Just a little lesson about THANKSGIVING.

Well today is Thanksgiving, and we need to really evaluate our lives and give Thanks. For me and family, we went to help feed the senior citizens at the senior center in Foley AL, today. We had a blast as there were some amazing people there. I remember there was one lady who absolutely loved my son. She came in and me, him, and my daughter were the door greeters. My daughter would fire off as they were basically getting out of their car...HAPPY THANKGIVING...I was just a little overwhelmed. So my wife actually came and took over that job...lol. But, I got to do what I love and walked the room and talked to everyone that was there. When I saw the lady who loved my son, she asked me "Where is that cute little boy of yours?" I said he was outside with his mother. She then said "Make sure to bring him to see me when he comes back in. When I did here face just lit up like the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in New York. It was so cool and just to see the joy on her face. There was also a man there who loved football and had to turn the TV on to the PACKERS game because that was his team. It was really cool because he would come over and watch for a minute and we would talk and then he would go back to his conversation with the people at his table. This was too funny. My favorite part of the day was actually when I found out there was a man there who LOVED to play pool. I would say he was around 80...just a guess and his name was Chester. I found this out when I first got there so I made it a point to find him and play some pool with him. I have a really fond memory of my own Grandfather that I will never forget. I was younger (about 18) and loved to just play pool. I was actually in the learning stages, but thought I could beat anybody. I have a competitive side that sometimes comes out and gets the best of me...ha-ha. I wanted to hang out with my Grandfather when he came down one year, just me and him. We ended up going to the local bowling alley and played some pool. Now, I knew my Grandpa had a pool table in the bottom of his house in Michigan, but I never thought he played and plus I thought he was OLD. Man was I way off base. I was very confident and kept telling him, I am going to take it easy on you, he would smile. I would make a comment that you’re not going to beat me. He would just smile again. I think I broke the first rack and that was it. He ran the table every game we played. For those who don't know about pool, this is when you clear the table of all your balls and sink the eight ball, the first time you get a shot. He made some trick shots as well and I just couldn't believe that this old man just did this to me. Now, I was upset then but I realized something a few years back. God gave me that time with my Grandpa because that next year I had to make a drive to Michigan with my dad because he was in the hospital. He didn't make it out of the hospital and that was the last time I got to just hang out with my Grandpa. What happened after this, well I blamed God. I didn't want anything to do with God. He took my Grandpa; he didn't let me spend a lot of time with him. All I wanted to do was spend time with him. How dare he take this man from my life? I was angry at God. I told you this story to really help you understand where I was. Shortly after this event in my life, I turned to drugs and became basically an alcoholic. I started not caring about my life. I was really lost. I didn't really care what happened to me. I popped pills, had times where I thought about suicide, passed out on pool tables and under pool tables, JUST DIDN'T CARE! I was dead on the inside. Then while I managed a bar, I met my wife, found God who was still there even though I TURNED MY BACK ON HIM. I gave my life to him again. I started pursuing him and really trying to understand him and his calling on my life. Now, I named this post a lesson in THANKSGIVING. Here is why. All today I heard people pray and never Thank God for his Son. I have seen so many Facebook posts that say they are thankful for so many things and not one time mention Jesus and what he did. I am not trying to say that I am holier than thou. I am also not saying that this was everyone. But I do make it a point to thank God for his SON dying on the cross for me so that I could come out of the life I was so consumed by. The partying, the lies, the drugs, the lost life I was living. I have seen the breakdown in life and the bottom of the barrel and have found my way out - but ONLY THROUGH HIM. Let me break something down for you. God GAVE his ONLY son to die on a CROSS for you so you could be free from sin. Jesus was not only crucified on the cross but in Isaiah 53:5, it says - "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." One of his disciples turned their back on him and denied knowing him even though he said that he would never do that. Jesus said he would deny knowing him three times and to this he said that he would never do that. Wow how that must have hurt even though he already knew that it was going to happen. He was still one of his best friends. Jesus is why I am free today from these things and can look back on these things and say through Him I am SAVED. Psalms 107 - 1, says - "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." I have to say this is scripture for EVERYDAY life. We need to give thanks to him every day for all the blessings we have. When we sit down to eat our small meals during the day, it’s because of him that you have that food. It’s because of him that you have a car to drive. It’s because of him that you have beautiful children no matter what situation they or you are in. In the book of James it says "...every good and perfect gift comes from God." God doesn't make mistakes so you, your children, your family, your prizes are perfect in every way. Just how he made you. Just the way you are. No matter where you are at he wants you to call his name and give him praise. I just think of it as amazing grace that I was allowed to spend time with my Grandpa before he died. I loved that man but I also realized that had I truly known what LOVE is in God, then I would have realized that what it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is true as well. "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." I could have been thankful for that small time but instead I was too angry at God to be thankful. So here is my point, yes be thankful for all the wonderful things that you have in life. Be thankful for you house and car and family and friends and job. Be thankful for all the minor things as well. But in all this, give Glory to Jesus because if it wasn't for his death on the cross and his love for you, you wouldn't be able to enjoy those things that you have in life. Be thankful for Jesus FIRST AND FOREMOST because he is thankful for you in all that you do. To finish the story of Chester and myself, I actually brought a smile to his face and ended up winning 3 games to 2. He was happy and so was I as I was reminded of what I am truly thankful for. God bless and remember to show your LOVE by your WORKS! Jesus loves you and so do I!