Thanksgiving is a time to pause, if only briefly to stop focusing on what we don’t have and to be thankful for what we do have. I have a lot to be thankful for! I am thankful for my job. I’m not only thankful for the job itself, but for the fact that I work with a great group of people and really enjoy what I do. I am thankful for Sharon and all the good she has brought into my life. She has seen me at my worst, but only seems to notice my best. I am thankful for all my grandma taught me when she was alive. She never bragged about it, but was the most generous person I ever knew. I think she really got Christianity by the way she lived her life so graciously and generously. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for those who came to my side when I needed it most this year and last. I am thankful for an on time God. Sometimes I get pretty worried that things aren’t going to work out, but God always comes through for me. I am thankful for a good church that teaches generosity and really lives it out in the community. I am thankful for good music that lifts my spirits when I am down. I am thankful for people who participate in research and for medical advancements. I am thankful for days filled with sunshine. I am thankful for a warm and cozy bed. I am thankful for food. I am thankful for clean water. I am thankful for sweet tea and Hershey’s chocolate. I am thankful for the gourmet dinners Sharon makes. I am thankful for my 3 cats that bring so much joy into my life. I am thankful that I can still put one foot in front of the other without much effort. I am thankful for people who make me laugh. Laughter can brighten the worst of situations. I am thankful for people who always point me in the right direction and show me the hopeful side of hopeless situations. I’m thankful for Facebook which has allowed me to reconnect with people from years ago and allows me to stay connected with close family and friends. I’m thankful for this blog which gives me a forum to share with you all that I am thankful for. This Thanksgiving, please take a moment to stop and be thankful for all you have!

I went to church this morning as I usually do every Sunday, but today the service was a little different. We sang a few songs, went over the announcements, greeted one another, and shared a few scriptures together. Then, the worship pastor said we were closing the service early so that we could all go by the grocery store and purchase food for our local food pantry. There were several freezer trucks set up at local grocery stores to accept the food donations and deliver them to the food pantry later. Our local food pantry served 1, 305 people last month. What an easy way to help those in need in your local community! Now, that’s what I call church!

Remember the Red Hot Chili Peppers song, “Give It Away?” Well, this is exactly what Jesus has commanded us to do. “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:33-34 Yet, not many of us truly follow this command. This is perhaps one of the most ignored commands in the Bible. Our society has suffered because we have not followed this command. Occupy Wall Street is a good example of this. There is a great divide between the 99% and the 1%. Can you imagine a world where no one person is wealthy and all wealth is equally distributed? What would it be like to live in a world without poverty? I’m not saying you shouldn’t enjoy something you have worked hard for. However, many are not afforded such opportunities. Some people work hard their entire lives, yet still live in poverty. Many people have because it’s been handed down from generation to generation in their families or what some call “old money.” “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” Luke 12:48. What we have is a gift from God. Everything on earth (all our material possessions) are His. My grandparent’s were two people I know that truly followed the command to give, but you never heard them mention it. My grandma always gave to the church, to her family, to community organizations, and to anyone in need. This was a continuous pattern throughout her life, but she never bragged about it. I have written about this before, and I will always believe that God blessed my grandparent’s the way He did because they were so faithful in giving. It’s been said time and time again that we can’t take our wealth and material possessions with us when we die, but how many of us truly believe that concept? Our time on earth is temporary. I believe that one of the greatest attributes of God is giving. How can we share the love of God without giving? They are one in the same. It always blows my mind when I hear about “Christians” that hand out Bible tracts to people all the while overlooking their basic needs. “Read this Bible tract and maybe some food will fall down from heaven.” What’s the benefit of handing out Bible tracts and candy in third world countries where the children don’t have access to dental care? People need to know the real Jesus, not the cute cartoon portrayed on a Bible tract, but the one who loves us unconditionally and wants to meet our basic needs like food, water, and shelter. God doesn’t care about big church buildings, Jesus t-shirts, or any other money making deviation from His true plan! God is found in the hearts of the generous. If you’re looking for opportunities to give, you don’t have to look far. You don’t necessarily need to send money across the world to someone in need. You can start by looking at your own family and circle of influence. What about the wait staff the next time you’re eating out? What an easy way to give to someone else! Opportunities abound! If Jesus were walking around on earth today, He’d be helping people, so why shouldn’t we?

So, my daddy turned 50 years old yesterday. Yes, I still call him daddy! Is that wrong? I wonder how many people never stop calling their dads, “daddy?” Surely, I’m not the only one! Maybe it’s a southern thing? In my family, I think most everyone still calls their dad, “daddy.” I just thought it was normal, until someone confronted me about it. “Who still calls their dad, “daddy” at your age?” Is 31 too old to still be calling my dad, “daddy?” What about all the people who refer to their grandmother’s as nana? At least I never did that! Most of the time it’s not an issue. Though, it is a little awkward when I get a phone call from my dad when I’m at work, and I say, “Hey daddy!” There goes my professionalism, ha! So, I ask you oh Crispy Chrissy readers, what do you call your daddy, and should I stop calling mine that?