HAPPY U.S. THANKSGIVING DAY.
Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family south of the border, down the U.S. way, but also to all God’s children wherever you are. This is probably the most widely celebrated holiday in the U.S, but this year it won’t be as satisfying and thankful as others in the recent past, with the overwhelming malaise and state of confusion currently enveloping the world’s largest economy. Sadly, this year, a lot of chickens have come home to roost, not so many turkeys, and many will find it hard to give the required thanks when they don’t have a job, their houses been foreclosed, their lives’ savings disappeared in the stock market crash, and they can’t buy food to celebrate the holiday. But Friends, this is exactly when we should be giving thanks; we’re alive, still better off than 90% of the world, and while there’s life, there’s always hope, which morphs into faith and trust in our great God. Bruh Paul advises that we should, ‘In everything give thanks.’ It’s possibly his best bit of advice. Though it may be difficult, if we are God centred, steadfastly focused on our Creator, then we have to make that effort and be thankful; ‘for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you.’ Yes people, it’s what our God wants, expects, deserves from us. And regarding the worldwide collapse of the economic engines that drive modern society, we can’t blame God for that. That was man’s fault. In his foolish wisdom, he chose to follow the feel and look good dictates of the enemy; the cult of always wanting more, how much can anyone use eh; of ever getting bigger, though bigger isn’t always better; of ever increasing profits, not through increased productivity, but reduced quality, outsourcing to cheaper and usually less reliable and efficient labour markets. Remember, one can only reap what one sows, and since we sowed the seeds of avarice and greed, to boot on barren stony ground, what else can we expect to reap but destruction? Yes, the seeds sprouted trees with beautiful flowers, but those only lasted until the sun’s scorching rays hit them. The trees themselves soon withered because there was not sufficient earth for their roots to take hold of, and create a strong foundation. We tried to create this huge economic edifice on essentially a foundation of sand. It was only a matter of time before it came tumbling down. However Friends, if we’d sowed our seeds, built our economy on the strong foundation of the Lord God Jehovah, not on greed, the lust for power and material things, our economic foundation would never have crumbled. We wouldn’t seem as prosperous, and not as quickly, but whatever we did have would’ve been solid and long lasting. But we’re a stubborn, hardheaded people, who don’t seem to learn from our mistakes. Else why is it that every decade or so, our stock market crashes and millions lose billions? Why do we still run to get in on every fad, although we know most are worthless? We keep on rebuilding on the same insubstantial foundation, and it always has to be large or extraordinary, so that we can pound our chests. Too much of it is ego driven. Not to mention we’ve elected unscrupulous warmongers for leaders. They say that countries get the leaders they deserve. Who knows? But thankfully, at this crucial time, a new leader has been elected, on the premise of productive change. He does seem to have his heart in the right place, and seems intent on surrounding himself with competent people. However Friends, a word of warning: Don’t expect things to change or improve overnight. Miracles are not going to happen if we build on solid ground. Strangely though, it’s the enemy who has no time for God that expects miracles to happen when he practices sleight of hand. It’s also going to take a lot of hard work, with everybody putting their shoulders to the wheel, not looking for handouts because of the new leader’s skin colour. Please remember that Obama is a mere mortal like all of us, just blessed with a strong leadership gift. Look at all the great, God inspired leaders of Israel, who were unable to keep them faithful to the God of their fathers. In the long run Friends, it’s the people who decide their own direction. Oh brethren, following Jesus is not for the fainthearted, but nothing, no nothing short of physical death should stop us from giving thanks to our Heavenly Father, cause whatever we do have, it all comes from Him. And pragmatically, it’s always better to concentrate on what we do have than what we’ve lost. The lost is already lost, but we can build what we have on a solid, God centred foundation. And as believers, even in difficult times, we’re expected to be thankful, because we serve and worship a powerful, merciful, forgiving God, who can turn our darkness into light, and our sorrows into joy. For that, we ought always to be thankful! So despite all our misfortune, let’s praise and thank Him for what we do have. Let’s all say, ‘Thank you God!’ Have a happy Thanksgiving day, with Much, Much LOVE!…through constant prayer…continual thanks is made easy…
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