November 2009

Dear Friends,

Even though we should be thankful all year long for our blessings, November always brings an extra portion of grateful appreciation for our Blessings.  I heard a story about a town grouch who was grumbling on Thanksgiving Day!  A neighbor asked him, "Don't you have anything to be Thankful for?"  "Nope" was the reply. "Have you ever considered thanking God for turning your nose right side up? He could have put it on upside down. Then when it rained you would have drowned!" We do not have to go very far to find blessings!

The goal of every worshiper is not only to experience God, but to reflect God. We are not only to enjoy His blessings and attributes; we are to grow into them. We began with gratitude, and we will declare His goodness and proclaim His salvation. We will become visible examples of God's blessings.  We will give credit not to good fortune, our own abilities, but to God from whom all good gifts are given. The believer who knows he has been blessed by a generous God cannot help but become more generous also. Our generosity will reflect His, our kindness will reflect His, and our actions will reflect His.

A Blessing received and acknowledged calls for a duel response: Gratitude toward God and a reflection of Him for others to see. God meets our needs in so many different ways and then we are called upon to help meet the needs of our church and others in our world. What better way to celebrate the month of Thanksgiving?

Blessed Thanksgiving,

Pastors Art and Carolee

“The Historic Church on the Move!”