November 2021
Message from Pastor
Tom:
Looking at this field of
pumpkins made me smile, as I know many of them probably held prominent spots
for different Halloween celebrations and decorations. It got me thinking about
the blog for November, and of course, the word thanksgiving came to mind. I wondered
how many are truly thankful for this bounty of growth, as we see here in the picture
above. In fact, how many even take the time to be thankful for what God has
supplied for them throughout their life. I find many don’t even know our Lord
and Savior, rather they feel because of their own hard work it is well deserved.
They believe everything is there for their use and enjoyment not giving a
thought to where, how, or the work it takes for just one pumpkin. They
don’t realize that if it were not for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there
would be nothing.
Since the Pilgrims
observing that first Thanksgiving Day in 1621, and then President Lincoln
proclaiming it a national holiday in 1863, Thanksgiving Day has been a vital
part of our national life. This is a time for us to reflect and be thankful for
our families and for what God has supplied for us. Gratitude and thanksgiving
to God is a very important exercise. It is something all of us ought to do. However,
it’s not only just a day of thanksgiving. The Bible tells us thanksgiving is also
something that ought to be an attitude of our heart. When you pick up your Bible,
please take the time to read Psalm 103:1–22 to your family, your friends, or yourself,
and reflect in this time of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is
historically a day to praise and thank God the Father for blessings and to ask
Him to heal the wounds of the nation. It was also a national day of penitence
to humbly repent for our sinfulness and disobedience. In our sin, we fail repeatedly
to get the proportions right. Only with divine redemption are we able to grow
toward a balance that goes somewhat like this: Christians are thankful
for all God’s gifts, especially his eternal gifts, and especially the
surpassing value of knowing His Son Jesus Christ. He entered into this
thankless world and died on our behalf for our incurable ingratitude. Jesus was
the manifestation of the perfect life of thankfulness. Scripture shows us an
impressive amount of times Jesus gave thanks to His Father.
So this Thanksgiving,
let us all be thankful for the bounty our Lord Jesus Christ makes available to
each of one of us and live a life of appreciation. All we must do is reach out
and let His light shine through us, illuminating clearly and perfectly the path
He has chosen for you and your family.
Heidi and I ask you join us in praying for peace
for our country, our leaders, and those who are racially and spiritually persecuted
worldwide. Please enjoy a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. May God richly
bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you.
Blessings from a pastor and his wife
Do not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans
12:2
