HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

On this Thanksgiving Monday, 2026, I look out my window and see the golden-orange tamarack needles, green grass and perennials and...a dusting of snow! 

Surprise!  God has a way of bringing unexpected blessings into our lives, through the seasons, through nature and through people.  Today, Walter and I will be home alone.  Last weekend was our daughter's wedding, Caylea, to Eric Zacharias and our family was altogether for that wonderful celebration.  So, on this day, we are wearing comfortable lounging pants, Roughrider jerseys and slippers.  We have our snacks handy and our feet up as we recline in front of our big screen TV!

The chicken is roasting slowly.  I have some garden veggies to cook (thanks to generous friends) and boxed stuffing!  Co-op pumpkin pie will complete our Thanksgiving dinner for two.

So much to be thankful for:  a warm home, plenty of good food, peace with God and a loving family! In a world where many have need, have war, have chaos and despair, I am so grateful for God's many blessings and mercies.  It stirs me to pray for those around the world that are struggling and living in fear.  Lord, provide for Your children.  Draw those who are lost to be found in Christ. 

Sometimes it is hard to enjoy our freedoms and abundance when others are suffering.  Many of us have experienced hard times and dry seasons but I'm reminded of a wonderful scripture where thankfulness trumps difficulties.

Habakkuk 3:17 -18 "Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, YET I will exult in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!"

The prophet Habukkuk had known physical need and political oppression.  He preached to the Jews in Judah before they were sent off to be exiled in Babylon.  So in some ways, his ministry didn't produce the results he had hoped: to prevent the people of Judah and Jerusalem from being exiled, for a spiritual repentance and revival.  But in other ways, his message was preserved in the Bible and we can benefit from the Word of God through this prophet.  His closing words are an inspiration to us today. We can decide to rejoice in the Lord and thank Him for who He is and what He has done for us.

If we only thank Him when we have plenty and everything is rosy, then we are only loving and serving God for what He gives us.  Are we fair-weather worshipers?  Or will we praise the Lord even when the garden is withered and circumstances are bleak?

God is still God.  He is in control no matter what our personal, national or global realities.  God is our only hope, our only help.  He will carry us through.

Psalm 7:17 "I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High."