Monthly Archives: November 2022

In a few hours Ana and I will be hitting the road, joining millions of other travelers heading out to be with loved ones and friends for Thanksgiving. Usually our kids come to us during the holidays, but this time we’re going to them. It’s a long drive, but it will be worth it just to be with them for a while.

Thanksgiving is such a special time. It’s a time to be with friends and family, to eat good food (usually too much of it), play games, and, of course, watch some football. Most importantly it’s a time for giving thanks for all the blessings God has poured out on us through the last year.

We’ll thank God for family and friends, for our jobs, for our homes. We’ll thank Him for good health and His protection on the roads. We’ll praise Him for our successes, for that promotion at work, or for that new car in the drive.

All these things are great and it’s easy to be thankful for them, but I wonder, is it enough? What about the other things, the shattered dreams, the setbacks, the things we don’t even like to think about? Is it even possible to be thankful when we lose our jobs, our health deteriorates, or when we lose someone we love?

It seems crazy, but this is exactly what God wants us to do. He tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

All circumstances? Isn’t that asking a little much? How can I possibly give thanks when life turns sour, when hopes and dreams are dashed, when illness strikes, when a loved one dies? Isn’t God being kind of unreasonable here?

Not if we believe the promise in Romans 8:28, “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

When we are God’s children, He turns everything in our world upside down. Even the bad things work out for our good. Setbacks become successes. Loss becomes gain. Even death loses its power, because someday soon, God “will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces.” (Isaiah 25:8).

You see, we serve a God who loves us with “an everlasting love”. (Jeremiah 31:3). He loves us so much “he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). And this same God, “who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

This Thanksgiving, I challenge you to give “thanks to God the Father for everything.” (Ephesians 5:20). That includes the good and the bad, because our God will turn even the bad things into something good, if we will only trust Him today and all through the coming year. Put Him to the test and “give thanks in all circumstances”. You’re going to be amazed at what He does!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I had the most amazing experience last Sabbath! I held a deer in my arms!

I had accidently left the gate open to our garden and when I looked out my window I saw a doe and her two fawns happily munching down on tomatoes, basil and squash.

When I entered the garden to shoo them out, they freaked! Frantically they ran back and forth, trying to escape. Finally, the mother and one fawn found the gate and ran out, but the other fawn chose to throw himself repeatedly against the fence, ending up stuck in the wire about 5 feet off the ground.

He struggled for a minute, then gave up, hanging there pathetically and bleating for help. I cautiously approached him and took him in my arms. Lifting him up, I carefully pulled his legs and head free and set him down on the ground. He immediately ran out the gate, without even saying, “Thank you.” Ungrateful creature!

It was so cool holding that fawn in my arms! I’ll never forget the feeling! Later, however, I got thinking about how much like him I am. Far too often I go wandering into places or situations where I don’t belong, seeking pleasure or just a distraction, but instead find myself trapped by my own wants and desires, unable to break free.

Then Jesus comes to help me and show me the way out, but I run away, afraid to give control, trying to free myself on my own. Instead, I end up even more helplessly ensnared than before.

Finally realizing I can’t free myself, I stop struggling and bleat for help. Without hesitation, Jesus takes me in His arms and gently lifts me out of the mess I’ve put myself in. Unfortunately, like the fawn, once I’m free, I too often run away again, without even a “Thank you” for what He’s done.

Thankfully, I’m learning slowly, learning if I stay close to Jesus, like the other fawn stayed close to its mother, I don’t have to get entangled by my mistakes in the first place.

All of us, at one time or another, have found ourselves in similar situations, trapped by our “sin that so easily entangles.” (Hebrews 12:1) The next time this happens to you I hope you’ll take a lesson from the fawn. Stop struggling and call out to Jesus for help. Don’t be afraid. He loves you and He promises, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37 NIV).

No matter what the sin that has you trapped today, God can provide a way out. If you let Him, He will take you in his arms and set you free. And “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36).