Thanksgiving Isn't Over

Well, made it through November. We made it through Turkey Day. Hope yours was amazing. The next Thanksgiving is a little less than a year away, but Thanksgiving is over… but not really. The holiday is definitely over… but that doesn’t mean we have to stop giving thanks. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday despite our peculiar circumstances. Sunday before last, from the pulpit I talked to you all from Colossians 3 about the ruling peace that Christ brings us by his amazing love, and the praise that flows from us because of that love. “and be Thankful.” So, I hope you’re ready for more thanksgiving. I hope you’re ready for never ending thanksgiving.

Thankfulness is the fuel that drives our praise. When we have gratitude for God in our hearts it presses us on to lift him up even more. This last Thursday, we all saw countless posts giving thanks to God, signs out in folks yards saying things like “count your blessings.” We all sat around the table with people we loved and talked about all the ways God has blessed us and how he continues to bless us.

That’s all good… but it shouldn’t just be once a year. What if every day was like this? What if we all met with our families and loved ones and in small groups and our conversations were set on praising God in subtle and overt ways? What if we posted reasons to praise God all the time? What if every day we found someone to share God’s blessings with? 

What happens when we keep it going past the Holiday?

In Psalm 69.30 the Psalmist says, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Notice this idea of magnifying—bringing into focus. This is what we do when we praise everywhere we go. Bring the praise out with you so that you can magnify God. Praise isn’t something we do on a Sunday, it’s a rhythm of faith that goes with us every day that we have. 

So don’t think I’m letting you off the hook after one Sunday sermon about thankfulness and praise—I want you to “excel still more” and keep on praising no matter how many more twist and turns we face this year. I’m gonna try my best. Won’t you join me?