Thanksgiving — Six

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

This is the last of this thanksgiving series, and I wanted to ask, “How are you feeling today?” Are you over Thanksgiving? On to Christmas, decorations in the yard? Are you even feeling a little grumpy after fighting Black Friday shoppers trying to get a great price on a much-needed item?
Myra and I are still basking in a glow of gratitude. We went grocery shopping today and got a free gift when we checked out. When the system didn’t have the price for our mushrooms, the Supervisor let us have them free of charge instead of making us wait until they found it. And that was just the first of the things we’re going to be grateful for in our new thanksgiving year. And then after that we had a productive day (even a little “Black Friday” shopping to replace a failed blender!) and a sweet date night (the Kirk Cameron movie “Saving Christmas” and a local restaurant we’d never been to before). We have a lot to be grateful for!
Pardon me for getting a little grammatical now. But here goes … Christianity is a faith that should be lived mostly in the “continuous present”. That’s a tense that is used in English for events that are happening now at this very moment, and for things happening now that are part of a long-running process. You might think I’m being a bit technical — but let me give you some examples.
I am being saved. Right now. It’s a continuous process that started before, is happening now, and is going on into the future.
I am praying now, this instant. I am to pray without ceasing — it is a continuous process that started a long time ago, is happening now, and should continue into the future.
So it ought to be with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving should start at the awe-inspiring life-changing moment when a Christian surrenders to Christ. It should continue at every moment from now into the eternal future.
Some of you, I know, are going through rough times right now — sickness, job loss, family problems … — so please forgive me if this seems a little insensitive. All I can do is offer some thoughts from scripture and hope they help:

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

It’s not always easy living a life of continuous thanksgiving. It hangs upon faith … The humble acceptance of God’s goodness, even when we don’t quite recognize it. Have a thankful year!