Before exploring quotes from my book Leadership Explosion, let’s focus on Thanksgiving. For you who are reading this blog from other countries, the United States celebrates Thanksgiving as a national holiday (Thursday is the actual holiday but people normally take time off from Thursday to Sunday). On December 4, 1619, a group of 38 English settlers arrived at a place called Charles Cittie (sic) about 20 miles upstream from Jamestown, where the first permanent settlement of the Colony of Virginia was established on May 14, 1607. The group’s charter required that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a “day of thanksgiving” to God. On that first day, Captain John Woodleaf held the service of thanksgiving. Here is the section of the Charter which specifies the thanksgiving service: “Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

Just like those early settlers, we are on a pilgimage to heaven. God wins the final battle, and these brief days on this earth should be filled with thanksgiving. Sadly, we (I’m including myself here) allow worry, doubt, and fretting about the future to cloud the wonderful things God is doing. In these next several days, let’s practice what Paul says in Philippians 4: 4-9:

 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

I’ll post again on Monday. Enjoy your time with God, family, and friends.

Joel