I am a big fan of Thanksgiving. Turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie and more. It is a great day and a great, long weekend.
We have a tradition in our family. For years, on Thanksgiving morning, the girls and I have run in the YMCA Turkey Trot Race. We run, along with 25,000 other people, through downtown Dallas in the three mile "fun run." (No, I am not a runner. This is the only run I do all year. — Fortunately!) After that, we will go to my parents’ house to enjoy Thanksgiving.
I like the word "thanksgiving." I am thankful to God for so much. What I have, enjoy, and experience, I receive as gifts from God. This morning, as I finish this cup of coffee, I am thankful to God for…
- …my wife Charlotte, for my two daughters Jamie and Christine. I am thankful for Phillip, our wonderful son-in-law (married to Christine).
- …friends who add so much to my life.
- …parents, a wonderful mother-in-law, and a host of other family members I am blessed to be related to.
- …"small" moments of grace, such as the two encouraging e-mails I received yesterday.
- …our church family. The older woman who spoke encouraging words to me in the hall last Sunday morning.
- …our life group. I am thankful for their encouragement.
I am thankful to God for all of these gifts. Above all, I am thankful for the giver himself. While I appreciate gift after gift I receive, no gift is greater than the giver himself. So I am thankful for God and for the privilege of enjoying relationship with him.
I want you to know that I am thankful to you for reading this blog. There are so many, many blogs on the Internet. Yet, you come to this blog, some of you daily. Some of you leave behind written comments. A few of you e-mail me. Others of you just read and enter into the thought that day. I’m thankful and do not take you for granted.
The next time I post will be bright and early Monday morning. In the meantime, have a great Thanksgiving.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
(Psalm 100)
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your time in Christ Jesus, you family time and your time of rest.
Blessings in Christ Jesus!
We begin our Thanksgiving festivities with a local Turkey Trot also. Our church is only a block from the starting and stopping point and we offer parking (to the few who come early enough) hot coffee, juice, fruit, muffins, etc… along with free bibles and a gathering place for runners and their supporters. We usually have multiple hundreds of guests. It’s a wonderful way to meet our community.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Jim,
I’m into exercise too. I set out to do one sit up a day – one half of it when I get up in the morning and I complete it that night when I go to bed.
Thanks for all your great posts. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thanks to each of you…:) Keith, you may hold some kind of record for this!
I’m thankful I found your blog. Have a thankful Thanksgiving, Jim
Jim,
I hope your Thanksgiving day is everything you’ve planned for it to be and more. Love to all the family~
We have so many things to be thankful for, indeed! Hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Blessings,-bill
Jim,
Thanks for sharing your heart and life with us, through blogging. And have a blessed Thanksgiving and time with your family!
Jim, I’m grateful that I stumbled across your blog a few weeks ago. I find your thoughts and posts so encouraging, insightful and challenging. Thanks for blogging, have a blessed holiday. – trace
Happy Thanksgiving, Jim. I’ve made some calls today, but I feel the separation from my family, living here in Wales. I appreciate your sharing your day with us.
I am thankful for the interesting, insightful, and challenging thoughts you offer us.
So glad I found your blog. 🙂
Hope your Thanksgiving was meaningful and that the coming holiday days will be filled with peace and stillness
Best Regards,
Kathy B.
Trace– So glad you came to this blog a few weeks ago. I appreciate your comments. Kathy B.– Glad you found this blog. Thanks for your words regarding Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays. John K.–I’m thankful you found this blog as well. To everyone else, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.