Pumpkin Smashing Thankfulness

I had a "smashing" good time tonight at our annual Pumpkin Smash with my Middle School Ministry.  It is really neat to watch as the middle schoolers and adult volunteers write all over their pumpkins the things in this world that trouble them and drag them down.

In John 16:33 JESUS tells us this: "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in ME.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” {Amen and AMEN!}

The really neat part of this night is what comes AFTER we fill our pumpkin up with the trials and tribulations we face, though -- because that's when we take the time to pray over them and give all that stuff to GOD.  THEN the fun begins!



We smash them!  And I mean we smash them BIG.  With a huge mallet we each take turns hammering our pumpkins until they are in pieces -- in such little pieces that we can NEVER pick them back up and put them back together.

Because that's what we are supposed to do . . . lay our troubles at the feet of JESUS and

LEAVE.

THEM.

THERE.

The BIBLE tells us that JESUS came so that we might have life -- but HE didn't just stop there.  HE came so that we may have LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY.

Philippians 4:8 reminds us of this:  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

That tells me (and all of us!) that we can leave our troubles behind and turn our focus on JESUS.  HE's got our backs here and we can look at the true, the honorable, the right, the pure, the lovely and the admirable.  We can look at HIM.

In ALL things I give thanks.  Especially in smashed pumpkins and the middle schoolers who left their troubles in a gooey pile for JESUS.  Tonight we worshiped with pumpkins and a hammer because our GOD is good.  HE IS VERY, VERY GOOD.



I’m linking up with my friend Brenda over atGarden of Learning. She’s challenged me to be in a mindset of gratitude as we prepare for a celebration of Thanksgiving! Hop over and check out how others are preparing their hearts and minds! Pin It Now!