and my mind started racing of all the things I am thankful for. I am thankful for a happy and healthy family, a humble home, a wonderful church, family and friends, and all of our needs being met. As all these things came to mind, I eventually told the teacher, “Our family is thankful to God.”  

Thanksgiving is not the only time we are thankful and give thanks to God. However, it’s a great reminder for us to thank God for Him and everything that comes with Him; His blessings and provisions. From a Christian perspective, Thanksgiving is a time to express deep gratitude to God for His blessings, recognize that all good things come from Him, and remember Christ and His sacrifice. As we gather corporately on Sunday (and every Sunday), thanksgiving is a form or worship in which we give thanks for both good and difficult times, practice generosity and giving, and even as we take Communion we remember Christ and His redemption and sacrifice.  

I’ve been loving the sermon series that Pastor Kyu has been preaching on regarding worship. And what I’ve been reminded of is that when we come together to worship God, there is a heart posture in which we gather. Psalm 95:1-2 says, “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! Joy and gratitude. We enter His presence and worship Him with joy and gratitude.  

So COAH, whether it’s individually or corporately; whether it’s reflecting to yourself or sharing with someone else; whether it’s with family or corporate worship; whatever and whenever, may we always reflect on this question: “What am I thankful to God for today?” And with that heart posture, may we rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to Him always! May COAH grow in our gratitude to the Lord and see how He leads and guides us!  

With blessings and thanks,  

Pastor Tim