Mike's Musings: Sometimes we don't enjoy "today"

by Pastor Mike Dvorak

Thanksgiving Greetings, It is that time again. A time to cook turkey and dressing. A time to visit with friends and family. A time to start our Christmas shopping.

What about New Years day and football? Time marches on and things are going to be busy. Maybe we’ll get some snow and have a white Christ- mas. I am excited and I know most everyone else is also. Wow, hurry, hurry, hurry.

WHOA!!! WAIT!!! Let’s be honest with each other. Af- ter the year we have experienced in 2020, are we really that excited for the next forty five days of chaos? Are we really in the mood for time to march so fast?

Maybe, just maybe, we should slow down and take things a day at a time. Perhaps we should approach this Thanksgiving with an at- titude of thanks and appreciation. I believe that this year especially, we need to sit back and savor the things we are blessed with; friends. family, our Savior Jesus Christ, and all of the other blessings we have been given.

So many times we are in such a hurry and a rush to get to tomorrow that we miss today. We live in anticipation of the future and we overlook the present. If the year 2020 has taught us anything, I believe that it is to slow down and enjoy what we have right now. I am drawn to Psalm 118, verse 24 - “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

When things are so hectic it is a good reminder that God’s hand is in everything and the Lord is with us in all of the things that we are confronted with.T

his year as we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas and the other festivities that we are involved in, I hope that we will all slow down and look around. I pray that God will grant us the wisdom to recognize the blessings in our midst. I pray that God will help us realize that although the past few months have been a challenge, that we still have much to celebrate and give thanks for during this season. Take the time to stop periodically and count your blessings. In fact, maybe we should each write our blessings down and number them so that we can look at them when we are having a bad day.

Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving and is a great guide to worship and thanks for

the things God has given us.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

Enter his gates with Thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100 (NRSV).

When everything in our world seems upside down and out of order, just remember the Lord is in charge and watch- ing over us. Sometimes it is hard to imagine that anything good can come from the confusion we’re seeing in the world, but we must remember there is someone greater than ourselves who is our keeper and protector.

This is a day that the Lord has made. This holiday season is going to be different but we should still give thanks. I am thankful for each of you and the gifts God has given you. I pray that you are willing to share your gifts and talents to make this world a better place for others.

When can all be thankful when a person is willing and able to recognize what God has blessed them with. You are a light unto the world. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Let us rejoice and give praise to God Almighty. Let us enjoy all that we have and be thankful. Thank you, each and everyone for all that you do to make our lives and the world a better place.