My Dear Christian Friends
Looking at the last three months of the year and especially the church calendar year, we have so much to be Thankful for. Often we don’t realize how many blessings we have to be thankful for. Starting in October, I think of the Reformation. Then in November our country has actually set aside. A Federal Holiday that we call Thanksgiving. Then in December, there is the really big one, we call Christmas. There is not enough time in these months to thank God for all the blessings that He showers down upon us.
In October, we thank God for the wonderful people who have worked to preserve the True Word of God. In the Reformation, Martin Luther, preserved the True Word of God and the True Church for which I am very thankful to be a part of and to serve God. From the time of my Baptism, my parents made every effort to see I was in church and Sunday School. Little things along the way, my mother always noticed little things that made her think I was special to God. Throughout my public schooling, I was always bullied. That led me to attend parochial School for 8th grade and feeling the call by God to go into the Holy Ministry. I studied the Word of God.
If we took a ream of paper and listed individually all of our blessings, we would run out of paper. I was attending a Thanksgiving meal and everyone was to say what they were most thankful for. When it was my turn I simply said Creation, Redemption and Sanctification. Some people said “what?” and others said “wow.” That pretty much covers everything. Every day is a day of Thanksgiving to God
When we come to December how can I say it in just a couple of Words? We received the greatest blessing ever, the greatest gift ever wrapped up in swaddling clothes. You want to talk about a gift that keeps on giving; it is the Baby Jesus, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, redemption and eternal life. As long as we believe in Him and what He has done for us, we receive blessings every day and throughout eternity. So have a blessed Reformation, a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry and Joyous Christmas. Rejoice greatly in the Lord and give thanks!!!
Pastor Duane Fluechtling