Milliken Presbyterian Church

NOVEMBER, 2008

Sonshine News

 

 

Thanksgiving Is Truly Meaningful!!

 

 

As you know, Thanksgiving is an attitude and also it is the way we live.  Thanksgiving is a great holiday and yet it is a state of our soul when we know God.

 

Think of your richest memories of Thanksgiving.  What people, places or foods come to mind?  What was your favorite time?  Why is it the best of holidays?  Why is the state of thanksgiving such a Christian grace?

 

Knowing God evokes such a great feeling of Thanksgiving.  When the meaning of Romans 8:28 hits our heart, we become thankful.

 

Hosea 13:4-6 “But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.  You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.  I cared for you in the desert in the land of burning heat.  When I fed them they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”  Our nation has forgotten God, and most do not seek  Him!  It is me, not Thee!

 

The marks of ungratefulness—fed, satisfied, proud and forgetful—characterize God’s immature children.  To slap our foreheads, cluck our tongues at these Israelite ingrate, then miss the manna on our tables.  God gets our attention in times of despair but loses many of us in times of prosperity.  We turn our focus to material possessions and forget our Savior.  And history repeats itself at our expense.  What does your life illustrate about your focus?  Thank God today for filling your life with His lovingkindess!

 

These are uncertain times, to some they are truly scary.  Are we looking to the economy or politics for our hope?  Can we still be thankful that God has the wisdom and the answers for all of us?  I’m struggling to be thankful in these days of fear.  But the God of Psalm 23 is still doing what He promised!

 

Can we be thankful in theses despairing times?  Will this nation seek and serve God?  Let us determine to do what Joshua did, “stop making idols out of your culture… you listen to foreign voices all the time… if you listen to them they will eventually do you harm.  Give your whole heart to the Lord, obey only His voice.  Choose today whom you shall serve, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!  (Joshua 24).

 

In Christ,

 

Stewart Drake, Pastor