This week, as we gather around tables with family and friends, I want to invite you to pause with me and reflect on the deeper currents of gratitude that run beneath this season. Thanksgiving is not merely a holiday on the calendar; it is a summons to remember God’s providence across generations, His mercies in our public life today, and the beauty He invites us to restore in the ordinary rhythms of home and community.

Each of the three articles in this special Thanksgiving edition speaks to that theme from a different vantage point.

The Thanksgiving America Knows Little About

The familiar images of Pilgrims and harvest gatherings conceal a story far more rugged and sacred than modern sentimentality allows. This article takes you into the storms, losses, prayers, and providence that shaped the first Thanksgiving – reminding us that gratitude is forged not in ease but in hardship, and that God often works His deepest wonders when life seems most broken.

Ten Reasons We Give Thanks at Return America

This has been one of the most consequential legislative years for the cause of Christ in North Carolina in more than a decade. Here, I outline ten extraordinary reasons we can give thanks, victories seen and unseen, and the unmistakable evidence of God’s sovereign and gracious hand guiding our state. From major policy breakthroughs to silent mercies that stopped harmful legislation, this is a testimony to what God has done.

Dresses – A Secret Influence on Male and Female Attitudes?

Our guest columnist, Annie Holmquist, offers a thoughtful and uniquely feminine reflection on beauty, dignity, and the influence women have through something as simple as what they wear. Drawing from personal experience, cultural observations, and the gentle wisdom of Tasha Tudor, she reminds us that beauty – far from superficial – is a quiet force for goodness, order, and grace in a chaotic world.

As you read these pieces, my prayer is that your heart will be strengthened, your gratitude deepened, and your resolve renewed. May this Thanksgiving stir us again to thank the God who has carried us, guided us, and blessed us beyond measure.

Warmest Thanksgiving blessings to you and your family.

Picture: Rev. Mark H. Creech, age 22 (46 years ago), at his first pastorate, Davis Grove Baptist Church in Snow Hill, North Carolina. Rev. Creech said, “I thank God for bringing me this far – through many trials and challenges, He has always been with me.”

If you’ve found this week’s insights helpful, would you prayerfully consider forwarding this email to a friend, pastor, or family member? Everything here is free of charge, rooted in a solid Christian worldview, and meant to equip believers to think and act biblically about the issues of our day. Your sharing helps multiply the impact of these messages far beyond what I could reach alone – at no cost, but of priceless eternal value. Thank you for helping spread the Gospel truth!