~What is Thanksgiving really about?
   
For some, it’s just another holiday with lots of good food to eat. But for us as Christians, it’s more than that! It’s a day where we stop and remember all of God’s blessings to us, thanking Him for what He’s done for each one of us.

Thanks to God!
(by August Ludwig Storm, translated by Carl E. Backstrom)
 
Thanks to God for my Redeemer, Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a mem’ry, Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, cheerful springtime, Thanks for summer, winter, fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace within my soul!
 
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!
 
Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for homes and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope for the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity!
 
      “O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.”
—1 Chronicles 16:34

      “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.”—Hebrews 13:15
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      “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:18

Last time, we unpacked the glorious promise of Jeremiah 31:14, realizing that God wants to satiate our souls with living water and soak our lives in His all-sufficient presence.  This is a wonderful truth to apply to our lives; but most of us fall short of living it as we should.  We know that our Lord is all we truly need—that He alone can bring lasting satisfaction—but we focus our energies on earthly things as if they will fulfill and complete us.  We convince ourselves that “if only” we could have this thing or reach that place or become this different person, we would finally be happy; and instead, we wind up empty and miserable.  Our gracious Heavenly Father wants much more for us than this!  He wants us to know true satisfaction, to walk through each day with joy, and to showcase His glory before an empty, miserable world.  His vision for His children is not merely to survive the daily grind, but to thrive in the midst of its challenges.  Here is a description of the life He wants for us.  The last verse is one you will recognize.  “. . . [A]nd they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord . . . [T]heir life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. . . . I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.  I will [satiate] the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord” (Jer. 31:12-14 ESV – emphasis added; same for the following verses).

It is God’s will that we be content with everything that He has given or not given us. It is Satan’s goal to do everything he can to make us discontent with what God has given or not given. 

“Brrrrring!” As the phone echoed through the house, there was a clatter of feet on the stairs, and within seconds an enthusiastic little voice was calling, “Margaret! It’s for you!”

Laying down the napkins she’d been folding, Margaret hurried over. “Thanks, Joseph,” she smiled, before saying into the phone, “Hello, this is Margaret.” Her face lit up with pleasure as she recognized the voice of her friend Jennifer—a phone call from her was a once-or-twice-a-year affair.
For perhaps fifteen minutes, the girls talked about the various little events since their last chat some months before, but Margaret could tell that something was on her friend’s mind. At last, Jennifer burst out:

​“My sister Annie is engaged to Thomas Craddock from church!”

​I always have an anxious excitement when I am about to buy a plane ticket. You are planning for a fun trip, but at the same time you are spending a lot of money on something you can’t return. As I was doing this a few weeks ago, I was meticulously going through my itinerary to make sure I had everything right. Finally I clicked to finalize the purchase, but it came up with an ‘ERROR’ screen. It appeared that it hadn’t gone through, but it wouldn’t let me purchase the tickets when I tried again. I was feeling a little frustrated, because I really wanted to get them finalized before prices went up. With no other option, I waited until the next morning to try again. And lo, and behold, it ended up that the tickets were cheaper! As I sat there thanking the Lord, I felt like the Lord saying, “If I can orchestrate your circumstances to save you a little money, how much more can I provide for you in the area of marriage?’ I was humbled. ‘Oh.  Yes,  Lord. You are able to work out my future in Your perfect timing and in Your perfect way.’ God used a small daily experience to remind me of His goodness and care.

It can be challenging to maintain a cheerful attitude and a vision for a future family when that future family seems so elusive. If you’re like me, the prospect of marriage may appear slim. Mr. Right isn’t around and he’s not even on the horizon or over the horizon. It’s easy to wonder if he died at birth and the possibility of becoming an old, grouchy spinster continues to loom bigger and bigger. While your friends get married and raise their children, you are still waiting and waiting, and waiting some more. Your overflowing Hope Chest becomes more of a Hopeless Chest and you wonder if life has passed you by. 

In this world that we live, society screams out that we are to be given what we think will make us happy now. There is no thought of waiting until the time is right, until you have enough money saved, or until the Lord brings it to pass. We must help out. The flesh desires and wants it now. There is no encouragement in anything to be content where you are and wait. This life misses out on the blessings we have, worrying about what the future holds. "But godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)