Peace and good in Christ! Happy Thanksgiving!
Saint Paul teaches us to "thank God always and for everything in Jesus Christ." Psalm 100 teaches us to enter his courts with songs of praise and thanksgiving. The psalms teach us that God is actually enthroned on the praises of His people.
Especially in these times of such grave trouble in the world as we face terrorism, war, poverty, discouragement, and despair, it is so important for us to begin every day with an "attitude of gratitude." We must be a "people of praise."This does not happen automatically. It is an act of the will. It is a decision and one that we must make every day. Personally, if I don't do this every morning my day can easily turn from positive and productive, to negative and unproductive. This is not the will of God for me, or for you.
We have a special day in our country to give thanks to God on Thanksgiving. For Christians this takes on special significance. Jesus thanked God, not only for his resurrection and life in the Spirit, but also for his crucifixion. The saints and martyrs gave thanks to God, not only in their many successes, but also in their trials, tribulations, and seeming defeats. In fact, the trials, tribulations and defeats are turned into victories when approached through faith. Faith is the substance, or personification, of things hoped for, of things not yet seen. "We walk by faith, and not by sight." We become a walking miracle in the midst of the mundane things that can drag us down without Christ.
We thank God for the many blessings we enjoy in this country, which millions of others around the world can only dream of. We even thank God for the challenges and problems we face in these days. It is through both the blessings and the challenges that we grow strong in Christ.
So, "thank God always and for everything in Jesus Christ." Let's make a special effort on the special Thanksgiving Day.
I love you guys. Remember, "All things are possible with God!"
In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder, Spiritual Father, and General Minister
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity
Troubadour for the Lord
350 CR 248
Berryville, Arkansas 72616, United States
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