You Just Thank The Lord

October 23, 2024

Leadership Notes

     Driving back after reading to Melissa Hilton’s wonderful Young Fives class at Sutton Elementary today {October 22}, a great song was playing on the radio. Originally written by Curtis Mayfield in the 1960s, it was inspired by the Christian faith of his grandmother. This version of “People Get Ready” was covered by Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart. For my money, Beck was one of the greatest guitarists of his generation. And Stewart’s voice was perfect for this soulful song:

People get ready

There's a train a-coming

You don't need no baggage

You just get on board

All you need is faith

To hear the diesels humming

Don't need no ticket

You just thank the Lord

People get ready

For the train to Jordan

Picking up passengers

From coast to coast

Faith is the key

Open the doors and board them

There's room for all

Among the loved the most

There ain't no room

For the hopeless sinner

Who would hurt all mankind just

To save his own

Have pity on those

Whose chances are thinner

Cause there's no hiding place

From the Kingdom's Throne

So people get ready

For the train a-comin'

You don't need no baggage

You just get on board

All you need is faith

To hear the diesels humming

Don't need no ticket

You just thank, you just thank the Lord

     That refrain, “you just thank the Lord,” struck me as I was driving up Evans Street. What a beautiful state of mind. How can you not feel it? The day is gorgeous. We are richly blessed in so many ways. “You just thank the Lord.” How can we not join together in giving God all the glory and honor and praise for all that He has done? We are soon entering the seventh year in our wonderful church home. God’s sovereign grace and mercy is prominent in our lives. “You just thank the Lord.”

     For some reason, I’m resonating here with what Viktor Frankl once said:

“The pessimist resembles a man who observes with fear and

sadness that his wall calendar, from which he daily tears a sheet,

grows thinner with each passing day.”

Life is blessing and joy…each day a gift. With the Apostle Paul, we say, “Rejoice in the Lord always…again, I say, Rejoice.”

     Also quoting Paul, dear to my heart are the words, “I thank my God for you every time I think of you.” Every night, before drifting off to sleep, in my prayer time, I thank God for the wonderful people of Covenant Church. He has chosen us to be part of this lovely little church. Together, we worship Him in truth and praise, we love each other, and we love the community in which we live, work, and have our being. There is no place on earth I would rather be.

     Thank you, from the depths of my heart and mind, for your outpouring of kindness last Sunday {October 20th}. Your love and generosity shone through the wonderful gifts. My family will be well fed through the holidays! Plus, your kind words and laughter deeply touched my heart. “You just thank the Lord.”

     One of the best things shared was your Moment of Spurgeon {which most definitely bears repeating}:

        “THE MOTTO OF ALL TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD MUST BE, ‘WE

PREACH CHRIST; AND HIM CRUCIFIED.’ A SERMON WITHOUT

CHRIST IN IT IS LIKE A LOAF OF BREAD WITHOUT ANY FLOUR IN

IT. NO CHRIST IN YOUR SERMON, SIR? THEN GO HOME, AND

NEVER PREACH AGAIN UNTIL YOU HAVE SOMETHING WORTH PREACHING.”

     Always of Good cheer, and Always with much Love and Affection,

Richard