And The Holidays Have Begun!

Cooking isn't my wife's thing.  Apparently, she would rather offer burnt sacrifices to God.  Don't get angry with me, she knows this.  So rather than burning a Thanksgiving Turkey, we opted to get Thanksgiving dinner at Cracker Barrel.  We've done it before and it works out great.  

You order online a couple of weeks ahead of time, drive up to the back door the day of, someone magically pops out of the back of the store with a big box of hot food, puts it in your car and Viola!  Thanksgiving dinner.  

Instead this time we used a different store.  We drove up to the back and no Viola!  It was more #$$@%^*( instead.  We were to pick up our food at 12 noon.  At 1:30 pm we finally had our lovely, kind of hot Thanksgiving dinner.  

After spending time at my moms and enjoying a carb coma nap in the easy chair, we went home.  After getting there, we discover we needed something before morning.  So off to Wal-Mart we go.  Wow!  That's a lot of cars.  But we decide to brave it and go in.  Upon entering the store, we see police officers and waves and waves of people picking through boxes and early Black Friday specials.  We left - immediately.  

We ended up at Wal-Greens, everyone was at Wal-Mart and found what we needed.  

The horn honking, bad driving, mind-numbing, cursing nightmare known as the holidays has begun.  

Let's be clear here.  I'm not Bah-Humbuging the holidays.  It just that Jesus didn't come back to earth for this. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

During the season you will be tempted on more than one occasion to lose your temper or go bonkers Christmas shopping.  There is nothing about Christmas that demands that you go into debt or risk your mental health.  

As I watched the events at Crackle Barrel unfold, I gave thanks that I could be there and that we would eventually get our food.  As I ate my kind of warm Thanksgiving meal, I gave thanks that I had a meal to eat.  As I responded to the texts, Facebook posts, and Instagram messages wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving - I gave thanks for friends.  

Stop and give thanks.  Today doesn't just kick off the holidays.  It kicks off a whole new season of worship to our King and Lord Jesus.  

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, I am giving thanks for everything You have done for me.  AMEN  

PS - Christmas music is already playing 24/7 on the radio.