Happy Thanksgiving (and what ingratitude does to us in North America)

The way they whipped off those "thankfulness flags" easily and in just a few short minutes became my biggest gratitude that day. You see, the Lord has been working in my heart for some time now, about being thankful always, about being content. It's spilling over onto my children and this is becoming a home of praise to God.

However, we're all still a work in progress. And we, who are so pampered in the West, we who truly live like kings and queens (no matter what our financial bottom line) in global comparison, are often so discontent with our lives. We who fill the counselors' rooms in search of why we're so discontent. We who are so "me-centred" that we are too distracted to feed a hungry world. We, who need to "sort out our stuff" before we're "strong" enough to witness to our unsaved neighbours. We who need to get "cleaned up" before we feel worthy of God and His message. We, who are too busy to notice that there are many little things for which to be grateful. Believe me, I'm all for Christians working through tough issues. I've been there myself and the Lord desires to heal broken people. But it can become a distraction from our purpose and often gets dragged out long beyond what it should. The enemy of our souls is still out to kill, steal and destroy and I believe head and heart matters stifle Christians in North America more than anything else.

I read yesterday that less than fifty percent of our area took the opportunity to vote on Thursday. That is a staggering commentary on the ingratitude for our freedom to vote. Will we have to lose before we will wake up to what we should have been grateful for? I for one, lived many years of unthankfulness until I was taken on a journey by God and shown my ugly discontentment. No more! I'm learning to offer my life as a praise in the storms and in the beautiful sunshine. Friends, don't allow this Thanksgiving weekend to be all that fills your heart. Seek to give Him praise in all things, every day. Witness how a life of constant gratitude opens your eyes to the needs of others and finally removes the unhealthy self-focus that plagues us in North America.  

...rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:7

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16

(photos of Miss Molly taken by her proud Daddy)