It’s awesome that this is the week of Thanksgiving.  Just the name implies there is something to expect when we apply the word Thanksgiving to our lives.  Jesus celebrated Thanksgiving every day that he gave thanks to the God of all, His father.  Some people expect to be happy as an entitlement from the Lord, “God needs to give me joy.  He owes it to me!!”  God does give us the recipe for joy in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you,” like the Thanksgiving meal, “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. . .”  At least that is how I feel when I finished eating. 

Right now, Sarah, my wife, is making me a very nice apple pie for Thanksgiving.  Thank you, Sarah and many more please.  You ask what am I doing for her on Thanksgiving?  Well, of course eating her apple pie, duh.  You’re thinking, “You’re a jerk, Mike.  Why are you not doing something for Sarah?”  You could be right, but I try to practice giving and doing special things for her year-round.  If we only use Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Passover as a singular expression of giving and do not give continually, we are fooling ourselves by comparing ourselves to Jesus.  Jesus gave tirelessly and would rather minster to people than eat.  Who can top Jesus feeding four and five thousand people?  He even had enough for leftovers.

I do appreciate people giving out turkeys at Thanksgiving for people that are needy. I guess needy people only get needy at Thanksgiving?  Here at Sanctuary Family farms, we feed people year-round, because that is what Jesus asked us to do.  Guess he figured people would get hungry in between.  That is not to toot our own horn.  He gives us rain, sunshine, good earth, and produces an abundant harvest every year.  When you have to depend on Jesus to make your corn, okra, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and melons grow, you develop a greater friendship with Jesus.  You’re the servant, and He is the provider of all things; that is a great working relationship.  Let me say again, the recipe for happiness is to give all year round from your money, to your hand through action, and your heart.

Be Blessed,
Pa