How to Make This Thanksgiving Epic

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 just did my last out of town or out of the country meeting for 2019.

I have been privileged to meet with thousands of wonderful pastors and leaders and some really great churches worldwide.

I have had the health to travel, zero bad flights or cancellations, and perfect energy to speak up to 12 times in one week this year.

The Lord gave me the entire curriculum for “Pastors University” that is beginning with 90 pastors in 2020.  So excited!

I’ve read more books, listened to more podcasts and messages, done more workouts, and lost more weight than ever before (by the grace of God.  Let’s hope I keep it up Thanksgiving and Christmas -:).  I’ve been working away at my 10 goals for this year and have reached a number of them already. 

“Can you look back on 2019 with a sense of fulness, 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.  This week, I saw a homeless man sleeping on a Starbucks chair at 6:00 after a freezing night on the street.  It reminded me of how blessed and comfortable my life is.

DESIRES:  I desire to bless thousands of pastors and disciple a million men in my lifetime.  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 2019. 

Join me, will you, in giving Him all the thanks He deserves?