...too small a thing...: What To Include In Your Thanksgiving

Scotty Davis

Scotty Davis is a Pastor, Mission Consultant, a Biblical Counselor and a Police Chaplain. Scotty is married to Kathy since 1974 and they have 4 children.
Isaiah 49:6 tells the prophet he is to be a light to the nations, and so should each of us that know the grace of the Lord. This is indeed the greater task to which we should aspire. Isaiah was shortsighted and thought he was only a minister to the Hebrews but God said that task was ...Too Small A Thing... and that He would be a witness to the enitre earth. And so he wrote a book we read 2700 years later.

What To Include In Your Thanksgiving

Yesterday I went by the Ham Store and found that they have some real expensive swine selections, but we all know that this is some of the best. The turkeys are going out of the stores buy the thousands, and sweet potato farmers are showing up at the bank with full wallets. All the retailers are gearing up for their events that follow the big day, for their big day. Families are arriving at relatives homes and getting themselves all ready for this holiday season kick off event we call Thanksgiving.

But what really will make this Thanksgiving day one to remember? What super dessert or special casserole will change your life? Can you make the buy of the year on Black Friday? Well the truth is what changes your life at Thanksgiving will not be found on your plate. Nor will it be found in the flyers in the paper or on the discount internet site. What Thanksgiving is really all about is giving thanks. Having a thankful heart for what you have been blessed with this year.

So as you prepare your Thanksgiving to plan to include a thankful heart is the one thing you should plan to include in your celebration. So how do you get a thankful heart? You can't get one at Wal-Mart. A truly thankful heart is sort of hard to come by. It seems even when we are being nice and saying "Thank you" to others so often we are just being nice or doing what is expected and then we walk away with a muttering under our breath about the traffic, the price, the people we encounter.

So this idea of a thankful heart is really what you need for Thanksgiving. But how do you get one? Here are a few thoughts I have.

1. Realize that to give thanks, you have to have someone to give it to. That would be God.

2. Recognize that life is not easy and there is pain, trouble and problems that are always going to be real in your life. That does not mean you will not be thankful, but when your realize that the Lord cares about every issue in your life and every detail He is aware of and He cares, for this you can be thankful. When you can give thanks for this you are on the right path toward Thanksgiving.

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

When you realize these two things you can begin to show true thankfulness in your heart not just on Turkey Day but everyday.