Give Thanks For We Are Blessed!

As Thanksgiving approaches I am forced to ponder what I am thankful for. I am thankful for my wife, my family, my friends and my Lord. I am very thankful to have food, shelter, and basic needs covered. I am thankful for the extra things I have as well. The Lord has blessed me in ways I can’t explain and in way that are very simple.

My wife and I live in a apartment that is amongst the residents of Paxton St Home in Harrisburg. Our neighbors are staff and residents in this community that is based on the love of Christ. I am thankful to experience a life of community even if that means not having the privacy that we could have. I see Jesus everywhere here in the eyes of the people here. Our neighbors are old and young, some have mental illness and others just couldn’t do it on their own. This is truly a place to be thankful for because it provides care for those who need it as well as being founded on the love of Jesus Christ. I am blessed. I am thankful. We are not rich by any means, in fact some might consider us poor by economic standards but we have everything. Our car runs and was affordable. Our apartment is small but sufficient. We don’t have cable TV or a bunch of fancy things yet we remain happy. What makes us happy is our interactions with people, our relationship with each other and the outpouring of love that comes from our God. I am lucky to have what I have and yet live in freedom without worry of tomorrow. We as a couple believe in living simply and modestly but also allow ourselves to enjoy blessings when they come. I believe the Lord wants us to prosper and be rich but in what way? The way I believe we are to be rich is in the fruits of the Spirit with are found in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These qualities can make even a person with no money richer than the wealthiest man on earth. May God give us that kind of blessing and may we use that to give to others.

I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew  6: 25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I find comfort in this because if I claim to have faith I should HAVE it. I must trust in the words of Christ that God does care more for me than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. That even when I have been without he has provided. When my family struggled when I was young he came through with blessings. I see God everyday when I look at what I have instead of focusing on what I don’t have. There are many things I “want” in life but I can go without if what I need is in front of me. The best thing about God is though I am not wealthy he has blessed me from time to time with the means to get some things I otherwise could never have afforded and I try and use those things for good. I think God is not against Christians having money or having nice things at all. He just requires we do good with what we have and bless others. Our blessings are many and our blessings should multiply in order to bless the world around us. If we are Christians then we are as Paul writes in Galatians 3:29 “Heirs to the promise” and that is blessing enough.

I offer this encouragement because this holiday season will be tough for many. Money will be tight and jobs maybe scarce but lean on the promises of God. Know that we are not alone and the Holy Spirit is with us everyday. Also cling to the promise that one day we will no longer suffer and that God will restore us and make us whole again. In conclusion I leave you with this piece of scripture 1 Peter 5:10-11 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.