Dear Friends and Family of RRUMC,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I love this holiday. It is a holiday that is especially wonderful in my wife’s family.
My first Thanksgiving Day with her family, there were 42 people at one long table that stretched from one end of the living room, through the dining room, and to an outer most wall of the family room. It was quite a first Thanksgiving with her family. It was also one of the most wonderful Thanksgivings I have ever experienced. I thank God for my wife and her incredible family who welcomed me in over 20 years ago.
In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Give thanks to God in all circumstances. When I hear that, am reminded to thank God before God even acts in my life. Give thanks before he showers me with blessings or gets me through the next bout in my life with the wind and the waves. It is very easy to thank God at Thanksgiving as we look around the table and see and smell all the incredible food. It’s easy to thank God for all of the family gathered together. It is even easy to thank God for all the NFL football on that day along with the Macy’s parade. However, have you ever thanked God for what God is about to do? I feel like if we do that, then we are waiting with hopeful expectation and thanksgiving because we know God is about to act.
That is what I am hoping and praying for you this Thanksgiving and Advent/Christmas season. I am praying for you not to just anticipate the love and joy of the upcoming holiday season, but may you wait with expectation. In our Advent study from Matt Rawle, called “Experiencing Christmas: Christ in the sights and sounds of Advent,” Rawle talks about the difference between anticipation and expectation. To thank God before God moves in our lives is to act with anticipation. May you approach this holiday and Christmas time with the anticipation of the fact that God will do something great in your life. I know that the greatest thing God will do is give you the gift of His one and only Son. That is the greatest reason to give thanks in all circumstances, knowing that Jesus will once again be born this year. That is why I thank God today, quite a while before December 25. I do that because I have an incredible expectation for that day again this year. I hope you do too. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Dan