Jackson Jambalaya

Adrian Rogers, one of my favorite preachers growing up, asked, “Has it ever dawned on you that nothing ever dawns on God?” Good question!

Every semester I ask my students whether they are open-minded, and usually all of them raise their hands. Then, with a questionable look I ask how many are close-minded. Usually one or two will raise their hands. Then I ask them whether they believe something that no one could ever convince them was not true. That’s when they get it.

I tell them that if they’re not close-minded about something, they’re not really thinking. I don’t bring up God or believing in Jesus, but some of my students do. Faith is a topic many people don’t want to talk about. Most of my students are scared to talk about anything in my Public Speaking class! One of my goals for them is to learn to feel comfortable speaking about anything.

This week in America is set aside as a time of Thanksgiving when we can share what we’re thankful for with family and friends. Being thankful is one thing. Telling someone we’re thankful is another. This reminds me of a song the Carpenters sang in the 1960s. “Sometimes, not often enough, we reflect upon the good things. And those thoughts always center around those we love. And I think about those people who mean so much to me, and for so many years have made me so very happy. And, I count the times I have forgotten to say Thank you, and just how much I love them.”

It’s not a long song, but it’s packed with meaning and not a little dose of conviction. Thanksgiving week is always filled with busy-ness and traditions. Food, friends, family, football, and black Friday are some of the main attractions. Maybe this year we can make some time specifically to thank someone and to tell them we love them.

Maybe it will even dawn on us to thank God for all of His blessings. Where would we be without Him? How long has it been since we made time to thank Him and listen to Him in our prayers and conversations? Can we tell Him we love Him? How long has it been since we’ve told God “thank you” and “we love You?”

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I have hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.”

Is America at the beginning of a new dawn of faith? For the past few years we’ve heard about spontaneous revivals breaking out on various college and university campuses. Nevertheless various national surveys have shown declines in church attendance and membership across denominations. Who knows? Maybe the numbers mean America is ripe for a revival? Regardless, God knows and He’s in charge. His work will dawn on us when He wants it to shine.

Daniel L. Gardner is a columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.