Thanksgiving

Well, it's certainly not Thanksgiving yet.  But Thanksgiving is truly one of my favorite times of the year.  It is because of the reasons that it is for so many people.  Not only because of the good food and the good times spent with people we love, but also because we stop and take an inventory of all of that we have to be thankful for.

Around Thanksgiving of 2009, I was sort of moping around and my dear cousin Judy encouraged me in this way to take it a bit further - to put pen to paper and write out a list of all the things I had to be thankful for.  Once my pen started flying (or, as it were, fingers), I found that I just couldn't hardly stop! - I want to share a few of these with you:

My Salvation - Guaranteed by God's authority and seal

John 6:37 - "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

I John 5:13 - "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

The Knowledge That God Will Not Leave Nor Forsake Me; I am HIS -

Hebrews 13:5(b) - "..I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Ephesians 2:13 -14(a) - "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise.  (v. 14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance..

I have received the earnest of my inheritance; I am HIS!  Hallelujah!

That Christ Himself Makes Intercession for me at the Throne of the Father -

Romans 8:34 - "Who is he that condemneth?  it is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

I John 2:1 - "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"

This is simply stunning.  Christ took my sin upon himself.  He who knew no sin allowed himself to be ashamed and separated from the Father he had always known and loved:  just for me.  If that wasn't enough, he approaches the throne to act as an intercessor - pleading my case - with the Father.  If that doesn't boggle the mind...

My heritage and family

Mom Cope - Who lived a life of Christlikeness and fought a brave fight and loved me unconditionally.

Ralph Cope - who gave his heart to Christ and lived for Christ and worked with his hands and back his whole life and laughed hard and loved hard - and earned the respect of many by his quiet spirit and kindly, Christlike demeanor. 

Juanita Cope - who taught me the importance of memorizing scripture

Bob Shotts - who served the Lord his whole life in truth, put others before himself and led many to Christ because he saw evangelism with the urgency that the Lord Jesus intended us all to see it

Jude - My fav cousin.  Who encourages me always and loves me even when I'm cynical.  I love you so dearly.

Jamie - King of generosity..

Larry - Worker of workers

Well, I assure you the list goes on and on and on and on... and it includes many, many more people, and it also includes things like my job and education, but it also talks about tangible things, too, like a roof over my head and clothes on my back!  But there's no doubt about it, after spiritual things, humans beings are what dominate the day.  There's simply nothing that money can buy that is worth a whole lot in real terms.  On Thanksgiving Day, if you've got ten million dollars, it won't make much difference if you're spending the day in depressing loneliness and not knowing who God is.

This day, I hope you might consider putting your own list of Thanksgiving together.  I guarantee you, you've got a LOT for which to be thankful, regardless of what your lot in life may be.  May our dear Father in heaven bless you as you sleep tonight...