Charlie Brown brings out Snoopy’s dinner on Thanksgiving Day. But it was just his usual dog food in a bowl. Snoopy took one look at the dog food and said, “This isn’t fair. The rest of the world is eating turkey with all the trimmings, and all I get is dog food. Because I’m a dog, all I get is dog food.” He stood there and stared at his dog food for a moment, and said, “I guess it could be worse. I could be a turkey.”
Being thankful has a lot to do with perspective, does it not? I can bemoan what I don’t have or be glad for what I do have. Even when trials come and life is hard, didn’t James say, “Consider it pure joy”? Now that’s tough to do!
Thanksgiving Day is upon us. Should giving thanks be limited to a day? Long before President Lincoln issued a proclamation that the last Thursday in November be a day of national Thanksgiving, God called all people to give thanks to their Creator. Check out how often the word “thanks” and “thanksgiving” and “thankful” and the phrase “giving thanks” occur in the Bible. Someone has noted that there are at least 140 references in the Bible to giving thanks.
So instead of it being Thanksgiving, shouldn’t it be, “thanksliving”? Shouldn’t our lives be characterized by thanks? Let’s try thanksliving.
What are some ways we can practice thanksliving?
- Saying “thank you” for a service done (the waitress, the cashier, person who holds the door for you, at the end of a family dinner, etc).
- Throughout the day ponder God’s goodness to you so that your heart is awakened to God’s good gifts.
- Become more aware with your own attitude of entitlement- thoughts like, “I deserve…” or “I should…” or “You owe me…”
- Write a note of thanks to someone (yes, with pen and paper). A text or email expressing thanks can mean a lot too!
- Look to serve others in a practical way.
- In those times you are forced to wait, let your mind count your blessings.
What ideas do you have? How can you cultivate a thankful heart? What do you need to commit to doing in expressing your thanks, not just on Thursday, but all year through?
Tim Keller put it this way, “It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another thing to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.”
Happy Thanksliving!
Pastor Brian
Looking Forward
Sermon Direction
While We Wait
James 5:1-12
Link to This Sunday Worship Service
Marsden Memorial Service
The Memorial Service for Jack and Ann Marsden will be this Saturday, the 4th at 11 am at EBC. There will be a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
Crockpot
There is a black crockpot that still remains from the Trunk or Treat. Would the individual who this belongs to, please get in touch with the office to pick it up.
Cancellation Procedure For Sunday Mornings
In the event of bad weather that would potentially impact services, the following will be taken into consideration: the current weather in Laconia, timing of the weather event, and whether roads, walkways, parking areas will be cleared. A decision will be made by 7:30 am to cancel one or bother of our services. EBC will notify of cancellation using the following: WMUR TV*, Church website news feed www.laconiachurch.com, Email (weekly epistle list), and EBC private and public Facebook pages. *(If 1stservice is cancelled, it will say “No Early Services”, if both services cancelled, it will say “No Sunday Services” on WMUR)
Christmas Extravaganza
Christmas Extravaganza, “dinner and a movie”, will be Friday, December 10th this year. Sign up at the coffee counter.
Help Needed
We will need help on December 5th after the second service setting up for the Christmas Extravaganza. Please plan to stay and lend a hand if you can.
Christmas Eve Service
Candlelight service 6:00 – 7:00 pm December 24th.
December 26th
On December 26th there will be ONLY one service at 10:45 am. January 2nd we will resume with the two services.