Here are the top ten things that come to mind when I think of giving thanks!
1. Jesus—Saviour, Redeemer, Counselor, Mighty God, Creator, Healer, Advocate, and Friend. The best thing in life is to know Jesus, rest in Him, trust Him, and enjoy His unconditional love and absolute acceptance. “…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
2. Health—While cancer could return, I’m just grateful for health in this moment. God has granted me more breaths to enjoy and serve Him in life with my family. This is beyond gracious, and I’m grateful! “My times are in thy hand…” (Psalms 31:15) “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” (Psalms 39:4)
3. Dana—My best friend, hero, and life-time crush! She gets more beautiful with every passing day—inside and out. I could spend every waking moment the rest of my life with her. Thank you, Dana for being such an awesome picture of God’s amazing grace! “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10)
4. Lance and Hillarie, Larry, and Haylee—I’m grateful for kids who forgive me when I fail. I’m grateful for the ways they help me laugh. I’m grateful that they are patient when I have a hard time disengaging my brain. I’m grateful that God added Hillarie to our family and team this year. I’m just honored beyond words to be a parent to such amazing people! “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John 1:4)
5. EBC Team—God has providentially assembled a new and wonderful team at EBC. Derrick and Darci and Lance and Hillarie—thank you for sacrificing and coming by faith to share in the work. Jon and Laura—thank you for staying by faith and for serving so well. Pete and Sarah—thank you for coming back by faith and for impacting our children. Glenn and Mary Jane—thank you for sacrificing and serving by faith with such gracious spirits. ECA staff and faculty—thank you for sacrificing, trusting, following, and serving so faithfully! It is a GREAT joy and honor to serve God with you! “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
6. EBC Family—It’s an indescribable joy and privilege to be your pastor and to serve Jesus with you. We love you, we pray for you, we desire to be helpers of your joy in every way! We believe God is doing something wonderful in our church, and we are honored to share in it with you. Thank you for accepting us, loving us, encouraging us, and sharing the vision with us! “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” (2 Corinthians 1:24)
7. Family—I’m thankful for our parents, grandparents, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews—all of whom have prayed for us, loved us, encouraged us in countless ways this year. Your belief, prayers, and encouragement has meant more than words can describe! “…that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary…” (Isaiah 50:4)
8. Friends—There are friends that “leverage you” and there are friends who just love you. I’m thankful for friends who encourage, accept, and enjoy without expectation or agenda. These friends are hard to find and impossible to lose. Their encouragement is a gift of God’s grace! “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:” (2 Timothy 1:16)
9. Help—Just yesterday, in one day of ministry, God has intersected my path with people in the grips of unspeakable pain—marriage trouble, homosexuality, drug addiction, health trials, deep depression, debilitating anxiety, abuse, abandonment, job loss, alcoholism, death. That’s just one day. I’m thankful for the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the family of God that gives help in each of these and many other situations! “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)
10. Hope—Jesus not only gives help, He is HOPE! No matter the difficulty and impossibility, in Jesus there is always hope. While I can’t fix all the problems, I CAN help people find HOPE and fix their hearts upon Him! I’m grateful for HOPE! “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” (Hebrews 6:19)
