Thanks-Living

November 20, 2024

Leadership Notes

     As some of you might remember, I have a special fondness for Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. As the quintessential American holiday is in eight days, it felt appropriate to share this beautiful passage from Philippians 1:3-7:

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every

prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of

your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I

am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it

to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel

this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and

in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

     The prison part notwithstanding, Paul’s sentiment resonates within my heart and soul. The best part is that we are such a lovely church because it is God working in our lives. As Christian author and pastor Darrell B. Harrison observes:

“No truly regenerate believer in Jesus Christ can ever take personal credit

for their salvation {James 2:1}. Your coming to saving faith in Christ was

entirely of God. As Jesus says in John 5:21, ‘For just as the Father raises

the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he

wishes.’ And then there is this from Ephesians 2:8, ‘For by grace you have

been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.’”

     Your love for Jesus shows in worship. Your devotion to Jesus shows in your generosity. Your love for Jesus shows in how you care for each other. Your love for Jesus shows in the kindness expressed to our community. Your love for Jesus shows in your desire to grow in reading and understanding God’s Word. This is a beautiful church. It is such a grand and glorious thing hearing the babies and younger children in worship. I love it. I don’t think we could be happier with their joyful sound. We have so much to be thankful for!

     Safe travels for next week. I trust, however we celebrate, we will all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

     And now, your Moment of Spurgeon:

“You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You

make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you

would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”

     And because Thanksgiving is next week, here’s an extra helping:

“I think that is a better thing than thanksgiving: thanks-living.

How is this to be done? By a general cheerfulness of manner, by

an obedience to the command of Him by whose mercy we live, by

a perpetual, constant delighting of ourselves in the Lord, and by a

submission of our desires to His will.”

     Always of Good Cheer,

                 Richard