Thanksgiving

Today is thanksgiving. I just love this time of year; it is a good reminder of all the things I have. Along with realizing what I'm thankful for I also enjoy the company of family and food. The celebration of thanksgiving is in-it-of-itself a time to be thankful for. So many people don't have families to celebrate it with or have resources to provide a meal. As I just reflect on all the things I'm thankful for: family, friends, a house, food, the list could go on and on. It just doesn't sit easy with me that it takes a holiday for me to realize what I am thankful for. Everyday I go through life and can always find something to complain about. Often my day can be ruined by a minute detail or inconvenience. I have so much more to be thankful for than I do to complain about, yet complaints, without a doubt, make the top of my to do list every morning. Even on days where I wake up on the rift side of the bed, do my devotions, and have a cup of coffee I never cease to find something to complain about. It's our human nature to never be satisfied. I think God created us like this for a purpose, well duh he's God. This, despite the way we as humans pervert it, is a great quality to have. God never wants us to be satisfied where we are at spiritually. It is a good quality for staying healthy, not being satisfied with being out of shape, spiritually and physically. We can't become comfortable, as Christians, because the moment we do is when we become spiritually lazy and vulnerable. The moment I become comfortable with my physical shape, I start to compromise the amount of exercise I do and the amount of food I eat. Same with our walk with God. When we feel we are competent in our walk with him is the moment we start to compromise on all the things we stand for. Instead of not being satisfied with material things, let's not be satisfied with it relationship with God. Let's

not be satisfied with how much we serve others. Let's not be satisfied with just being a "Christian," but let's go and make disciples! It's incredible how we can take something God creates and pervert it to benefit us and not God. Let's recognize it and change so our lives are lived to bring God glory.

--Clayton Hines.