It's Turkey Day!

That's what we've called it when the kids were younger. Not so much anymore though. Somehow they've grown up and when we sang them thanksgiving songs to wake them they were not totally grateful. Not a good way to start the day.

It is a day of giving thanks, recognizing all that God has given us, all that God has done for us, and for surviving this life up 'til now. We thank God, but we also thank those around us for their friendship, for their love, for their support. Without friends and family this life would not be nearly as enjoyable. It's because of them we can give thanks, or at least learn to.

I asked you yesterday to begin thinking about your thanksgiving list. Well, today is the time to share it, use it, pray it. Don't let the tryptophan in the turkey make you forget what the day is really about!

I love the Henry Smith song, Give Thanks. It says a great deal about how to give it, not with lips, but with a grateful heart. We can thank God in words, but not really mean it. What we need to learn is how to be truly grateful from the heart. It's what God wants of us.

Listen to Give Thanks

"Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to Him through God the Father."
Colossians 3:17

Now today's the day to give it!

Have a great and safe day!

Peace ><>
pc

Take a fun Thanksgiving Quiz

Thanksgiving Eve

Yes, it's the eve of Thanksgiving and all through the house,
all stomachs were rumbling in great anticipation.

Okay, so I'm not a poet...but it is one of the most anticipated days of the year. It's travel day for many families, preparation day for hosts, it's tiring day for newspaper workers (they are busy sorting the scads of inserts for the next 2 days of papers.), it's not a very productive day for most companies or workers, because of thoughts of the weekend. It's almost like the days before the beginning of a war, the generals pouring over the battle plan and readying their troops. But this war is at the Mall, and shopping is the battle. And to be honest, I don't plan on participating...much.

Yes, it's the eve of the official start of the Christmas shopping season. Only 30 days left until Christmas (not counting today or tomorrow). It's almost frightening to think that Christmas is only a month away. Why, I don't even have any Christmas decorations up yet! But then again the day is just beginning.

My point to all of this rambling is that just like the rest of the country, it's easy to forget what tomorrow really is about when we are so keyed up about Christmas. And it's not the real meaning of the holiday that has us in great anticipation, but the gift giving, getting and wishing.

Instead, we ought to be thinking about things for which we are thankful. Now that's a list that I can get excited about. Then tomorrow I can concentrate on telling my family just how grateful I am for them. I can also tell God how thankful I am for everything God has done for me. (instead of just thanking God for food, football and stores that open at midnight!)No, I'm preparing a good list of gratitude.

What are you thankful for? USA, family, job, health, food, plasma tv (oops, wrong list), safety, peace, comfort, relationships, pets, home, salvation, friends, friendship with God, Jesus, a place in heaven for eternity? Maybe a new tradition can be started today, creating a Thanksgiving List. Then we can truly spend this holiday in a way that honors it and God, by saying thanks for the abundance we have received, even though we haven't earned or deserved any of it.

It's all a gift from the One who created it!

I, for one, am planning to give thanks.

Peace ><>
pc

Tuesday's post

Okay, so yesterday wasn't the best day. I even went into the office early and had great plans to read and post. But things happen.

That's one reason I changed the title on the Blog, PC's (almost) Daily Devotional Thought. It's not an excuse. I still plan on posting every day (although the weekends have been very difficult), but I wanted the title to reflect what this blog actually is. Also, I am trying to follow my own sermon advice, to reduce the commitments I have made so that I live a life of balance (integrity) instead of a life of hypocrisy (failing promises). It's tough, by the way, to listen to your own sermons, to do as "I" say!

Don't give up on me just yet!

Peace ><>
pc

If Only's

You've said this. We all have. "If only..." you fill in the blank. These are the phrases we say when tragedy strikes. If only I'd called, said I love you, not had the argument. If only I'd have been there, spoken to them, kept in contact. If only I'd finished the repairs, gone on vacation, not worked so much... The tragedies are many, from broken relationships, to accidents, to sickness, to death. We cannot help but think sometimes of the "if only's." But no matter how bad we feel, they don't change anything.

"If" can be such an empty word.

I remember hearing a couple of "if" phrases when I was growing up that I can't repeat here, but the idea is simple, "if's" don't count. But they can teach us something about ourselves and can press us for a change in the future.

We cannot live by "ifs." That's living in a dream world. "If this happens, or if that happens, then I can (will)..." It's like putting life on hold. It's not that we can't make plans or have thoughts of options depending on the "if" variables. To live by "if's" is to live with regret, always waiting for something else to take place.

This week amidst two deaths and a family tragedy I've heard some "if only's." But I've discovered how to live beyond these. Don't wait to do something!

If you want to call someone, call them! If you need to fix a relationship, then by all means do it! Don't wait! It just may lead to the "if only" feelings. You've been there before, don't be there again.

Don't wait for death to bring the family together, get together now. And don't wait for God's blessing to begin trusting Him, trust him how and discover the blessings God is already pouring out. Don't wait for the "if's." Act! It's what has God done for us, over and over again.

Zechariah was a prophet to the people returning from exile. He was bringing God's encouragement to rebuild the Temple and to live according to God's simple formula,

"Treat one another justly,
Love your neighbors,
Be compassionanate with each other,
Don't take advantage of widows, orphans visitors and the poor.
Don't plot and scheme against one another - that's evil."(Zech. 7:9-10, Msg)

His word to the people of Israel?

Act!

It's exactly what we need to do as well. It wipes out the "if only's!"

Peace ><>
pc