One of the great joys of Thanksgiving is leftovers. For some reason, turkey and dressing taste just as good reheated as they do fresh out of the oven, maybe better. How much walking would you need to do for a turkey sandwich, some stuffing, some mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a piece of apple pie with ice cream? Over 13 miles! Add some gravy, and you’re up to nearly 15 miles! I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the time to walk 15 miles after a meal, and in my case the ability.

We are right in the middle of the long Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving is an indication of the heart. It shows that our lives are in balance—and that our communication with the Lord is not all about our wants and our needs. There are two levels of gratitude. Let us call them the lower level and the upper level. Unfortunately, and I admit I am in this category, we kind of dwell in the lower level. That is where we see God’s work in our levels as intermittent spurts of goodness. Some big blessing comes along, and we say, “Thank you, Lord!” but living on that level of gratitude only shows that we are selfish, and that we miss the total perspective of God’s goodness. We thank Him for the pleasurable things because our view of goodness is comfort, rather than becoming like Jesus.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9 KJV)

Titus 2:13 KJV

¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

On this 2020 Thanksgiving Holiday, my wife, Joann of nearly 60 years, and I wish to prayerfully convey a most blessed Thanksgiving to each and everyone.

In the familiar story of the 10 lepers, found in Luke 17:11-19, we read where all 10 lepers received the blessing of healing. However, only 1 returned and expressed his gratitude for his deliverance. As a result, he received a blessing of being made whole!

On this Thanksgiving Day we have the benefit of “Unparalleled Hope” through Jesus.

Have a very blessed day!

Pastor Charles and Joann Winchester

¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14 KJV)

Here is a part of the Thanksgiving story you may not know. While the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in October of 1621, it was not until October of 1777 that all 13 colonies celebrated Thanksgiving, for the first time. At one point, our first president, George Washington, proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving, but conflict and difficulties among the colonies put an end to its observance.

It was a magazine editor, Sarah Josepha Hale, whose work led to the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday we observe today. Hale wrote letters to governors and presidents, and editorials in magazines, books, and newspapers, promoting the observance of Thanksgiving. In 1863, after 40 years of letter writing and campaigning (that is not a typo, she really wrote letters for 40 years). Hale’s persistence paid off and President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving. Since then, every president has supported Thanksgiving. Forty years of dedication, persistence, and passion, all to make sure this country world celebrate a National Day of Thanksgiving each year. Impressive

We can learn from Hale’s perseverance. It took her 40 years to accomplish what she set out to do. Her story is often described as a marathon, not a sprint. Each day of our life is another day to choose between right and wrong, to help someone in need, to read our Bible and pray. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:12-14, Christians are called to persevere, to press on. Sometimes it can feel like an unrewarding task. It is hard, but important, to look to God for the BIGGER picture. What if Hale had chosen to give up after one year or ten years? Her goal would have been left unfinished. Press on towards the call of Christ! Endure! But be forewarned, just Sara Josepha Hale, it may take 40 years to see the fruit of your labor!

¹⁷ So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? ¹⁸ Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? Luke 17:17-18 KJV

This is the story of the ten lepers. These ten men had the dreaded, disfiguring disease that made a person unclean, unfit for society, and virtually subhuman. The tremendous physical toll inflicted by this incurable disease was only surpassed by the great emotional toll of feeling worthless, vile, and unlovable.

When these men saw Jesus, they cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13). Jesus responded with compassion and a challenge, telling them to show themselves to the priests. “As they were going they were cleansed” (Luke 17:14). Do you see that? “AS THEY WERE GOING, they were cleansed.” That’s always the way it works with faith. You have to believe God’s Word enough o obey it. When you take a step of faith, then you see God do miracles.

Can you imagine the overwhelming exhilaration these men must have felt? Their leprosy was cleansed! The vile disease that had taken virtually everything from them was now gone! They could return to their families! They could return to society! They could really live again!

Nine of them scurried away to enjoy their great blessing. But one turned back…and he was a hated Samaritan. This man was also overcome with exhilaration at his cleansing, and he wanted to give thanks and praise to the One who made it possible. He could not dream of taking another step without glorifying God and expressing his sincere gratitude. And the Lord responded to his thanksgiving by bestowing on him a far greater gift of salvation. Interestingly, Jesus was wondering aloud about the other men. Where were they? Why was this “foreigner” alone in his thanks?

The question for our day is clear: why do so many experience the goodness of God and so few return with grateful thanksgiving?

THIS THANKSGIVING, let me challenge you, as I challenge myself, to emulate the Samaritan in this story and give thanks. To be sure, thanksgiving can be a sacrifice. Life can be cruel and hard. Circumstances can knock us down and leave us devastated. If we are not careful, we can easily be disillusioned, depressed, critical, cynical and bitter. However, as the old saying goes, “Let’s pick ourselves up by the bootstraps.” Let us “Praise the Lord,” and “Lift our Hands and our Hearts.”

Lord, we give you Thanks.”

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.   1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

In the classis autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of her sufferings at the hands of the Nazis during the evil reign of Adolph Hitler. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were incarcerated at the Nazi concentration camp, Ravensbruck, and experienced terrible atrocities there. On one occasion, they were forced to disrobe before the German soldiers. In that awful, humiliating moment, an amazing discovery came to Corrie’s mind: “They took Jesus’ clothes too. He hung naked for me.” When she relayed that wondrous thought to Betsie, she gasped and said, “Oh, Corrie, and I never thanked Him for it.”

One of the things that made Corrie and Betsie such dynamic Christians was the fact that they chose to see life from God’s perspective. In the worst of situations, they found new insights to praise and thank God.

The Bible tells us that we are to give thanks in everything, the good things and the bad things. In Psalm 50:23, God says, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me.”  In the hard times, thanksgiving is difficult. It is definitely a sacrifice to thank God in a Nazi concentration camp, but it is so very necessary. Thanksgiving honors God, and when you and I honor God, He honors us.

How is your Thanksgiving 2020? Are you facing tough times? Have you been griping and complaining about the things in your life that are hard, lonely, and frustrating? Why not try praising and thanking God for your difficulty. He knows about it. He is over it, and He cares for you. Without question, He has a purpose in every trial.

Start today to live a life of thanksgiving. If you will do this, I promise you on the authority of the Word of God, your attitude will change, and the people around you will be blessed.

26 Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.