Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 4-7)
The plane ride to South Carolina was a little bumpy yesterday evening, but I wasn’t worried. I knew that if I didn’t make it to see my family, I’d see my Lord and Savior. You may ask, “How can you be so sure?” The Bible tells us how we can know we have eternal life in many passages, but I direct you to the entire book of 1 John.
Pay special attention to this passage:
Obedience by FaithWhoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Certainty of God’s Witness
This is He who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5: 1-13)
I have the Son! I’m thankful to God for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. As if that weren’t enough, he continues to bless me every day in so many ways. Even when things aren’t going well by human standards, he is still good. He knows what’s best for me and provides it according to his will, not my own.
Every day I’m thankful for the hope I have. With each new day, God equips me with more knowledge and spiritual growth. To his glory, I want to be able to share my faith in a consistent and coherent way.
Every day I’m thankful for the beauty and harmony in God’s creation, fallen though it may be. It’s still a wonderous and awesome handiwork to behold.
Every day I’m thankful to my family and other loved ones for their love, kindness, friendship and patience. My cup runs over.
Have a joyous Thanksgiving Day, and may the Lord richly bless you!
What are you thankful for?
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He knows what’s best for me and provides it according to his will, not my own. Read the rest here.
Thankful that no matter what happens, God is in control and all things will work together for good. Happy Thanksgiving to you La Shawn.
And to you, Andy.
La Shawn:
I am thankful for being fortunate to be born in the USA.
I am thankful for a beautiful wife whose parents were fortunate enough to come to the USA from their slavery under the Nazis in Poland.
I am thankful for the good fortune of my grandparents being abused in Sicily and Hungary, which drove them to come to the USA.
I am thankful for the lovely wife and 4 lovely children I have been blessed with.
I am thankful for a wonderful job that most people don’t even dream about.
I am thankful for a wonderful President like George W Bush who is not afraid of discussing his Faity, and is not afraid or making some people angry when he does what he thinks is “the right thing”>
And lastly, La Shawn, I am also thankful for knowing you – someone who is not afraid of openly expressing your Faith and being honest.
Sincerely,
Frank
Thanksgiving in my home will be muted, small but powerful. We have made little to no preparation for the festivities, not quite knowing how we would be spending the day; may father, you see, has spent the last 8 weeks in CVICU after a bad heart attack, triple bypass, a bad case of pneumonia and an aesceptic infection. I am happy to report that in the past couple of days his condition has improved miraculously, going from one of the most critical patients in the ward to the most progressive recoveries they can recall.
He’s even walking, with assistance, and has his full faculties.
We usually make a turducken every year with all the trimmings, invite friends and relatives, check to see if there is a ship in port so we can invite a sailor to the home… This year we might broil a small turkey breast, make some homemade cranberry sauce, and spend the meal in the hospital with Dad.
It will be the best Thanksgiving ever.
La Shawn,
I posted my thanks on your previous thread.
Frank,
I echo your sentiments, except that I only have three children. But I do have five grandchildren.
Michael
I give thanks for your father’s recovery. My prayers go with the rest of you, as well.
More to be thankful for – from Victor Davis Nanson on NRO
“on this Thanksgiving let us remember that, for all their snarls and snipes, the now-freed peoples of France, Germany, Japan, Eastern Europe, Korea, the Balkans, Panama, Grenada, Afghanistan, and Iraq owe a great deal to thousands of dead Americans, too often forgotten, who in awful places like the Hürtgen Forest, Tarawa, Monte Casino, Chosun, Hue, Panama City, Mazar-e-Sharif — and Fallujah — battled and defeated Nazis, militarists, Fascists, Communists, and Dark-Age Islamists so that millions of others might have the freedom that the rest of us lesser folk too often take for granted as our birthright.”
This is not the thread for that, Nakia. Tell us what you’re thankful for, or move on. – Admin
I found your site through a link on Michelle Malkin’s site. I was moved by many of your articles, and now look forward to seeing your beautiful smile every day. I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I feel!
La Shawn,
May God bless you and give you joy this Thanksgiving. I’ve been looking at holidays a new way this year, and I now realize what makes them so special — our freedoms given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers who founded America. We have much to be thankful for!
I am thankful for my two beautiful boys!
I am thankful for my health, strength and sound mind rooted in Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for you Miss Barber and your blog, it is truly a blessing and inspiration to me.
Most of all, I am thankful for salvation through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving Miss Barber!
To Mike,
Sending my thoughts and prayers for your father’s continued recovery and progress.
I’m thankful to God for my 18 year old son who was born deaf, and for the longest, I could not comprehend or understand why, I just questioned. I am thankful that I finally opened my eyes to God’s purpose.
I am thankful for my mother who had me as a teenager and stayed the course.
I am thankful for my Grandmother, who is no longer with us but her influence and words are with me daily.
I am thankful for the day I ran across La Shawn’s article on “Why Courting the Black Vote Won’t Work”, which led me to her blog and all of you here.
May you all have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving Day.
The freedoms I enjoy, that our soldiers risk their lives to provide for me, and to hopefully extend to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.
) I get to spend in a chewing the fat with the folks here at LBC.
Living in a country where a farmer’s son could grow up to be anything he chose to be and had the skill, talent and perserverance to be.
My hearth and home.
Family, those who are with us and those who left us this year.
The couple of minutes a day (sometimes more
LaShawn, thank you! What an uplifting message for the day, it was exactly what I needed to read right now, but then the Holy Spirit has a way of doing that!
I’m thankful that my husband and sons are healthy, thankful for all the families who share their healthy children with us in the military, and for our troops, and I am thankful, yes, thankful beyond words, that our president was re-elected, praise God!
And God’s blessings to you and yours this Holiday!
I’m thankful my father is not where he was last year — recovering from a sextupal (is that a word?) bypass surgery.
I’m thankful that my mom at 64 is still healthy enough to travel eight hours to Philly for Thanksgiving with my oldest brother for the holiday…after having her gallbladder removed last Friday.
I’m thankful my dad is now pastoring a church w/out the rifts so prevalent in his previous post.
I’m thankful for a younger brother (Matt) who is incredibly generous and sensitive, even at age 17.
I’m thankful for my brother Kerry, who was given Down Syndrome in a stroke of genius by our Heavenly Father; he’s taught so many people so much just by being himself.
I’m thankful that my parents illustrated a respect for life by being open to having children well into their 40s…and giving me a strong desire to have children of my own and keep passing on the lessons. They have five children (3 boys and 2 girls) and six grandchildren (5 girls and 1 boy).
I’m incredibly thankful for the Godly man the Lord sent into my life seven years ago. My husband has grown tremendously and is a wonderful, Ephesians 5-type head of our home.
I’m thankful that my husband has just seven finals left before receiving his JD. God has been so faithful in providing for us to make this dream a reality, praise Him!
I’m thankful for my church (that is listed on the Nine Marks site) and the fact our elders have unflinchingly led us in the ways of God and His Word. We’ve lost some members in the process, but we’ve gained some treasures worth far more.
I’m thankful for my country and my president. I’m thankful for the servicemen and servicewomen who are keeping us free and protecting the world from the murderous intentions of terrorists.
In the midst of a huge project, I’m thankful for a four-day weekend!
I’m thankful for the Gift of God, given to us in His Son Christ Jesus. When I think of where I’d be and who I’d be without Him…. Thank You, Lord, for this unspeakable gift!
And I’m thankful for finding a like-minded and like-hearted woman on the internet in the person of La Shawn Barber. Just when you think of giving up on ever finding another believer in this vast place, you come across someone like La Shawn! Thank you for taking a risk and doing this, girl!
Regarding the plane thing — my sister seems to be afraid to fly for some reason that I can’t quite understand. I find it peaceful, even (maybe even ESPECIALLY) when it’s turbulent. I try to explain that planes rarely crash; next time the subject comes up, I’ll have to remind her of your “seeing your family or seeing your savior” philosophy.
I could begin listing the blesssings for which I’m thankful, but I’m sure you’d frown on a comment that long.
Short version, in no particular order:
I’m thankful for my friends and family, that I have people in my life that I know I can rely on to be there if I should need them.
I’m thankful for the sacrifice of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who will never forsake me, even if, for some unthinkable reason, the people mentioned above did.
I’m thankful that I was born an American, where I can share my faith publically and not have to worry about the kinds of horrors that other Christians around the world and throughout history have had to face.
May you and all your readers have a wonderful Thanksgiving, La Shawn!
LaShawn, I am thankful to know God lives.
I’m thankful to be able to live free, with a cost. I am thankful to have internet access and be able to read great blogs like yours everyday.
I am thankful I, with a great husband, have raised three daughters beyond the age of 18. And with that, I am thankful to know that if, please don’t let it be, if they were called “home” they’d be in the arms of God. Not in some sullen place wishing they’d made better choices.
I am thankful two of them have found loving, god fearing husbands, and the third looks like she might just about be there too.
I am thankful for this wonderful place to live.
Oh my, there are too many blessings to list!
Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy your family.
I’m thankful…
that my Mom has come to Florida to spend Thanksgiving.
for my health and well-being
for my family
for my faith…
that I’m me!
I am most thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the best friend ever. I thank God for His Word and all it contains. I am thankful for other Christians, especially for those who are not ashamed of the Gospel–La Shawn, that includes you. I am thankful for America and our President, the troops who risk their lives to keep us free and for all who serve in the public sphere–this also includes you, La Shawn. I’m thankful for a job that I love working for people I enjoy. I’m thankful for family and friends and the Internet, which makes contact with them much easier and gives me access to so much that is worthwhile. I could go on and on but I’ll stop there. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Happy thanksgivings day LaShawn.
I got to share in my grandson’s Thanksgiving feast at his school. All the children had written out what they were thankful for and Connor’s summeded it up nicely:
I’m thankful for my family, for eating pizza and for my bike!
Something my brother forwarded to me:
Kinda nice to stop and get a global perspective every once in a while. (I dunno how accurate these are, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were pretty close)
TIM
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following is something to think about on this Thanksgiving holiday:
* If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep
… you are richer than 75% of this world.
* If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace
… you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
* If you woke up this morning with more health than illness
… you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
* If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation
… you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
* If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death
… you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
* If your parents are still alive and still married
… you are very rare, even in the United States.
* If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful
… you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
* If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder
… you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.
* If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you
… you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
Isn’t this a wonderful day to give thanks?
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and praise God from Whom all belssings flow!
That was really nice Andy…
And gave me more reason to thank God for the many blessings I receive everyday.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for that last message Andy, it was really great.
I’m thankful for my pretty little house, my cute animals, my computers (preferably Mac
), my musical instruments, and above all, my wonderful family and my God. Without Jesus, I would be truly lost.
This year has had many up and downs for me (sometimes mostly downs) but the last few weeks have been great! Praise the Lord!
Blessings to you all,
Jared
P. S. I’m also thankful you’re still blogging, La Shawn!
La Shawn – Hope your day is filled with friends, family, good times, and lots of turkey.
Happy Thanksgiving to you.
I’m grieving a bit at this time, because after 6 years of following a dream of mine to run the local used bookstore, I’m finally giving up and returning to the working world.
I’m thankful of the opportunity I had to chase my dream, and I’m thankful of the opportunity to move on to a new phase in my life.
Dave “Lockjaw” Walker
Thanks La Shawn for a great blog . . .
I’m just so thankful to live in a country where I am free to build a great life with my husband and free to worship Christ, my Savior. I am also thankful for our troops who sacrifice so much for that freedom.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
Happy Holidays to you and I lived in South Carolina once upon a time and what part are you from.
Among the many things I have to be thankful for, I am thankful for my magnificent family, my wife and two children. I am thankful for my health. I am thankful to God for being where I am and able to do the work before me.
I am thankful to my parents for their nurture and love.
I am thankful for my friends who support and counsel and the time we can spend together. I am thankful most of all to God for His abiding love and grace and for reconciliation to Him by faith in His Son.
Happy Thanksgiving to all here. I hope that the coming year will give us all even more to be thankful for.
Kindest regards,
Thanks Andy, makes my worries seem kinda petty.
I am thankful for receiving much more Grace than I deserve.
Thanks for the luv
I just wish I could write that eloquently. Me? I’m like Moses, I stutter, mumble and am otherwise tonedeaf. I just pass gems like that email on. 
I’m thankful for the following:
Converting to Catholicism six years ago.
My family and health.
Living in the USA.
Our President was re-elected.
Terrorists are being defeated.
Elections in Afghanistan and soon in Iraq.
Making a new friend, who helped me start a blogsite…
Ohio State beating Michigan!! Woo-hoo!
I Think you are right, when God is in charge things are not measured by man’s standards. I recently heard “Christ’s enemy is the man measure of all things.”
I’m from Argentina and I speak Spanish I apologize for my spelling.
I am thankful to read the great responses here to La Shawn’s blog invitation to testify why we are thankful. She keeps good company.
I am thankful pilgrim settlers succeeded against staggering odds and hardship, thanks I am sure to their strong faith, in establishing the seed of the most powerful, generous, and decent Nation in the world so far, and that Nation was blessed by gifted leaders like Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and it may turn out Bush, at critical times in its history.
Finally, I am thankful to whoever thought of Thanksgiving Day. All this thankfulness is making me hungry.
Thank you for the wonderful comments, readers! We all have so much to be thankful for.
Comment moderation is in effect overnight, so you’ll have to wait until morning to see your post. I wish you many blessings.
I am thankful for a great many things, but I am also thankful for the internet and for blogs. I am thankful that I found your blog, La Shawn.
I’m thankful for capitalism, liberty, freedom, my 9-year-old princess daughter, and the glass of wine I’m enjoying while reading your most awsome blog! Oh — and the soldiers who kicked A** in Falluja!!!!!!!!
Fred
La Shawn,
I love your postings on any given topic, but it’s your postings concerning our God where you shine.
I am Thankful that salvation is found in Jesus Christ.
I am Thankful to God for my wife.
I am Thankful to God for my four children.
I am Thankful to God that I live in a nation such as ours.
I’m thankful for Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for all mankind.
I’m thankful for my family and friends…so much so, that when I really stop and think about them, I tend to sniffle and bawl rather unattracively.
I’m thankful for my health and the few talents God has given me…and the few that He has yet to reveal in me.
And I’m thankful for you and your blog, La Shawn. You inspire and enrich me on a daily basis. I hope your Thanksgiving is truly wonderful.
Hello La Shawn Barber..
I am thankful for so many things that I must edit it down. I was diagnosed with a terminal cancer…during my recovery from a massive surgery my youngest son was diagnosed with schizorphrenia. With all of this I still feel I am blessed…to live in this great country…to know people of faith and character and courage (such as you)…I will see another Christmas. Btw…I leave my lights up all yr and often turn them when I’m in a good mood. In July my house looks like a little casino back in the woods…hee hee.
I am thankful for my beautiful wife of 32 yrs. I am thank ful for my friends who pointed me to God’s path..which I confess has been a challenging but rewarding balancing act. And lastly…but still important. I am thankful for the rediscovery of cook and serve Butterscotch pudding which has allowed me to put on 8 lbs. That’s right, La Shawn…”I” have a Butterscotch jones…hee hee. Have a great Thanksgiving LB. I am thankful for you. Love Ray..
I am thankful for the men of D-Day, June 6, 1944 who saved the life of a little boy living in occupied Denmark and destined for the Hitler youth.
I am thankful for the father whose insight brought that little boy to America.
I am thankful for enemies who provide crystal clarity to issues which are otherwise often unclear and obscure.
I am thankful for men and women courageous enough to fight and defeat that enemy.
I am thankful for those with the ability, expertise, knowledge and wherewithal to provide those men and women with the tools necessary to complete that task.
I am thankful for God who taught me to be thankful.
I am thankful for a warm bed only seconds away.
I am thankful for a loving wife already sleeping in that bed.
God bless you La Shawn and the other wise posters here too many to name.
Happy Thanksgiving to all,
I am thankful that God is good all the time. Happy Thanksgiving!
It isn’t a simple matter to enumerate all the things I’m thankful for today. I’m glad to be living in the only country in the world that has, or has ever had, anything approaching our Bill of Rights.
I’m thankful that we still produce men and women willing to sacrifice their time, and even their blood, to defend our country.
I’m thankful that I can share this day with four of my five children and their families (the fifth comes on Saturday).
And I’m thankful that I can turn to La Shawn’s blog to brighten my day.
My son and his wife were killed in an automobile accident in May. Their 18 month old son, Alexander, survived. I’m grateful for the Lord and his kindness in sparing our grandson. I’m grateful for a young couple who loved the Lord and showed it in their actions toward each other and others. I’m grateful for a kind and loving Heavenly Father who welcomed this young couple home into the arms of His perfect love. I’m thankful that someday (sooner or later — it matters not) I will be with my son and his wife. I’m thankful for a wife of some thirty plus years and other good sons and a daughter. This Thanksgiving will be bitter-sweet, but oh how bitter it would be without the Lord.
I am so very thankful that I was born of God fearing Christian parents who never wavered in their love, devotion and service to Him. God chose to grant me this greatest of blessings and to Him I give all honor and praise.
God – Family – Country. Thank you Lord for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ my Saviour!
And God bless you, LaShawn for spreading the gospel.
You are a beautiful human being.
OK La Shawn, back to work. We’re having withdrawal pangs….but wait, maybe it’s indigestion….nope it’s withdrawal, sorry.
Thankful for my lovely wife
Thankful for my incredible son
Thankful for the re-election of our great president
Thankful for the men and women in Iraq who are going above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis
Thankful, above all, for the gift of salvation that I have through Jesus Christ
Happy belated Thanksgiving, La Shawn. I’m thankful for all that God has blessed me with, including family, friends, health, work, transportation, the recent election’s results, and (definitely not least of all) the wonderful woman God has brought into my life!
I LOVE the opening of your blog today!!! So true!! I am not “ready” to leave this world because I still have children to raise, yet I am ready, for I too know that on the other side of this life, is eternal life with my Lord, Jesus Christ!!!
A loving family is what I’m thankful for.
The has just passed (it’s back to school today, unfortunately…) – but I guess I can still say:
Happy Thanksgiving!
(My latest blog entry links to my thoughts from the past two years on this occasion… I wish I had more time right about now – and more energy!)
Anyway, Miss Barber: (I got the salutation right this time!…) I hope that you and yours had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and that you have a great week. Please keep up the good work with your writing and blogging. (I did update my blogroll link, as you requested in the e-mail.) Thanks!
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