GIVING OF THANKS

By Jay Pearson

 

Thanksgiving
Some call it a time of gathering,
A time of sitting down with family
Collectively being thankful for each other
And the abundance of food.
A time for turkey, dressing, pecan or pumpkin pie,
Parades, football, a movie at the local theatre.
The springboard to Black Friday
And Cyber Monday.
A prime time to get instead of give.
The beginning of the Happy Holidays season.
Holy days? Or Hollow (empty) days?

As for me and many others
Whom I call my Brothers and Sisters
it is a time of giving thanks.
Appreciation expressed toward the One
Who gave His last fleshly breath on the cross
For my eternal breath in Him
At His resurrection.
Taking those nails in His hands
That belonged in my hands.
Taking those nails in His feet
That belonged in my feet.
Jesus took my sin upon Himself
when he was sinless.
He died for that sin.
Those nails were driven into flesh, not spirit.
The physical pain was excruciating.
Despising the shame that belongs to me,
He endured that I might live.
The hours of torture,
The nails, the shame,
The hours hanging on that cross
Unimaginable!
I did not feel any of that pain,
but I deserved to feel it all.
Why did He do it?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

I give thanks to my Lord
My God,
My Savior,
My Wisdom,
My Righteousness,
My Sanctification,
My Life Eternal,
The Lord Jesus Christ.
This day and everyday
I give thanks to my Lord.
This to me is Thanksgiving.
Giving thanks to Him
In appreciation for paying the price
For me to live with Him.

 But God commendeth his love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)

 

 

 

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Presented November 18, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana