I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving this year!  I have been working very hard lately and I know it will do me good to slow down and give thanks for all of the blessings in my life.  I have much to be thankful for.  I have a wonderful family that I love and who loves me.  I have a job!  And I have a nice roof over my head and the bathroom scale will attest to the fact that I have been eating good in the neighborhood!  I have a wonderful church family and I am blessed with the opportunity to preach every week and I have multiple opportunities to share and be a witness during the week when I am not in the pulpit.  I have two lovely granddaughters and all of the members of my family are healthy.  I have a Savior who has forgiven me of my sins and who has promised to never leave me nor forsake me – even on those (rare?) occasions when I don’t act right.  Yes, I have much to be thankful for.

On Thursday, when everyone is gathering together to eat turkey and their various casseroles and cakes and pies we will have several people at our house.  The crowd will not be just family members.  We have also invited some friends whose family does not live near here and some other friends who would otherwise be alone for various reasons.  This year the list of people who will be at our home just keeps growing and growing and growing.  As the invitations have gone out to people who are not family members, they often act like they will be intruding.  My wife and I have assured them that they are indeed welcome.  There will be plenty of room in our house and there is always an abundant amount of food at our table.  Please come we tell them!  It reminds me somewhat of the invitation the Lord sends out in Isaiah 55:1

“Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.”  Isaiah 55:1

Our Lord beckons people to come and dine at His banquet table.  Our Lord bids people to come and share in the abundance of love, grace, mercy and blessing which only He can provide.  Our Lord provides it without strings, without cost and without an expectation of ever being paid back.  He simply desires that we would enjoy fellowship with Him.  You are never intruding when you accept an invitation from the Lord and come to His table!

I love the invitation that the Lord sends out.  I love the fact that His banquet table can accommodate everyone.  I love the fact that He desires a personal relationship with each and every one of us.  That relationship is found in His Son Jesus Christ.  I am thankful that I have a place at His table.  I am thankful for the blessings that He has bestowed upon me.

If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can send me an email directly at pastorpstephens@aol.com