On Thursday, we celebrate Thanksgiving here in America. I wonder how much giving of thanks there will be on that day. For most, Thanksgiving simply consists of eating turkey and watching football. If that is all Thanksgiving means to you, you have missed the purpose of the day.

“In everything give thanks” (I Thessalonians 5:18). I hope you will take time this year to thank God for what He has done for you. Thank Him for salvation, for His Word, for the peace that He gives. Thank Him for your family and for your church. Thank Him for the freedom that we still have in this country. Though we see socialism advancing, and secular humanism and heathenism gaining ground on every hand, God has still given us the freedom to worship publicly as we see fit. There are billions in this world who could not enjoy that freedom. We must be grateful for what we do have.

If we take time to think about it, we can list many more things to be thankful for. This year, let’s make Thanksgiving exactly that—a time of giving thanks to God for all his blessings to us.

I had the privilege to be with the Hope Trio last night at the Harvest Baptist Church in Daly City, California. The Lord has given Pastor Win Pechardo and this new church a beautiful place to meet on top of a hill overlooking the city. We had a great crowd and the people were very receptive. A lady who came to the church for the first time only two weeks ago came to the service and brought several visitors. During the invitation time, three of her visitors got saved! I am so encouraged to see what God is doing at Harvest Baptist Church, and I believe that we will see this new church continue to grow and reach people for Christ.