Thanks

Yes, You Can Be Thankful!

DrJayCook Thanksgiving , , , ,

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy a time of rest and celebration.  However, I really hope that you are experiencing a thankful heart.  I also hope that your thankful heart continues to guide you every day.

I realize that continually being grateful is not easy, but it is what God expects of us.  We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  And we are told in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

The story is told of a young boy who did not speak.  Naturally, his parents believed that he could not speak, but one day they discovered the truth.  His mother tried a new recipe for supper and called everyone to the table.  When the boy tasted it, he pushed it away and said, “This is awful.  I won’t eat it.”

The family was overjoyed to hear him speak, and they wanted to know why he had never spoken before.  He told them, “Because up ‘till now, everything has been OK.”

Sometimes it seems like there are people who only speak when they want to complain.  And gratitude is the furthest thing from their mind and their conversations.

Does that describe you?

If you had a good night’s sleep, know that there are millions of people who did not.  If you had a bed, know that there are millions who do not.  If you have a job or a car or a house, know that there are millions of people who do not.

AND – if you have accepted God’s salvation, know that your sins have been forgiven, that He is with you, and that He has a home for you.

Yes, you can be thankful – no matter what.  And we should be thankful – no matter what.  Remember the cry of Psalm 103:2: “My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all His benefits.”

Happy Thanksgiving!  You have more than enough reason to be thankful.

Want to know more? Click the picture below for a great resource…

Veterans Day 2023

DrJayCook Patriotism, Veterans Day , , , , ,

World War 1 ended on November 11, 1918.  They thought it was going to be the war to end all wars.  On the anniversary of that day, our nation remembered.  And that eventually turned into the national holiday known as Veterans Day.

Everyone seems to know that Memorial Day is for remembering those who died in service to our country, and we should remember.  However, it seems like few really think about the sacrifices made and memories held by those who faced the harshness of war and live to tell about it.

But we should.

The Bible makes it clear that we should give honor to whom honor is due.  And those who put their lives on the line for us deserve honor.  They deserve our thanks.

We may not agree with certain military actions that politicians have put into motion.  But our men and women who serve in the armed forces do not make those decisions.  They decided to protect us.  They decided to put their lives on the line for us.  They decided to take a road that many of us have not walked.

I still remember (as a child) standing on the square in Oxford when the veterans of World War 1 marched by.  My great-grandfather was one of them.  Each year that number dwindled until there were no more.  They (and other veterans) faced atrocities that we cannot imagine.  They saw the worst side of humanity.  They saw what happens when Jesus is not the center.

Today, we seldom hear the unvarnished accounts of our soldiers.  One political side or the other tends to slant things to benefit themselves rather than just give the facts.  Perhaps that is why the “honor” often seems missing amongst us.  Perhaps that is why many people will not even think about what November 11 is.

I am grateful to live in a country where opportunities abound.  I am grateful to live in a country where we enjoy freedoms that so many others do not experience.  I am grateful that many of our citizens are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure those freedoms.

Our veterans deserve our thanks.  They deserve our honor.  They deserve to be remembered on November 11.

I urge you to remember – to thank – to give honor.  And be sure to thank God for those willing to stand for us.