Thankful

Give thanks with a grateful heart:

I'm sitting here overwhelmed with good feelings of thanks. I am thankful for the rich life the Lord has blessed me with. It starts with salvation- an understanding of eternal forgiveness- not of my own doing. It is the ultimate gift.

Then I have to go to my wife- my best friend of 23 years ( and close to 30 that I have known her). God chose her to be that constant companion through times of plenty and times of need. I have to think back to Dec 9 - the day I was fired- and my heartbroken drive to my wife's office to tell her the news. She gave me the sweetest response and the most solid support during that time.
Here I was- about to have a daughter graduate- and looking into a vast, dark unknown- in a woeful economy and high jobless rate- and she just celebrated. God will take care of us- and boy, did He ever!

Give thanks to the HOLY ONE:

 Who is like the Lord? He is completely HOLY and lives in unapproachable light. If I were to come into His HOLY presence I would be vanquished... obliterated. But I am covered... I am justified.... I am adopted- WHAT A SALVATION!

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son: 


Because of my sin- I was sentenced to a life apart from the HOLY ONE. But Jesus, because of deep love- became the sacrifice for me. It is Him and Him alone who deserves the thanks for this good news.

AND NOW- let the weak say "I am strong":


I am weak- I am able to do nothing good in my strength. I am lazy, and cold, and apathetic. I get down on myself and lose confidence. I let Satan fill me with doubts and fears- but IN HIM- I am a champion- Born again- adopted SON of the KING!


Let the poor say I am rich:


We struggle financially at times. We live month to month. We are completely dependent on God providing- but HE DOES! We don't live extravagantly, but I feel so wealthy. I have clothes, food, a nice house, my children are blessed with a world class education, my oldest daughter is excelling at a great university. We have health care and have experienced so many fun times. I don't know how we have done it, but He has always been faithful!

Because of what the Lord has done for us!

I sing, I praise, I celebrate- In Christ, there is great riches! In Christ, there is great blessing!

May we all enjoy Him more fully this thanksgiving day!

Thank you for:
My beautiful, loving family
My faithful friends
The blessing of Briarwood Christian School and Church- a steady, spiritual family!
A life of warm and rich memories
Excellent health
Food and shelter
More fun than a man should have
Hard times- that have made me stronger and wiser

I pray for: Our nation to be healed- we are divided and in deep debt and deeper sin
We need a revival of YOUR grace- we need an awakening of YOUR gospel.