Lynn Baber… for the love of God and horses

What is the miracle of Thanksgiving? It is the grafting of two peoples together, the Pilgrims and the Indians, as further evidence of the covenant that allowed the Gentiles to become a living part of the people of God.

Our thankfulness is for the abundance that the Lord provides, even when we are in the darkest and most desperate places and circumstances. Even so, His abundance is there. Just as there is more grace where there has been the most sin, when times seem the most hopeless, abundance is in the greatest supply.

Christians have been lamenting the assault on Christmas for years now, as Christmas parties, pageants and images disappear from the school systems; crying foul as the Christmas tree is banned from the public square while other symbols of religion are allowed.

Stores have been lambasted for choosing “Happy Holidays” over “Merry Christmas.” I, too, have been dismayed and affronted by such actions.

Now, in the cool clear light of a Thanksgiving-eve sunrise, I am not appalled, I am not sad, I am not mournful, I am not annoyed – I am blessed. Why?

Because it is now obvious, so obvious that I marvel I didn’t get it until now, that such happenings are part of the plan and I fall on the side with the God of the Bible, the only place I ever want to be.

There is only one reason for Thanksgiving, and that is to speak our gratitude to God for the blessing that is America. Thanksgiving is evidence that we were set apart as a people from the moral decline of Europe to enjoy a fresh, although brief, period of unrestrained, scriptural, and glorious relationship with the Lord. For a time the earthly balance between God and evil was heavily and visibly on the side of the angels. The citizens of the new world basked in His grace.

What a brilliant opportunity the holidays present for the family of God. If ever there was an obvious fork in the road, this is it. One street leads to the elevation of human greed, avarice, dissipation, and worship of self. The other leads to a more dimly lit, quieter lane that eventually leads to the narrowest of gates.

What does the shopping orgy known as Black Friday have to do with recognizing the abundant grace and mercy of God as He provides for our needs and offers the opportunity of family membership to those not born into it by human blood?

What He offered was His own blood to make up for that not already flowing in our earthly veins.

Thanksgiving is a day set aside to gather the family and be grateful in unison. It is an opportunity to teach the children, revere the elders and remember that even if our present circumstance is not one of material bounty, there is abundance yet in that we are on the right path.

If for no other reason on earth, the family of God through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, can celebrate the fact that we progress toward the narrow gate left open for us by Jesus Christ as He entered Glory. It stands open yet today. Entry is assured. We have the Victory.

Be thankful. Share with others in the family the abundance of love and grace during this holiday time. If you find yourself worrying about the shopping, the cooking and who is using what greeting, I would ask you to stop, look around and check your bearings.

Which way did you go at the fork in the road?