Are you zealous with a salivating passion for Jesus the way one is for a Thanksgiving day after it is all prepared and served? Do you look forward with great expectation and excitement to see Jesus seated on His throne in glory as a child is eager to open the gifts under the Christmas Tree on Christmas morning? Are you waking up each day with this one thought: “What can I do for Jesus today? Who does He want to help today? A stranger or maybe even friend.
What is Thanksgiving and when did it start? What is Christmas? What does this all have to do with having Zeal and Jesus?
These are the questions swirling around and around in my mind like a merry-go-round at this present time. I am interested to know if any of my readers have these questions or is it just me.
Thanksgiving is mentioned 54 times in the Amplified Bible to find how often it is mentioned in other translations you may go to Bible Gateway and use the key word search. It is interesting to note that the mention of thanksgiving varies in other translations. I am not sure why that is exactly. It would be interesting to know though.
Psalm 100:4 Amplified
Enter into His gates with a song of thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name.
Are there differences between the definitions of thanksgiving,thankful, bless and praise? What do each of these terms mean to you in your own life?
Now think about celebrating the National Observance of Thanksgiving here in America as a nation. What are some things or events over the past year that You can give thanks to the Lord Jesus for in this nation.
Think about Christmas. What does Christmas have to do with in our nation and does it reflect today or even your family?
Last year, during Christmas I especially became aware of what Christmas had become in my own life and that of America. The following song came to my mind. I believe it has a deeper meaning when I think about Christmas and Thanksgiving in this nation and it’s place in history.
So, sing this song as a declaration and commitment to pursue Jesus as a priceless and treasured gift.
There is a worship song called, The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman
The Lyrics are as follows:
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart
I’ll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you,
It’s all about you, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about you,
It’s all about you, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath
I’ll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking…
Living Fountain 