How Will You Celebrate?

Jun 30, 2024 • Rev. Sherri Reynolds

Sermon Notes: Sunday, June 30, 2024

How will you celebrate the 4th of July? Many of you will travel. Some of you

will BBQ, watch fireworks, eat melon, or spend time in the water. Some will

mark the birth of our nation with a patriotic observance or with family tradition.

Let me suggest another way to celebrate: Thanksgiving. We may not think of

Thanksgiving on the 4th of July, but just listen to my case. Paul writes in

1 Thessalonians 5:18 and reminds us to give thanks in all circumstances. We

may typically think of Paul’s advice to give thanks in situations applying to

when we may not feel like giving thanks, but I think this could be applied to

holidays as well. Giving thanks in all circumstances could mean spending

time in gratitude during all your days, including holidays. Let a little gratitude

be sprinkled in your July 4th fun. After all Paul does write that giving thanks in

all circumstances is God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:12-28).

So, count your blessings this July 4th. Thanksgiving not only has its place

in November, but in everything, especially Independence Day. See how many

reasons to give thanks that you can come up with this Thursday, and you just

might find an abundance of blessings in freedom and celebration.

In gratitude,

Rev. Sherri