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Give Thanks In All Things - Our Thanksgiving!
 Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ;
In everyone's life there are those times of great joy and gladness. It could
be the day you got married, the birth of a child, the marriage of your children,
the birth of your grandchildren. It could certainly be the day you met Christ
and found salvation in His sacrifice of love. It might be the day you or your
children receive that call to the ministry. It may be your first kiss or your
first case of 'puppy love'. Better yet, it may be the day you realize you have
found the one true love of your life, and find out they feel the same way about
you.
I believe I am one of the most blessed men alive. I have a great gift from
God in the wife He gave me some 30 years ago. Then, even though we were told by
many doctors we could not have children, the Lord opened the womb and gave us
three wonderful sons. Our second eldest son, Daniel, met a girl, and they fell
in love and were married about a year and a half ago. (See the photo on our home
page). Now they are expecting their first child, (our first grandchild) in
approximately four to six weeks.
Then our eldest son, David, was married about three weeks ago to the girl
that God had sent him. I was blessed to be able to officiate at both weddings.
Our youngest son, Josiah, prayed for his dream car; a 1968 Mustang and Kathy and
I were blessed of God to have found one we could afford so we got it for him as
a Christmas gift, but we couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to him.
Possibly one of the greatest blessings a parent can have is to see all of their
children happy and doing well, and God has given us this gift.
Needless to say, this year we have had one of the best Thanksgiving Days
ever. Just before dinner I walked out and sat on our deck for about an hour or
so, just giving thanks to God for all He has done for us, for I know that all
good gifts come from above. I also know that without God calling my wife and I
some twenty-five years or so ago, I would either be dead and in Hell or in
prison by now. But God has only good things for us if we will just wait upon
Him.
Many of you today are going through hard times and asking God, "Why?".
Well, I don't have all the answers, but I do know that, if we let them, those
times of trials and hardships will only serve to bring us closer to the Lord and
teach us such Godly attributes as patience, long suffering, perseverance and
faith.
In earlier years, my wife and I went through so many hardships, there were
times I wondered if God had left us, but I know now that God never leaves us or
forsakes us. He is always there, loving and caring for us. Just wait upon the
Lord, and you, too shall see the light break through. Look not to people, but
look unto God and Him only. Don't judge others. Don't harbor unforgiveness or
resentment for anyone, and never go to sleep angry but talk to God and take care
of all these things first.
People will let you down, churches will let you down, but Jesus will never
let you down. As I said before, He will never leave you or forsake you. Before
you know it thirty or forty years will have gone by and you won't even remember
what it was you were angry about way back when. Trust God. Trust Jesus. Be led
by the Holy Spirit and love one another, even if it seems difficult at the time,
for the day will soon come when each of us will have to give an account to God.
Make it easy on yourself and choose to be filled with faith and thankfulness.
You will find that Jesus will work everything out in His own time.
From our family to yours, have a very, very happy Holiday Season.
Love in Christ...
Rev. Ron and Kathy and the entire family and staff of Into the Light Ministries |
