A Season of Thanksgiving

November is the season of Thanksgiving, and we, at our church, have so many reasons for our hearts to be filled with gratitude. First, we thank God for the funds that we have started receiving from Georgia Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to pay our monthly rent for our church site. Behind the money is the statement, "We believe in you, and we love you." The arms of love feel very warm and cozy, indeed! Second, we received an invitation to candidate for a "teaching churches" grant to aid us in reaching the non-churched. What an honor just to be invited to write a proposal! The grant proposal has been written, edited by our membership team and mailed to the appropriate parties. I had fun writing it and even more fun going over it with our team. Third, even though the weather adversely affected our crops this year, we have life and health to plant again next year. Praise the Lord for crop insurance! Fourth, my heart is filled with gratitude as I observe bonds of friendship growing between our Bible Study participants. I am thankful for the level of trust that is becoming evident. I am thankful for the level of hunger for what is holy and faith deepening among our study partners. I am grateful for the "faith challenge" that the Bible gives me, for I realize, more and more, that it is the only path for spiritual growth. When 2 Corinthians 5:7 stretches me with the words, "We walk by faith, not by sight," I am thankful that God is not through with me yet. Fifth, I am grateful for each of you who have walked with us this past year. Through the adversities and the joys, you have been faithful to the cause of Christ among us. I am immeasurably grateful for your commitment. And, I am grateful for people of God like George Mueller who walked through the tribulations of life with the attitude reflected in this quote attributed to him. "The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." So, I am grateful that the Lord shows me that I have a lot of growing to do to get to that place where I can join George Mueller in walking at this level of faith. Thank you, Lord, that you are not through with me. Help us all, Lord, to live in an attitude of gratitude this November and beyond.

In Thanksgiving,
Ron