Each Thanksgiving is a time to remember years ago, as a kid growing up in the country. We would usually go rabbit hunting early that morning and then be home for a big thanksgiving dinner with a bunch of family members.

Now, these times are gone. My parents have passed away. Most of the family have either moved away or have no real interest in getting together anymore and, where I live, the rabbits have been killed off by coyotes and other predators to the point that if is futile to even try to hunt them anymore, without a dog.

There are some things that Thanksgiving Day should cause us to do. Here are just a few.

I. It should cause us to look up:

Storms in life can make Thanksgiving hard to do at times. If we look at the Pilgrims first 2 years, 1620-21, you will find that half of those who came here died the first year. Cold, disease, and fever took it's toll. Loneliness and the hardships of the first winter caused much physical and emotional pain and suffering. Yet these people prayed and felt that they were where God had led them. They endured these hardships and God sent a friendly Indian by the name of Squanto, to help them. Historians say without this one man's help and dedication to these people, they would have all perished.

II. It should cause us to look around:

We have many blessing to be thankful for. As most would agree, we take so much for granted here in America.
I have friends who have traveled on Mission trips to foreign countries and I have watched their slide and video presentations, when they have returned. Many of the people, of these countries, have little or nothing.

We have food to eat, we have place to live, we have a car to drive and we have clothes to wear.
These people live in shacks, have little food, they walk everywhere they go and they have no medical care at all. The clothes they wear may be the only clothes they have.

We as Americans and Christians also have sins forgiven, church families we fellowship with, we have day care centers, we have places to worship and a Pastor to lead and guide us in spiritual matters of life.

You remember the old saying, 'I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet"

When we think of Thanksgiving Day here today, we think of Cranberry Sauce, Turkey or Ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, raised dinner rolls, gravy, noodles, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

These Pilgrims had no milk, no bread, no flour, no butter, no potatoes, no pastries and no pumpkin pie.
They did have fish, lobster, eel, berries, venison, duck and geese yet, they were thankful for what they did have.

III. It should cause us to look ahead:

Things are a mess in Washington, to say the least. We see crime on the rise, jobs being lost, people rioting in the streets, people losing their homes, while the "fat cats" get richer by lining their pockets with tax payer money. Being a Christian, I have faith for the future. I do not know what tomorrow holds but, I know who holds tomorrow. Washington may be broke but, God isn't!!!!!! Congress is in total confusion but, God is not confused.

Psalms Chapter 103 talks about God's benefits to us.
A. We have His love and Grace, if we accept it
B. We have His plan of salvation, if we believe it.
C. We have His word available to us, if we will read it.
D. We have the privilege of prayer, if we will do it.


In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul always talked about God's goodness and faithfulness to us. Paul was the greatest optimist that ever lived. Whether shipwrecked, in prison, whether traveling, or preaching, he always had a positive message and in the process, he wrote almost half of the New Testament. He spoke of having a thankful heart, thinking on things that were pure, honest, good, just and, lovely. He spoke of being content in whatever state we were in.

God has a purpose, a promise and, a plan for each of us. He also made a provision for us. That provision was Jesus Christ, who came to this sin sick world to give himself as the atoning sacrifice for fallen man.

We are truly blessed for what He has done for us. We should truly be thankful for His blessing upon us.
1. Look where He has brought us from.
2. Look what He does for us every day.
3. Look what He has promised to do in the future.
a. for us.
b. with us.

Do you have a thankful heart for what God has done for you, with you and has promised you?

We in America, have been blessed and are blessed. I wonder just how much longer God will bless a nation who has turned their back on Him, taken His commandments off the walls, taken Nativity scenes off courthouse lawns, taken prayer out of schools, taken the Bible out of schools, and have tried to remove all mention of His name in certain Military ceremonies?

God's word is still true. "Blessed is the Nation, whose God is the Lord". Psalms 33:12.

We should be,
a. looking up
b, looking around
c. looking ahead
If we fail to do these things and give Him the thanks for what we do have, we, as a nation, had better be LOOKING OUT!!!!!!!

This thanksgiving season, let us give thanks to the one who is worthy of our thanks and is worthy of Honor and Praise.. His name is not Obama. His name is not Congress. His name is not the Government. His name is God, the great I AM, THAT I AM, The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Have a great Thanksgiving:

Oldbiker