A Thanksgiving Miracle: Thanksgiving 2007
Philippians 4:4-9 (New Living Translation)
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
I remember the way Thanksgiving used to be. From early in the morning, the
family would happily start gathering together. As soon as we got in the door, everyone would quickly go to their places to do their appointed chores. From the oldest to the youngest, everyone had a job to do, and we were all so excited to be together that everyone would joyfully pitch in. When it came time for the meal, we went around the room, each giving thanks for momentous things the Lord had done for us. We were always careful to remember those who might be hungry or alone on the holiday. Then, in orderly fashion, we helped ourselves to reasonable portions of the delicious food and found our places to eat. The conversation around the table was always uplifting and edifying, not only to those present, but also regarding those who weren’t around. After the meal, we would scurry to help clean up. Finally, after a wonderful day with the family, it was time to return home.
Or…
After multiple fights on every conceivable subject (including the good old, "You’re not wearing that are you?"), we finally got in the car and headed for a boring day with the relatives. We fought the whole way there. Once we got there, the kids were given tasks. The boys were to set up tables and chairs, and the girls were to help in the kitchen where the women were already hard at work. The men sat on the couch and watched TV, even if it was just the Macy’s Parade (which they grumbled about – there should have been an early football game on so they
wouldn’t have had to watch a parade). We boys would get half done with our job and go outside to fight. I mean to play football, which would degenerate into a fight. The girls and women would continue breaking their backs and scorching their arms while preparing the food, all the while getting in each other’s way, arguing about recipes, and gossiping (I mean, telling "concerned information") about relatives who weren’t there. By the time the food was finally ready (and I say finally because the big meal was never at a usual meal time, and nobody was allowed to eat anything until the big meal was served "you’ll spoil your appetite!"), everyone was grumpy and irritable. Someone said a prayer and it was always too long – meanwhile everyone was subtly jockeying for position to get to the food first. Then, with plates loaded with enough food to feed an entire third-world nation for weeks, we headed for the separate tables to chow. The conversation around the tables mostly centered on crude jokes, more gossip, or prank plans (depending on which table you sat at). After the meal, nobody could move because everyone had eaten way too much food. The men and boys retired to concentrate on the football game (though in reality, none of them cared about either team), and the women and girls had to clean up the mess. A few hours (and multiple fights) later, it was time to get back in the car and head home to the endless left-over food (that nobody wanted, and somehow you ended up with it all).
Which of these sounds most familiar?
The funny thing is I was describing the same Thanksgiving event, only from different perspective. It can be easy to remember fondly the things that might not have been so pleasant while you were experiencing them.
But here’s the deal: we have a choice in how we remember those times. Will we choose to remember the good parts, or will we dwell on the bad?
This is true not only for the past, but for the present as well. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, telling them to be full of joy in the Lord, to refrain from worry but pray about everything. To tell God what you need and thank him for what he has done. He told them to fix their thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
What makes Paul’s exhortation remarkable was that he lived this out – and not simply during family gatherings, either. Paul wrote (and lived) this from prison. His ideas weren’t simply based on nostalgic feelings that painted a picture that was better than his experiences. Rather, God transformed him right in the midst of and despite his experiences.
Too often I hear the complaints. Too often the glass is half-empty (and it might as well be cracked, too, so it can’t be filled over half). But what would happen if we all began taking Paul’s command seriously? What would it do for our Thanksgiving gatherings? What would it do for our community if we fixed our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable? What if our thoughts centered on things that are excellent and worthy of praise? What might that do to our conversations? What would our attitude be about others?
Then, what if we follow that up with Paul’s final command in this passage? The people in Philippi were supposed to act like Christians as well. This would be a Thanksgiving miracle.
Why do I say that? Thanksgiving is a day of eating. It’s my favorite meal of the year. Many of us eat until we can’t move. I know one family who would buy new sweatpants for that meal – complete with very stretchy elastic waistbands! Meanwhile, around the world, children are dying as a result of hunger-related causes at a rate of one every three seconds.
Thanksgiving is a day of conversation. Will you talk about all the blessings God has given you – too numerous to even count, or will your conversation default to unhealthy gossip?
Thanksgiving is a day of togetherness. But what about those who are outsiders? What about those whom you look down upon? What about those who don’t have the right name or pedigree?
Thanksgiving is a day of family gatherings. This area is big on family. But what about those who are alone? What about those who have lost loved ones, who are estranged from loved ones, or who are separated from those loved ones by hundreds or thousands of miles? You might be one of those people who can’t be close to your loved ones – what will your attitude be? Will you sit alone and mope, or will you fix your thoughts on things that are excellent and worthy of praise? Will you allow yourself to be mired in self-pity, or will you think about the Apostle Paul, who rejoiced even while spending his last days imprisoned?
Each of us has a choice. We can actually choose our thought life. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells them that "we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ." This is your assignment for Thanksgiving… and beyond. Examine your thought life. Enter into a "no complain" pact – decide that for you, Thanksgiving will be a complaint-free zone. You aren’t going to complain about anything. Or maybe you’ll extend that for the rest of the month, or through the end of 2007.
Whatever it is, do something. You’ll find God transforming you from the inside out, and that will be our Thanksgiving miracle.
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
I remember the way Thanksgiving used to be. From early in the morning, the
family would happily start gathering together. As soon as we got in the door, everyone would quickly go to their places to do their appointed chores. From the oldest to the youngest, everyone had a job to do, and we were all so excited to be together that everyone would joyfully pitch in. When it came time for the meal, we went around the room, each giving thanks for momentous things the Lord had done for us. We were always careful to remember those who might be hungry or alone on the holiday. Then, in orderly fashion, we helped ourselves to reasonable portions of the delicious food and found our places to eat. The conversation around the table was always uplifting and edifying, not only to those present, but also regarding those who weren’t around. After the meal, we would scurry to help clean up. Finally, after a wonderful day with the family, it was time to return home.Or…
After multiple fights on every conceivable subject (including the good old, "You’re not wearing that are you?"), we finally got in the car and headed for a boring day with the relatives. We fought the whole way there. Once we got there, the kids were given tasks. The boys were to set up tables and chairs, and the girls were to help in the kitchen where the women were already hard at work. The men sat on the couch and watched TV, even if it was just the Macy’s Parade (which they grumbled about – there should have been an early football game on so they
wouldn’t have had to watch a parade). We boys would get half done with our job and go outside to fight. I mean to play football, which would degenerate into a fight. The girls and women would continue breaking their backs and scorching their arms while preparing the food, all the while getting in each other’s way, arguing about recipes, and gossiping (I mean, telling "concerned information") about relatives who weren’t there. By the time the food was finally ready (and I say finally because the big meal was never at a usual meal time, and nobody was allowed to eat anything until the big meal was served "you’ll spoil your appetite!"), everyone was grumpy and irritable. Someone said a prayer and it was always too long – meanwhile everyone was subtly jockeying for position to get to the food first. Then, with plates loaded with enough food to feed an entire third-world nation for weeks, we headed for the separate tables to chow. The conversation around the tables mostly centered on crude jokes, more gossip, or prank plans (depending on which table you sat at). After the meal, nobody could move because everyone had eaten way too much food. The men and boys retired to concentrate on the football game (though in reality, none of them cared about either team), and the women and girls had to clean up the mess. A few hours (and multiple fights) later, it was time to get back in the car and head home to the endless left-over food (that nobody wanted, and somehow you ended up with it all).Which of these sounds most familiar?
The funny thing is I was describing the same Thanksgiving event, only from different perspective. It can be easy to remember fondly the things that might not have been so pleasant while you were experiencing them.
But here’s the deal: we have a choice in how we remember those times. Will we choose to remember the good parts, or will we dwell on the bad?
This is true not only for the past, but for the present as well. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, telling them to be full of joy in the Lord, to refrain from worry but pray about everything. To tell God what you need and thank him for what he has done. He told them to fix their thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
What makes Paul’s exhortation remarkable was that he lived this out – and not simply during family gatherings, either. Paul wrote (and lived) this from prison. His ideas weren’t simply based on nostalgic feelings that painted a picture that was better than his experiences. Rather, God transformed him right in the midst of and despite his experiences.
Too often I hear the complaints. Too often the glass is half-empty (and it might as well be cracked, too, so it can’t be filled over half). But what would happen if we all began taking Paul’s command seriously? What would it do for our Thanksgiving gatherings? What would it do for our community if we fixed our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable? What if our thoughts centered on things that are excellent and worthy of praise? What might that do to our conversations? What would our attitude be about others?
Then, what if we follow that up with Paul’s final command in this passage? The people in Philippi were supposed to act like Christians as well. This would be a Thanksgiving miracle.
Why do I say that? Thanksgiving is a day of eating. It’s my favorite meal of the year. Many of us eat until we can’t move. I know one family who would buy new sweatpants for that meal – complete with very stretchy elastic waistbands! Meanwhile, around the world, children are dying as a result of hunger-related causes at a rate of one every three seconds.
Thanksgiving is a day of conversation. Will you talk about all the blessings God has given you – too numerous to even count, or will your conversation default to unhealthy gossip?
Thanksgiving is a day of togetherness. But what about those who are outsiders? What about those whom you look down upon? What about those who don’t have the right name or pedigree?
Thanksgiving is a day of family gatherings. This area is big on family. But what about those who are alone? What about those who have lost loved ones, who are estranged from loved ones, or who are separated from those loved ones by hundreds or thousands of miles? You might be one of those people who can’t be close to your loved ones – what will your attitude be? Will you sit alone and mope, or will you fix your thoughts on things that are excellent and worthy of praise? Will you allow yourself to be mired in self-pity, or will you think about the Apostle Paul, who rejoiced even while spending his last days imprisoned?
Each of us has a choice. We can actually choose our thought life. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells them that "we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ." This is your assignment for Thanksgiving… and beyond. Examine your thought life. Enter into a "no complain" pact – decide that for you, Thanksgiving will be a complaint-free zone. You aren’t going to complain about anything. Or maybe you’ll extend that for the rest of the month, or through the end of 2007.
Whatever it is, do something. You’ll find God transforming you from the inside out, and that will be our Thanksgiving miracle.
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