“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isnʼt there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Arenʼt you more valuable than they are?

And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, wonʼt he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, donʼt worry saying, ʻWhat will we eat?ʼ or ʻWhat will we drink?ʼ or ʻWhat will we wear?ʼ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34

Thankful Hearts! This is what Thanksgiving should be all about. Thanksgiving should be about contemplating and praying and thanking G-d for all of the blessings you have — and then living your life as if you were actually “Thankful”. Thanksgiving is not about football — though I have watched a lot of football on Thanksgiving. It is not about eating too much — so much that is, until you feel as if your stomach will burst open. Thanksgiving is not about family gatherings — though many of you will gather with family today — and some will have so much family that the fighting will land them in jail for the night. No. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks to G-d and having a thankful heart.

Having a thankful heart should lead us to live lives of thankfulness. Now, how does living a life with a heart of thankfulness change your heart, and your life? Well, as I see it, it begins with love, justice, mercy and Grace. We should live our lives with hearts of love. We should live our lives with hearts of justice. We should live our lives with hearts of mercy. And finally, when we live focusing our lives on love, mercy and justice, then we will have hearts of Grace.

Once you have a heart filled with G-d’s Grace, then you begin to live a life of Thanks-living. Grace should drive us out of our complacency and lethargy and live lives that reflect gratitude for the Grace that G-d has poured into us through the cross of Jesus Christ. If Thanksgiving is the holiday — then “Thanks-living” is the response.

If you focus your lives on love, justice, mercy and Grace then I’m not so sure you could live a thank-less life.

What are you thankful for?

Pastor Dave