Overcome with Gratitude

Richard Capen tells the story of his good friend, Navy Captain Harry Jenkins, who spent seven years in captivity in North Vietnam.  He was in solitary confinement for fifty months, and was tortured beyond belief.  Yet he always found something to laugh about and, as bad as it was, found joy in simply being alive.  He always looked for what he called “good signs” and even believed there was something good in his cruel captors.  Some of his fellow prisoners told Mr. Capen that Harry’s optimism had actually saved their lives.

So, ask yourself this question: “What are the good signs in my life?”  Friends, good signs are always present.  Every day is a great day, filled with incredible potential if we have the eyes of faith to look for the blessings rather than what isn’t right about our world.  I hope that each one of us this Thanksgiving season will look for the good signs . . . and offer thanks to God!

For example, you might send a thank you note to a person(s) who has blessed your life!  Those notes can mean so much.  I am committed to writing more notes and making more calls expressing my gratitude in this season of Thanksgiving.

Also, you might make a “thank” offering to the Lord’s work!  Our church family impacts the community and the world.  Some of us have been abundantly blessed.  Now is a good time to say “THANK YOU” to the Lord.  When we are overcome by God’s love, the barrier of “What’s mine is mine” is broken.  We find the indescribable joy of partnering with God in making a difference in people’s lives.

Someone once said: “We are writing our autobiographies everyday with our checkbooks.”  This Thanksgiving I challenge us to seek freedom from the mindset that our glass is half-empty, rather than half full . . . freedom from the delusion that if we can achieve and acquire more, we will be happy . . . freedom from the delusion that what is mine is mine, because I earned it.

When we finally understand that every good and perfect gift is a gift of God’s grace, we can’t help but be overcome with gratitude.  May all of us discover the joy that comes from counting God’s blessings, rather than our problems and fears in these days before Thanksgiving. 

Giving Tree for Love INC

There will be a special Christmas tree in our sanctuary with hearts, identifying various items to be purchased and then given to those needing assistance through Love INC.

Missions Team is active keeping in touch with our missionaries and other ministries.  Please keep updated!  You can visit our website and go to the Outreach page