Why is it that the only time we talk about giving thanks is around a table loaded with food? Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to fellowship with family and fill our bellies to the point of sickness. Why should we limit our thanksgiving to just one day or a season? How great has God been to us?

Kissing has been around forever. But how did kissing come about? Texas A&M University Professor of Anthropology Vaughn Bryant said, “The most likely origin has to do with smell. Early humans may have recognized one another by smell, developing a practice known as the “sniff kiss,” seen in a number of cultures, whereby people smelled each other’s cheeks as a greeting.

One of my favorite games to play at summer camp was Tug of War. Being a big guy, everyone wanted me on their team. However, I soon learned that having the big guy on your team didn't guarantee a win. Most of the time, the teams that succeeded were the ones that worked together in sync.

Isn't it nice to hear someone say to us, "Thank you?" You are walking into a building and spend a little extra time holding the door for the family behind you. When the last one in the family passes by, probably the dad, he turns and says, "Thank you." That feels good. I enjoy hearing that.

Have you ever been to someone's house, and when you went to the front door, they had a "welcome" mat? What did that mat say? Did the mat have an inviting phrase, or did the phrase on it make you think that you had made a wrong decision coming over there? Heather and I usually have a mat with a simple "Hello" or "Welcome." Maybe the reason is that Heather and I are simple people who like inviting others to our house.

Have you ever been ridiculed for presenting the truth? It's hard sometimes to try and reach out to people with the truth. Our minds continuously race with different scenarios. We may get rejected, we may lose a friend, or we may get harshly rebuked in public. We must ask ourselves, "Are all of those reactions worth standing up for the truth?" Do you think Paul thought about that question while preaching the gospel to everyone?

You may have seen the catchphrase, “Celebrate the Small Victories.” This phrase has been used to talk about the struggles people face in parenting, overcoming depression, and just getting through a day. A lot of us right now are in a mental and spiritual warfare.

Do you smell it? Fall is in the air. We are now in October. The temperatures are starting to cool down. The leaves are beginning to change colors. Football season is already halfway over. Hunting seasons are starting across the country...

My encouragement for you is to be smelly. Diffuse the scent of Christ wherever you go. You will be an encouragement for those who are Christians. Your smell could also be a wake-up call to lost people. 

Opportunities to serve are abundant and waiting for us. Let us find a way to serve this week, and in doing so, experience the joy and inspiration that comes from serving our Lord.

Remember, God takes great pleasure in our sweet-smelling sacrifices. He appreciates and loves us for our willingness to give and serve. Let this knowledge fill your heart with joy and gratitude. 

When we are at our lowest points in life, we must look up and humble ourselves because He will lift us up. Go out this week and show your humility in everything you do.

What does a normal day for us look like? Are we trying to care for people? Are we spending time in prayer? We need to learn to walk like Jesus. I charge you this week to do just that: spend time with people showing you care and go to a secluded place to pray to God.