Thanksgiving Rejoicing!

Early Morning Thanksgiving:

I am enjoying my coffee and the quiet in my home these early morning hours of Thanksgiving 2010. The turkey is in the oven. I always use the oven bags and usually cook it overnight on lower temps but decided to but it in early morning this year.

I am so thankful for my salvation and for all God's grace and mercy. He has blessed me so richly and daily loadeth me with benefits! I am thankful for a houseful of sleeping family members, husband, children, grandchildren, niece, the warmth of the heat that is coming from a new heat pump, the cozy chair that I am sitting in, the hot coffee I am drinking, but most of all for the Book that is beside me: The Holy Bible - God's very breath that is alive and His very Words that are written to me. How blessed I am to realize what it actually is! How I wish others realized what they can hold in their hands and have in their hearts to help in times of need ! I am so thankful that God has placed me under the teaching of some very gifted preachers and teachers that know how to bring the Word and how to encourage me to go to it each day for the Bread of Life. The only thing that the world can not take away is my salvation, and it is free and extended to all. Not a thing that I can do could earn it, not a thing that I do makes me keep it. My God holds me in his hand. He seals me with his Holy Spirit. Jesus is the author and finisher of my faith. I love my Lord and want to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving this morning, and declare his works with rejoicing! Psalm 107:22

I thought I would share a poem I wrote about our pastor for our church's Pastor Appreciation Day service last month. I'm truly thankful that God has blessed my husband and I with such a man for a pastor and friend.

DEAR PASTOR

There is a special person

God brought into our lives.

He’s been with us through ups and downs,

prayed for us while we cried.

We’ve grown to love his family,

many that they be.

His precious wife is ever near,

at work behind the scenes.

He Preaches with conviction,

of a Christ who changed his heart.

He sometimes uses more than words...

(By acting out each part)!

He Teaches us with wisdom

from time spent with God above.

He Guides with truthful counsel,

but most of all he Loves.

He doesn’t serve for money,

his salary is nil;

nor accolades, nor praise of men,

but thanks we give him still.

He serves out of obedience,

a mind set on the Lord.

So we will serve alongside him,

our hearts in one accord.

God gave us Christ, salvation,

heavens promise in the end.

But life on earth’s been better,

with our Pastor and our Friend.

10-24-10