Thanksgiving 2012

It was Thanksgiving Day 1976. Two of my roommates and I were sitting around in our living room discussing what we would do and eat for the day. Most of our friends had cleared the campus, leaving it as a ghost town, and then jetted out of town to be with their families for the holidays. We wished we could do the same, but our families lived half way across the country in California, plus we didn’t have the resources to make the trip anyway.

Meanwhile, we racked our brains for options, but it became more and more apparent that we would be stuck in our apartment all by our lonesome selves for Thanksgiving Day. It wasn’t that we didn’t like each other or that we had any real challenges hanging out together, it was simply that we were desperately missing our families. The more we talked about it the more dejected we became. Besides, we weren’t accustomed to fixing holiday meals. In those days as athletes, we had meal cards. Most of our meals were provided by the school cafeteria. The closest I ever got to cooking up a meal was heating up a can of chicken noodle soup.

Suddenly, there was a knock on our door. For a moment, we all curiously looked at each other and wondered who it could possibly be. I quickly jumped off the couch onto my feet and opened the door. Before I could say a word, unexpected friends with multiple food trays in hand, charged into our small kitchen, and for the next few minutes unloaded from their car a complete home cooked Thanksgiving meal for us! I couldn’t believe it! One minute we were sulking the next we had room service! Wow, what an amazing act of kindness!

They told us later that they had found out that we weren’t going to be with our families so they decided to bring family to us! They too had made plans to leave town, but decided to stick around long enough to cook us up a meal first then head out to be with their loved ones! They quickly dropped off the meal, wished us Happy Thanksgiving and left. We were stunned! As they ran out the door, we thanked them for everything and promised to wash their dishes before we returned them. We ate like kings that day and discussed how thoughtful, sacrificial and kind they were to remember us. It was one of the most memorable Thanksgiving Day and meal I’ve ever had!

I’m thankful because God is so good! “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1) Good then, now and forever! Good all the time!

I’m thankful because He knows me! He knows me in detail and knows my every need. “…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” (Mathew 6:8) All my needs are met in Him! He supplies for my needs, I must choose to be content.

I’m thankful because His peace guards my heart! “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything…..If you do this, you will experience God’s peace….His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) When I fail to trust Him my heart can become anxious. I rest in His peace!

And yes, I’m thankful for freedom and for those who shed their blood to secure it. I’m thankful for family and friends, for without them, it would be a lonely existence. I’m thankful for good health, mobility and the ability to breathe, think, dream, pray and sing. I’m thankful for His bountiful provision and all the benefits of like that I enjoy.

Last but not least I’m thankful for salvation, grace, faith, forgiveness, eternal security, wisdom, purpose and unspeakable joy for without these all else would simply be boring rubbish! Thanksgiving is about selflessness, helping and caring for each other, remembering and sharing with others who are hurting and suffering and doing what we can to make a difference in the name of Christ. 

May the God of love and peace fill your hearts, today and always, as you contemplate, celebrate and share His goodness with a thankful heart.

The Redeemer's Covering

Recently I was thinking back on when I spent a few years in the Midwest. It was in the late 70’s. I was attending Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri at the time. It was wintertime and for some reason I felt it would be helpful to polish up on my swimming skills. So I signed up for a class. Once a week a bus would pick us up and transport us to another campus cross town which had a beautiful indoor swimming facility. Our bus driver’s name was old Sarge. He was probably in his sixties at the time and seemed like a nice enough fellow. One day after returning from swimming lessons I happened to be the last student exiting the bus. Before I hopped off, Sarge nudged me and asked me to wait, because he had something he wanted to give me. He quickly reached over to the left side of the driver’s seat and handed me a big brown paper bag. I had no idea what it could be. I curiously reached into the bag and pulled out a beautiful brand new winter coat! Amazingly, he had taken notice that I didn’t own a coat so he went out and bought me one! Sarge knew that the weather in the Midwest was a bit more brutal than California’s mild climate. He told me he wanted to make sure that I stayed covered up and warm for the winter, it was so kind and thoughtful of him. It made me feel so good that he took it upon himself to genuinely look out for me! I thanked him and have never forgotten his kindness. I’m reminded of how Ruth had lost her husband, took Naomi’s counsel and sought out Boaz as her family redeemer. “After Boaz had finished his meal and was in good spirits, he lay down beside the heap of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Around midnight, Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a women lying at his feet! “Who are you?” he demanded. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” (Ruth 3:7-9) We too need the covering of our precious Redeemer over our lives, families, cities and nation! Seriously, can we continue to survive, enjoy our traditional freedoms and prosper without His covering? What will our daily lives, the lives of our loved ones, look like in the next 3, 5 or ten years if we as a nation persist along the same compromising path? How will you personally be impacted if the collective spiritual and moral character of this world remains by and large unchanged? In scripture a women can be symbolic of the church. The church, like Ruth and Mary must remain positioned reverently, humbly in earnest service and prayer at the feet of Jesus. There she will plainly hear and submissively follow His voice. Like Ruth, she must become ever increasingly desperate for greater intimacy, protection and provision. Like Mary, she must pursue a wholehearted single mindedness to minister and follow in the same spiritual footsteps of Jesus. Yes, incessantly adore Him, but also do the things He did as He commanded us to do! We don’t want to be caught uncovered in winter. In many ways it feels like winter. Where is your mind and heart today? What is your focus and devotion? Are distractions overwhelming you and causing you to drift? If you’re like me, I need intentional daily shifts to keep me aligned and positioned in the heart and at the feet of Jesus. Stay covered! Like Sarge, notice, remember and reach out to those who aren’t! With respect and dignity wear the coat of many colors. Keep a firm grip on the hem of His garment and cloth yourself with the most important piece of clothing which is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Col.3:14) He’ll keep you warm in His redemptive love. Jesus, our Redeemer, covers and protects us from the onslaught and vulnerability of these dark and disagreeable worldly conditions. We certainly need another radical awakening and sovereign move of the Holy Spirit that compels us to rush and rest under the shadow of His love. There we can fill up and fuel up then gracefully spill out into a desperate and despairing world, bringing hope and transforming lives for Christ! Remain in Him! Be still under His protection, there’s peace, joy, strength and safe refuge there.