Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year for enjoying family and friends. As a National Holiday, it calls us as Americans to reflect on the blessings we have received from God. In the midst of the ambience of cornstalks and pumpkins, of turkeys and cornucopias, of parades and football games, we simply enjoy one another and celebrate our abundance. As with other holidays, however, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement and to forget to truly thank God for His abundant love and grace which He has given to us in Christ Jesus. Also, we sometimes forget that a thankful spirit to the Lord is intended by God to be based on something far deeper than the temporal benefits of life. His providential care, even in the hardest of circumstances and in the worst of times, is a cause for perpetual celebration by the people of God. In fact 1 Thessalonians 5:18 seems to indicate that anytime we are not thankful to God for whatever He is allowing to happen in our lives, we are out of the will of God. This is a tall order, to be sure - but God is faithful to His people and for that we can always be thankful. (42:30)