Christianity Oasis Forum

[kimberly]

It's already begun, hasn't it? The push and shove, the urging to shop, the trees lit in every store doorway, bell ringers.......the annual Christmas hype.

What about Thanksgiving? Aside from the sale on frozen turkeys and recipes in magazines,it isn't there much. NoThanksgiving wreaths, trees or presents, no countdown of days.

It's almost as if, once November first arrives, Thanksgiving is forgotten in the Christmas hoopla. It is just a day that we as Americans, eat too much, watch football, and say at the table what we might be thankful for.

It's my feeling that Thanksgiving is underappreciated. It should be as wonderfully thought of as Christmas is, and it should be practiced on a daily basis. We certainly knoiw the meaning of true Thanksgiving, just as we know the true meaning of Christmas.

The first Thanksgiving was not between the Indians or the colonists....but rather, the first one was probably way back in the garden of Eden. How could Adam not have been thankful? Daily, he saw the goodness and greatness of God.

The emotions tied to Thanksgiving are many.........aside from how we know we should feel towards God, other things creep in, don't they?

We can be made to feel we are lesser human beings if we are not caught up in the tornado of prepping for Christmas. People seem to think we should all be single and partying, or with someone and nesting. Whichever you are, it doesn't seem to be right in someone's eyes.

We are expected to go in debt to give gifts, to give our children everything they desire. Have a perfect house, cook fantastic meals, be perfect parents, spouses, children.

Sorrow and depression can magnify, along with lonliness. Oh, we can force happy smiles and nice greetings, but what is in our hearts? How do we truly feel? And, what hope is there for a truly joyous season?

But wait, this is about Thanksgiving. Bible Thanksgiving. Because that is where it really starts.....in God's Word. And managing your emotions daily with joyous Thanksgiving will cause the biggest change.

Emotion Management is not about having perfect emotions, or perfect control of them. It is about daily maintenance. Daily deposits of Thanksgiving into your spirit bank all year long, means there will be plenty to withdraw during the stress of holiday hype.

I see it like this.......at the first colonists and Indians Thanksgiving, they shared their food. They shared fellowship, and they shared what they were thankful for......

Well, God's table is set....His meal is plentious. You can partake of His 'food' daily. You can share it with others, and fellowship over it. And you can definitely say what you are thankful for!

There are so many forms of Thanksgiving, it has a voice.....Psa 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Thanksgiving is an offering: Psa 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving ; and pay thy vows unto the most High.

Thanksgivingis a form of praise :Psa 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song , and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is joyful and noisy: Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving , and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Thanksgiving takes you into His presence: Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving , [and] into his courts with praise be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Thanksgiving is a sacrifice: Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing

Thanksgiving is a song : Psa 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving sing praise upon the harp unto our God

Thanksgiving is a release from care and a form of prayer : Phl 4:6 Be careful for nothing ; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God
Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving ;

Thanksgiving is, ultimately, a faith builder : Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him , and stablished in the faith , as ye have been taught , abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Give these scriptures a try. Pick one a day, say it to yourself. Find a way to perform it. It is God's 'food' for your emotions and your spirit. It will build your faith, meaning less emo lows.

And Thanksgiving, being a form of praise, brings God onto your scene, because it makes Him your focus, not the world and it's hype. Put away the false prophets of holiday needs......come, follow Him. Amen