“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
As November begins, our thoughts naturally turn toward Thanksgiving. Of course, if you’ve been inside a store lately, you might think Thanksgiving started back in August! It seems like every year the holiday decorations appear a little earlier, reminding us that there is always something else we need to buy. But somewhere between the shopping, the decorations, and planning the Thanksgiving meal, we can lose sight of what this season is really about.
The Apostle Paul reminds us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Notice that Paul doesn’t say to give thanks for all circumstances. Life can be difficult, and there are certainly things we experience that are not good. Yet even in those difficult seasons, we can find reasons to give thanks because God’s love and grace remain with us.
As United Methodists, we have a beautiful reminder of this every time we celebrate Holy Communion. We call part of our communion liturgy the Great Thanksgiving because, at the heart of this sacred meal, we give thanks to God for creation, redemption, and the gift of Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving isn’t simply a holiday we celebrate once a year. It is part of our worship and our daily response to God’s grace.
Of course, November also reminds us to be thankful for the people God has placed in our lives. Melissa and I are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with family in Jacksonville, and we are grateful for that opportunity. We are also deeply thankful for our Cornerstone family and the love and fellowship we share with all of you.
My prayer as we begin this season is that we remember to give thanks not only for the blessings we have received, but especially to the One from whom all blessings flow. May gratitude shape the way we worship, the way we love our neighbors, and the way we live each day.
Thanks be to God!
Grace and peace,