“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

 Have you noticed how Thanksgiving is becoming a “non-holiday” in our culture?

Our local Lowe’s home improvement warehouse has had artificial Christmas trees on sale since Halloween.  Years ago it seemed like communities and retailers would hold off on putting up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. In fact, as a young child I remember going to the mall the day after Thanksgiving to take in all the wonderful decorations…it was magical. But now they’ve already been up for several weeks.

Over the last few years, in an attempt to stimulate increased sales, many big-box retail stores have changed from promoting black Friday to opening on Thanksgiving Day. Walmart already has pallets of door buster merchandise strategically positioned all over the store to tantalize and tease customers into returning on Thanksgiving.  Thankfully, a few major retailers are stepping back from this practice because it creates such hardship on their employees.  But many more are opening even earlier.  Click here to see an article that lists stores that are opening on Thanksgiving vs. ones who aren’t. The article notes that Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island have passed laws banning some retail stores from opening on Thanksgiving! It seems like not only do we have to struggle to keep Christ in Christmas, now we have to work at keeping the Thanks in Thanksgiving!

Now, I’m not here to tell you to avoid black Friday sales or to not buy Christmas presents for those you love.  Although, I suppose it is a great question to ask…“How thankful are we for God’s provisions if we always feel like we must have more?”

But instead, let me encourage you in this way…did you know that giving thanks is fundamentally an act of worship?  Recognizing that God is the source and giver of all good gifts stirs us to be thankful and flows into worship- adoring and acknowledging God. As new covenant believers, we are as Hebrews says, “receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.”  It is unmoveable and can never be taken away.  At the point of salvation we received so much from God- new life, forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, the indwelling presence of Jesus, righteousness, eternal life, and ultimately…heaven.  We have so much to be thankful for…so let’s worship! And Thanksgiving is a great week to start!

This Sunday, November 30 we have a special Thanksgiving service planned during our normal 9:30am & 11:00am worship services. The pastoral team & Matt Patti will be leading us in a time of corporate thankfulness. We will have time built into the service for people to share what they are thankful for and how God has been faithful in 2014. It is our prayer that this gathering will strengthen and encourage you and your family in thankfulness and worship. We hope to see you there.

Happy Thanksgiving!