Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and once again the holiday season will put all of us into a bundle of excitement. Sometimes we allow society to put the cart before the horse as we see Christmas being advertised and displayed before we even have a chance to enjoy Thanksgiving.

Sometimes we struggle to actually see all of the things that we have to be thankful for because we focus so squarely on all of the things that have pulled and tugged at us over the past 10 months of the year.

Over and over again in the Bible it commands us to give thanks to God. The psalmist said, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1)

Even Jesus, at the Last Supper with His disciples, "gave thanks" to His Heavenly Father, despite knowing all the torture that He would face in just a few hours. Then, just before His capture, Jesus went to the Garden to pray and His disciples followed. Prayer should include a confession of our sins but should also include praise and thankfulness to God for all that He has done for us.

This has been a very difficult season of life for my wife Ellen as she has had to endure a diagnosis of breast cancer, a double mastectomy and then 25 radiation treatments. The Bible tells us that we should ALL "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

No matter what you or your family has had to endure this past year - always remember to say "Thank You Lord" for all of the wonderful blessings that you have also enjoyed. Make sure that you are giving thanks at all times in your prayers each day.