Thanksgiving is a time of year when we are often reminded of all that God has done for us over the past year. Certainly, we can echo the hymn writer who said, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one…” What do you do when the year in review does not yield the tangible blessings you desired? The Bible tells us here in Psalm 30:4 that the “trigger” for thanksgiving is remembering the holiness of God. That is not something one would automatically think of at the Thanksgiving dinner table! The holiness of God causes us to be thankful because it never changes. Tangible blessings and benefits come and go, but the holiness of God is eternal; and for that, we can be thankful!

We are thankful because God does not give us what we deserve. (Psalm 30:4)

Grace is defined as “unmerited favor”. God’s holiness demands righteousness but praise God for His all-sufficient grace.

We are thankful because trials have an end. (Psalm 30:5)

Although we serve a holy God, He recognizes that we are but dust; and He is well aware of what we can handle as His children. God always has His hand on the thermostat of your life as you are facing a trial. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” We can be thankful that trials eventually come to an end.

We are thankful because He can be entreated (Psalm 30:8-11)

The psalmist says, “Hear, O Lord…”. As a child of God, we have the wonderful privilege of taking all of our cares and burdens to the Lord. Not only can we take them to Him and cast them upon Him, but the Bible tells us in I Peter 5:7, “he careth for you.” What a blessing it is to know that God hears our prayers, and we serve a God that can be entreated.

As you count your blessings this Thanksgiving season, be mindful of the immutable and infinite holiness of God, which will produce a lasting thankfulness beyond the fleeting times and seasons of life.

Pastor Jason Atwood

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Jason Atwood

Jason Atwood, Assistant Pastor

Jason Atwood grew up in the Corpus Christi, Texas area, and in November 2006, Pastor Atwood was called to be the first pastor of Heritage Baptist Church of Corpus Christi. The church was meeting in a small one-bedroom house. God blessed, and they moved to a new 5-acre site to allow continued growth. In 2019, God led Pastor Atwood to join our staff. He is a tremendous help to Pastor Trieber in both the church and the college ministry. He is married to Aimee, and they have three boys — Will, Connor, and Jack.