This is how you make this Thanksgiving the best ever

I was surprised the other day when someone told me that many Americans are not even celebrating Thanksgiving.  They see it now as a pointless, even worn-out holiday.  Some even disagree that our founding leaders were godly people.

Ok.  I agree it’s more than turkey and cranberry. 

Here are my thoughts about the “why” of Thanksgiving and the things moving in my heart right now about it:

1.   I am ending this year “full.”

I have been privileged to meet with thousands of wonderful pastors and leaders in some amazing churches this year.

I have been healthy enough to travel, have had very few flight delays, and have had plenty of energy to speak this year, even multiple services on a weekend.

The Lord gave me another two wonderful semesters for “Pastors University” and we were able to launch Pastors University International in Spanish this month!

I’ve been able to walk 1.5 miles most mornings and started back working out with resistance bands. Miracle!

“Can you look back on 2025 with a sense of fulfillment, accomplishment, and growth?”  GIVE THANKS.

“Learn it, earn it, then return it.”

2.  God is blessing me in three wonderful ways:

NEEDS:  My needs are met.  I have plenty of food, a bed to sleep in and a hot shower.  I have warm clothing. 

DESIRES:  I desire to train 100,000 pastors in my lifetime.  I want to help all my grandchildren marry the right person. I want to be able to assist financially in planting 100,000 churches worldwide.  God is even giving me some of the things I greatly desire.

LEGACY:  Someone said, “Learn it, earn it, then return it.”  I don’t need a bridge named after me to have a legacy.  Legacy is people.  I want to raise up spiritual “sons and daughters” in the next generation to take the baton from those of us who are much further down the course.  Pastors University is a beginning of legacy fulfilled. 

“Has God met all of your needs, given you some of your desires, and helped you to start your legacy?”  GIVE HIM THANKS.

Thanksgiving is a day on our calendars where we stop (shut it down), pause, and reflect on the goodness of God. 

I could go on…and on…and on.  “No Thanksgiving? Really?”

Even God stopped on the seventh day and said, It was VERY GOOD.”

As you raise your fork with the first bite on Thursday, set it back down.  Look around the table.  Take a deep breath and look back over 2025. 

Will you join me in giving Him all the thanks, the praise, and the glory He deserves?