God's Thanksgiving List

At HRock Church, we always have a service on Thanksgiving morning, and I give people an opportunity to publicly offer thanks for the good things that have happened in their lives over the past year. Of course, I am also able to share my own Thanksgiving list.

This year, five events were Thanksgiving stand outs for me: the birth of my granddaughter Annabelle on January 25, my grandmother's centennial birthday party in Korea in March, my youngest daughter Mary receiving her Masters degree from Pepperdine, celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary, and my son getting engaged in October.

We also had many exciting events in our local and international ministries, including some important breakthroughs, especially in China. But for me, personal family happenings struck the deepest cord of Thanksgiving. As we survey the past year, I think most of us would find that our Thanksgiving lists are full of special relationship moments with family and friends. Accomplishments and acquisitions often bring momentary joy, but meaningful times shared with those we love produce lasting thanksgiving in our hearts.

Traditionally we use this season of the year to pause, reflect on God's goodness and offer Him thanks, but have you ever thought about what's on God's Thanksgiving list? You see, Father God is thankful for many things. In fact that's where we get our ability to be thankful. When we are full of joyful thanksgiving, we are behaving like our heavenly Father.

So just what kinds of things are on God's Thanksgiving list? Scripture provides us with many examples. Father God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants (Psalm 35:27b). Father God created all things for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11). He takes pleasure in our worship (Psalms 69:30–31), when we obey him and love one another (Jeremiah 9:24, Deuteronomy 30:9–10), and when we reverence Him and hope in His mercy (Psalms 147:11).

Notice a common theme in what God takes pleasure in and gives Thanksgiving for? The common theme is us and our relationship with Him. Zephaniah 3:17 states that Father God rejoices over us with joy and singing. Ephesians 1:4–5 describes what tops God's Thanksgiving list. “Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gives Him great pleasure.”

Like us His most meaningful events center around our relationship with Him. So this Thanksgiving season as you reflect on everything you are thankful for, take a moment and realize that you're on God's Thanksgiving list. In fact, make His day and top His list by saying “yes” to His love and becoming a member of His forever family!

Please join us this Sunday at one of our three services at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. We are entering the Christmas season and my message this Sunday will be “Christmas Peace.”

Pastor Che