This week, all across America people will be
celebrating the holiday of Thanksgiving. It has become a time of feasting
and football, of gathering with family, of indulging in the richness of food
available in our wealthy nation.

The holiday of Thanksgiving began as an expression of thanks to God. Through the struggles of migrating to a new
land, encountering disease, death, and lack of provision, the Pilgrims made it
through with God’s help. The Lord blessed them with help from the Native Americans,
with food, with life. This celebration was a reflection of the goodness
of God to his people.

Too often, our thanks extend only to the gifts we have received, and forget the
giver of those gifts. Too often, we focus on what we have or don’t have,
instead of who we have. God is to be thanked more for his love, his goodness,
than for the gifts He gives.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (1
Chronicles 16:34)

As we focus on God’s unfailing love, his goodness, his pure light and wonderful
caring, our hearts can be filled with joy. In times of need or pain, in
the busyness of life, it can be hard to maintain our thankfulness. But
the Bible clearly calls us to maintain thankfulness in all circumstances.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1
Thessalonians 5:16-18)

One of the best ways to turn one’s heart to thankfulness is to realize that
every good thing in life has come from God. This encompasses everything
- one’s very life, one’s family, one’s abilities, the world around us, one’s
wealth and possessions, even our success.

“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life”
(Job 33:4)

God has provided all we need for this life and eternity with His own greatness
and power. He is to be praised and thanked above all else.

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About David Edmisten

David Edmisten is the President of justopenthebook.com, an
online ministry encouraging others to develop a closer relationship with God by
opening and studying His word. After
years of living in the world’s ways, this self- described “heavy metal guy” found
and accepted Jesus Christ as His savior in 2005. With God’s help, he has overcome addictions
and learned to live by faith to serve God.

After more than ten years in the financial services
industry, most recently as a Financial Advisor, David felt called by God to
leave the corporate world and start on online Christian ministry. A native Californian, David and his family
moved sight unseen to Cumming, GA
(north of Atlanta)
in 2008. David lives with his wife
Kristy and their 4 young children, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor
activities, music, games and family fun.
David has earned the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation
from the College for Financial Planning and is a graduate of the University of California,
Santa Barbara. He is a member of High Tech Ministries in Atlanta and has led small
groups in men’s and financial ministries.
He enjoys playing guitar, writing, speaking, and sharing God’s
word. He is also author of the Faith
Takers blog (http://justopenthebook.com/faithtakers),
which is the journal of his walk of faith since leaving the corporate world to
follow God.Learn more at:
http://www.justopenthebook.com

http://justopenthebook.com/faithtakers

http://www.justopenthebook.com/forum

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