Thanksgiving
Give Thanks In All Things!

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. Within a year and a half the Lord blessed my sons with wives.

Our eldest son married the girl that God had sent him and they are the parents of a son and daughter. Our second eldest son met a girl, and they fell in love and were married. They now have a daughter and a son. I was blessed to be able to officiate at both weddings.

Our youngest son prayed for his dream car (back in 2003); a 1968 Mustang and my wife 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.) He, too, married the women God had for him and they now have 5 children. 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 thirty 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.

Have a very, very happy Holiday Season.
From a brother in Christ