After such a great weekend as well as a great year – I wanted to pass on a couple of things that I am thankful for. Even when we have challenges – we are still so overwhelmingly blessed.
Here are my top 5 things that I am thankful for:
1) Our grand country! I have to sit back and really take it in – do you know how blessed your are to have been born in a country with both Political Freedom and Economic Opportunity at the same time?! Most of the people that have ever lived and will ever live on this earth will NEVER experience these two blessing together. I am thankful that not only have I been born here but that we have a country with men that have been willing and are still willing to fight for those freedoms! Thank and pray for every soldier you know and the ones you do not know! Pray that they would be safe, that their families would be comforted, that they would be home soon. Lord, thank you for the blessing of being an American, help me to pass your Grace, Mercy and Love on to others each day. What a blessing it is to be an American!
2) A God that designed me with a specific purpose and has created good works for me to do. Ephesians 2:10 – “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing”. Thank you Lord for your personal attention to me and your desire for me to be successful – to the extent that you created me to do specific good works and designed those good works to match my talents. Help me to know Your purpose for me that I might join you in doing these good works.
3) A God that desires fellowship with me – specifically with me – to be my friend. John 15:11 – Jesus said, “You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father”. When a good friend calls me on the phone – he does not have to introduce himself – I know his voice – the reason I know his voice is because I talk with him and he talks back. He is a good friend because we have spent many hours, days and years together – we know each other intimately. I can call a good friend, when I have a need, any time night or day and he can call me. John 10:1 – “The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice”. In Mathew 28:20 Jesus says, I'll be with you…, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." Thank you Lord that I am your friend – teach me to be a good friend – one that knows your voice!
4) A God that encourages me to step out in faith – take risks. We have all heard the story of the talents in Mathew 25. In ‘The Message’ translation it talks about the one that hid the 1000. Matthew 25: – “24-25"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.' 26-27"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. 28-30"'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb”. This really got my attention – I do not want to be a “play it safe”! I want to share in Jesus’ life – as he wants to share in mine. In Luke 19 – the same parable – he records Jesus as saying, 26“Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag”. Lord, thank you for encouraging me to be more to “go for it”. You have great plans for my life – I am special to you. Help me to have the faith to step out – risk it for you.
5) My family – My bride of more than 24 years, she is amazing. I am continually challenged to be a better husband. I know that her beauty comes from my love for her. My children – they continue to inspire me to be a better father – they are growing up to be amazing young adults. I know that I cannot be there to comfort all of the tough events in their lives, but He can – Thank you Lord. My Mom, what a great example of God’s joy and encouragement! – Thanks mom. My In-Laws – Jean and Worth, the biggest givers! – thanks for all you do. We just returned from Martinsville, VA where we celebrated the weekend and Thanksgiving dinner with the Zentmeyer family, more that 30 were there for dinner at my cousin’s house – thank you Gentry and Bennette, you are gracious hosts, and I am sure that you are sleeping well tonight. We had the best weekend – the kids over 20 of them had a wonderful time – playing non-stop until late into the nights. The adults almost 20 of us had a great time together – re-living many fun times together, getting caught up, and of course the stories – oh the stories (this is where the older children sit quietly and get the real stories about their parents). The fellowship was sweet. The weather was perfect. Lord, thank you for family – the one we have is like to other, it was great fellowship – may it not be so long until we are together again.
So there you have it, my top 5 – my prayer is that they are an encouragement to you. I hope and pray that during the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, that you can take some time and give thanks for the blessing that are in your life – just being an American is so amazing by itself! Sit down sometime and take inventory, it might surprise you – it does me!
I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health – that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!
