Many Thanks

Shout with joy before the Lord, O earth! Obey him gladly; come before him, singing with joy.

Try to realize what this means - the Lord is God! He made us - we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Go through his open gates with great thanksgiving; enter his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation. Psalms 100:1-5 (TLB)

Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others. Don't worry about making a good impression on them but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently. Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12-13 (TLB)

Jennifer L. Luckett lives in Texas. Thanksgiving has always been her favorite holiday. The weather there in Southeast Texas is usually cool, and the respite from work and the daily routine is always appreciated. Many years ago, Jennifer decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner for her family. She bought ingredients, prepped and cleaned silverware and cookware, and spent nearly an entire day making food. She managed to prepare the side dishes with careful attention to temperatures and instructions from family recipes. In the early hours of Thanksgiving Day, Jennifer dozed on the sofa while the turkey roasted. As a result, she overcooked the turkey, rendering it crispier and drier than she had intended. Yet her family was gracious and feasted upon the meal anyway.

Jennifer is grateful for the gift of her family members accepting her culinary blunders and personality quirks. The word thanksgiving is defined as "a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness." So recipes and meals aside, Jennifer plans to spend this Thanksgiving holiday simply acknowledging God's goodness, offering thanks for all God's blessings, including family, good health, and the gift of time spent together. As a Christian family, we should celebrate the

bounty of mercy and forgiveness available to us all through Christ.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your gifts of mercy and salvation. Help us to follow your example to forgive and love one another daily, in Jesus' name. Amen.