Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. Family gatherings, a feast for everyone, all day parades and football, family games, lots of laughter, and making new memories. Thanksgiving falls between Halloween and Christmas…a great holiday to kick off the Christmas season. I have always wondered how many people give genuine thanks on the fourth Thursday of November. There are many who will open up the day with a time of family sharing—a time to truly express how God has blessed them. Sadly, there are many families who will only offer up a token prayer to somehow legitimize that they are thankful.
How will you spend your Thanksgiving? Will it just be another day or will you have some heartfelt moments of true thankfulness? I hope you will consider all of the good times you have experienced as moments of blessing to share with others. I hope you will consider the trying times you have experienced as moments of learning to savor for yourself. Paul said that “in ALL things we are to give thanks”…both the good and difficult.
I have much to be grateful for this year. As for this blog and its purpose of missions, I am so thankful beyond measure for the prayer partners that so faithfully pray for the funding, the planning, the times of travel, and the mission to Pastors/wives and the children. I am very thankful for those who have a heart for missions, who share my passion for people in other countries, and who have determined that they want to be a financial partner. Praying and giving are essential to the Mission of Instruction and Encouragement for these special people.
I have now been to Haiti twice and to the Philippines once. I greatly desire to go to both places in 2017. There is a list of opportunities had and needs that were met in another article on this blog. The looks on their faces, the hugs that they give, and the comments that they make are enough to melt one’s heart. But always, it seems that I come away being blessed by them and their gratefulness. I go to give but they give so much more to me. I go to help but they help me in more ways than they know. To all who pray and give I wish you could experience the personal touch of missions to these special people.
So, I ask you now to continue to pray and continue to give as God leads. You are a blessing to me. My words are so inadequate for what has been accomplished because of you. This coming week enjoy God’s bounty, His favor, and His unconditional love.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
