LeeAnn and I kept the Feast in Canada—the first half in Point Edward (Sarnia), Ontario, and the second half in Prince Edward Island, which is an island province in Southeast Canada.

There were about 100 brethren in attendance at each of these Feast sites. They were small in size but very large in terms of the quality of the fellowship, the inspiring messages and music, and the family activities.

I have heard good reports from many other Feast sites around the world mentioning how much God blessed the weather and all of the services and activities. It is obvious that God poured out His Spirit of love, peace and unity as we worshipped Him and kept the Feast picturing His coming Kingdom, and the opportunity of salvation for all mankind.

How thankful are you, brethren, for this precious and priceless knowledge of God’s true plan and purpose? How thankful should we be? Let’s look at a few scriptures.

In Psalm 107:21-22, it says: “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.”

Psalm 100:4-5 tells us: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”

Thanking and praising God is so important that David appointed some of the Levites to form choirs of singers and musicians just to thank and praise God.

“Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy” (1 Chronicles 15:16). “And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 16:4). Many of the Psalms were written as songs of thanks and praise to God (1 Chronicles 16:7).

Let’s look at this same emphasis in the New Testament. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). Paul was inspired by God to write, “...giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). And he added these words: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

How do we give thanks to God when we are suffering a serious trial? Peter gives the answer “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13). “Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (verse 19).

So brethren, let us give constant and abundant thanks to God for His many blessings in our lives, including our trials, which help us become more like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as God prepares us for His Kingdom.