Serving our Father God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Holy Spirit filled ministry since 1997!

December 2025

In a state of gratitude, we say yes to life. We affirm that overall, life is good and has elements that make it worth living. Acknowledging that we have received something from life makes us grateful, both for the gift and for the effort the giver put into choosing the gift.

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (NIV.) Anytime we celebrate God, which should be every day, we should include giving to increase our joy.

Webster’s defines “thankful” as grateful, appreciative, and filled with gratitude. If you think back over your life, all the words in this definition should come to mind. You have been blessed with a place to call home. You have food to eat and someone to love you. You may even have a good job. Everything comes from God. God blesses you even when you don’t deserve blessings, because of His unending love for you.

When you think and consider how so many people in this world are lost, without food or a place to call home, you can’t help but be thankful for the things with which God has blessed you. I can truly say God has been good to my family and me. He continues to bless us even though we often do not deserve it. We find time to worship and to be thankful for all things, but God’s mercy and grace merit extra thanks. God deserves gratitude daily. When you wake up each day with the ability to move your body, sight, hearing, and a voice to say, “thank you Lord for giving me another chance,” that is a reason to be thankful.

In Psalm 107:1, 8-9, the writer says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. [. . . .] Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

During this Holiday season, I challenge each of you to include in your daily devotion verses about thanksgiving, gratitude, hope, and encouragement to share with family and friends as you gather around the holiday table.

I want to start with sharing Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” And, I also want to share one of Maya Angelou’s quotes: “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” Make sure every day is a day of thanksgiving.