What are you doing for Thanksgiving?  This year I’ll be cooking the full feast.  My son will be home from college, my nephew will be joining us and a few friends will gather around our table also.  I love having a crowd and I hate the thought of anyone spending Thanksgiving alone.  I guess I have taken up the torch from my mother.  She was one who always looked for those who needed a place to spend Thanksgiving and opened up our home to them.  I rarely remember a Thanksgiving dinner that didn’t include friends around the table.
One of our family traditions has always been to go around the table and share what we’re thankful for from the past year.  Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”  Our praises and thanksgiving usher us into His presence. As my family begins sharing what we’re thankful for we usually start off with the obvious … Jesus [1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 7:17, Psalm 105:1]. Then comes family, home, and friends. But then people really start sharing things that are specific to them and don’t necessarily apply to all gathered. 
You never know what sticks out to someone as a huge blessing in their life until you take the opportunity to ask and listen.  With that being said, I genuinely want to ask each of you, what are you thankful for?  Be specific.  What has happened to you or through you this year that has blessed you and made you grateful?
I am thankful for people pushing me out of my comfort zone so I walk more dependent upon the Lord and witness Him working more in and through my life.  I’m thankful for organizations like Wellspring Living and Out of Darkness for loving victims of human sex trafficking, even when they don’t love themselves.  I’m thankful for people who know technology and are willing to take the time to teach people like me when we need help.  I’m thankful that my children are also among my best friends.  I’m thankful for those of you who take the time to leave a comment or send an email and let me know how God spoke to you through something I wrote.  Those are just a few of the things I am thankful for this year.
Now it’s your turn.  Hit the comment button and share two or three things you’re thankful for this year.  Enjoy your week of celebration and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

In order to spend quality time with my family the week of Thanksgiving, I will be taking the week off.  I’ll meet you back here on Monday, November 26th.  Don’t forget to go to www.resolutionhope.org today and read the latest excerpt of Rescuing Hope.  Those of you in the Pittsburgh area can buy your ticket today to join us for the New Year’s Eve celebration.  Find information on the website.  If you’re in Atlanta, you can join the simulcast at Riverstone Church.  Purchase your tickets for that event at www.riverstoneonline.org.  Help us ring in the New Year in a fun and festive way while drawing attention to the issue of human sex trafficking in America.