I know many of you are getting ready for Thanksgiving. Me to. I’ll keep this short.
It’s appropriate that as Christians we especially are thankful and clear about our thanks to God during this Thanksgiving season. We ought to be, always, the people we hear in Psalm 79:13:
But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation
we will recount your praise.
I want to be a person who is growing in his thankfulness to God. So I thought I’d share what I’m thankful to God for.
I’m thankful to God for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have never deserved God’s love and mercy. There have been times I know I have grieved Him with my disobedience. But I praise God for His Son Jesus Christ and thank Him for being my dearest Friend, my Advocate, my Redeemer and Savior.
I’m thankful to God for my gracious wife, Carolyn. She is one of God’s greatest blessings in my life. She’s a blessing from God I’ve never deserved. Carolyn is a constant and gracious encourager. Carolyn is a loving wife and mother who is tireless in her care for her family. She is also a creative and fun mom who takes her children on hikes and bike rides, she cooks and bakes with her children, teaching her children at home and doing special activities with them throughout the year.
I’m thankful to God for my Children. I am often amazed at the tender hearts and love for the Lord I see in my children. Don’t get me wrong. They aren’t perfect. I pray they continue grow in their love for the Lord the rest of their lives. I thank God that I see His work in their hearts as they serve God with joy. I have also seen in some of my older children a heart for those who need Christ and a heart for those who are hurting and need God’s wisdom.
I’m thankful to God for God’s church. I thank God for you. I am continually reminded of God’s grace in my life for allowing me the privilege of serving Him with such a precious group of God’s people here at Higgins Lake Baptist Church. I thank God that He is growing you in your love for the Lord, for each other and in your love for those who need Christ.
When each Thanksgiving comes along we all seem to get a little more thankful. And that’s a good thing. But I want to learn, as a child of God, to cultivate a year-round, thank filled life. Will you join me? Yes, let’s be reminded at Thanksgiving to be thankful — but let’s not wait for Thanksgiving to be thankful or stop being thankful after Thanksgiving.
I hope you each have a blessed Thanksgiving week. We’ll be in John 14:18-24 this Sunday, so read ahead. And do join us for a special Sunday evening service at 6 PM. We’ll be sharing praises and testimonies of thankfulness to God and we’ll be singing your favorites.
I hope to see you Sunday.
Recounting God’s praise,
Pastor Kevin