By: Rex Stump
Thanksgiving comes and goes quickly, as we rush into the Christmas season. It never has a chance to properly be celebrated, as the Christmas decorations go up in the stores in October.
A few days before Thanksgiving, crowds rush to the grocery stores to get all the fixings for a feast! Whereas Christmas shopping and decorating begins weeks, sometimes months in advance.
We try to focus on Thanksgiving, using every imaginable drink or food flavored with pumpkin spice. But we all know that Thanksgiving turns out to be more of a marker in time for when we are allowed to officially play Christmas music or put up the tree.
Hit the pause button. Now rewind. Take time to give thanks…again. During a season of multiple holidays, you don’t have to rush past the “thankful” part just to focus on the next holiday.
Take time to give God thanks again! Don’t underestimate or overlook what God can do or has done in your life.
We are born into a dark, broken, and chaotic world and the God of this universe says He is the light, the healer, and He alone brings peace! He wants a relationship with you! That deserves a second helping of gratitude.
I love in the book of Acts, chapter 3 that on a normal day, the abnormal took place. A man born lame is begging, as usual, outside the temple. This is his life. Broken, poor, and hopeless.
Along comes two disciples of Jesus. They intentionally pause to notice the hurting. The lame man expected money, the disciples gave him something better.
In the name of Jesus Christ, they healed the broken and gave him an inheritance beyond dreams. An eternal hope!
The disciples spoke – “In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (vs. 6). Instant healing! He took the hand of Peter, stood, jumped, walked, leaped, and praised God! Remember, “born lame,” meaning he had no knowledge of how to walk!
Picture a child’s first steps, clumsy, fragile, and stumbling. Not this man! His first steps in life included jumping and leaping! From hopeless to hopeful, bored to bursting, lame to leaping, this man was new! So, are we when we place our faith in Jesus Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
What’s the first thing he did? Besides jumping up and down, he gave thanks to God, praising Him, and then he went into the Temple with the disciples! The man was holding tightly to Peter and John, while praising God!
Without Jesus, there is no healing, nor hope for all mankind. Thanks to Jesus, we have healing and hope for eternity. I love this story, for it reminds me that the Holiday season of high or low emotions is not based on a couple days, but a God who loves me and comes to me when I’m too lame to come to him.
His love is better than money. His healing is beyond understanding. His gift is eternal. Make praising God daily, a priority in your life this season…and every season!
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Rex Stump is the Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as a Pastor at True North Church in Wauseon, Ohio.
