Have you noticed, as I have, that there are millions of people today needing encouragement?  Daily I see people who are really hurting in multiple ways and are in need of encouragement.  Quite often I wonder to myself: "Is there anything I can do to help them?  What can I do to encourage them?"

Even in our church there are people needing encouragement.  Now that is a bit easier to help encourage them as all we need to do is to talk with them and get a sense of what is going on in their lives; and then inquire of the Lord for His leading in trying to alleviate their hurt and meet their need and ENCOURAGE them!

Often this can encourage someone: "Hello! How are you?  Been thinking about you knowing your present circumstance, is there anything I might do to be a blessing?"

I've found that "Encouragement" cards can do great wonders for those in need of encouragement.  It is not because I am the sender that encourages them, it is the sentiment expressed in the card along with the verse of God's Word which can be found written in the card which lifts the spirit of its recipient.  Just to know that we care can do wonders to lift the spirit of someone discouraged, doubtful, and discontented.  Most importantly, pray that the Lord would use your card of encouragement to be a blessing.  And, if you add a little note of your own making under your name or on the opposite side of the card, you would be surprised what that can do to lift their spirit because it shows you cared enough to write.

Thanksgiving Day is soon upon us.  Many there are out there in our families, neighborhoods, places of employment, and businesses with whom we have contact that need encouragement and at the same time make or create Thanksgiving to be a day of blessing it was intended to be.

Ever think about making a meal big enough to share it with a neighbor who is struggling on Thanksgiving Day?  I've a family member who does that for her neighbor who is struggling greatly due to a death in the family.  The recipient is blessed and so is the provider.  More important, our Lord is honored.

This is one of the reasons why our local church has "Pie Evangelism Day" every Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving Day ... just to be a blessing to all who receive a pie and perhaps also lift their spirit, bring a smile on their face, and just maybe lead them to the Lord who can do far more for them than they ever thought or dreamed He could do for them.

Just being saved brings more blessing to Thanksgiving Day than anything else.  I know as it was just six days before Thanksgiving Day 1963 that I trusted Christ as my Saviour.  Oh, what a difference He made in my Thanksgiving Day ever since!  Praise the Lord!!

I challenge everyone to seriously consider this: Do you have a relationship with God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?  In John 1:11 we are told: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."  And what a shame that is!  He was despised and rejected by those for whom he came to minister and not one really cared for Him at all!  But then we read in John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:13)

Won't you receive Him as your Lord and Saviour as I did those 63 years ago and experience the change in your life as I did in mine?  You will never regret it … guaranteed by God and His Word!

When He saves us, Thanksgiving Day is one of the biggest blessings to the extent that Christmas Day, your birthday, and all the other personal holidays become less and less important.  Why?  Because of the salvation he proffered us and we accepted!

Truly, "What a wonderful change has been wrought in my life, since Jesus came into my heart." the words of a hymn we often sing here at church.

Accept the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart by admitting you are a sinner, believe that He died for your sins to cleanse you with His precious blood, and to redeem you out of the slave market of sin.  Then, and only then, will Thanksgiving Day 2025 be the day of blessing it was meant to be!

From my heart to yours: "HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!"