“No duty is more urgent than that of giving thanks.”
Ambrose
November features a holiday recognized across our country. It is Thanksgiving. It’s usually a wonderful time of sitting around the dining room table, visiting with family, and sometimes, many times, most of the time, getting to watch the Detroit Lions lose a football game. This year may be different. But my purpose in writing today is not to offer a critique of Jared Goff and the Lions. My purpose today is to say, “thank you.” Last Sunday, after the worship service, our church family presented Teresa and I with many cards, flowers, and other tokens of love. I want to say thank you for being such a precious group of people and for loving us so well. We are exceedingly blessed to call The Road our church family and we deeply appreciate all your prayers and the outpouring of your love that we see not only last Sunday but every Sunday. Thank you.
Here is one more thing to be thankful for, the Lord has blessed our church family with many mature believers who challenge us in small groups, lead our Sunday School classes, serve on a variety of teams or committees, lead us in worship, bless our littles in the nursery, organize hospitality, keep the building clean, lead our youth and children’s ministries, greet and welcome guests, take care of the property, the list goes on and on. They also bring the Word of God to us. I wanted to close with an edifying challenge from Jim’s recent sermon from Hosea 1:
God does not have to take a deep dive into our hearts to see where our true affections lie. Because my actions will tell the story. How do I use the time God has given? What are my priorities in life based on how I use my time? What about my resources and money? Do I squander what God provides on trinkets that lead me away from him, or do my spending habits reflect the fact that God owns everything and He is the Giver of all good gifts? What do I spend money on? Do I invest to see God’s kingdom expand, or my own? What does my life show about who or what I trust? Where do I turn when trouble comes and I get anxious? Do I turn to the God of all comfort, the One who sees all and knows all? Do I look to him who promises to feed the birds and clothe the lilies of the field? Or, do I take things in my own hand, or try to cope by trying to escape reality in some way? Do I turn to things that promise life and freedom but have no ability to deliver?
God has lavished blessings on us, given us everything for life, provided all that we would ever need, but God does not give it as an end in itself. He pours out blessings in various ways out of his love for us, in order that we would enjoy and love him through those things. Do you recognize the goodness of God through the blessings he gives, or do you use those very things to turn away from him?
A powerful challenge! Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
