Thanks Thoughts

Today…..

Tuesday November 22, 2010….

Two days before Thanksgiving…..

So I pause, ponder and possibly pontificate on the reasons I have to be thankful this Thanksgiving season….

Tracie….

The beautiful, stalwart, consistent, powerful , passionate and gracious lady of my life whom the Lord gave me nearly 29 years ago. My heart, my soul and my life would really be a mess without her…

Doni…..

The little adoptee found in a dumpster 24 years ago that has produced more smiles, amazement and vehicle accident reports than I knew could be possible….

Trent…

My boy, my son, a young man pursing his calling, a man to stand beside in ministry, a young man becoming a full man and gains my respect more with every test passed…..

Calah…..

Trent’s gal that giggles at his goofiness and worships the ground he walks on and took the noisy thing out of our house but still lets him come over and play every Thursday….

Family….

My Mom & Dad were at my house in less than two hours on a very bad day when I called and simply said I needed them and hung up…..

Popsie & Grammy have believed in us for a lifetime……

Siblings….

5 - Smith, 4 - Thomas, 5 - Patrick makes lots of aunts, uncles & cousins….

Home….

Indeed God has blessed us with a most cherished refuge that we truly do not deserve….

Church….

CUPC is my life work and my life is far from over. Those past, present & future members will never understand the unconditional love I have for each. I am truly thankful that I have not torn down a bridge or locked a gate that would prevent one from approaching this lighthouse for the first or the fiftieth time…..

Staff….

Those that give of themselves daily deserve so much more than we are able to give one day will receive the proper remuneration for their service rendered unto the Lord….

Ministry Team….

Your maturity is such that I do not fear nor worry when away….

The Lord…

He decided to take me on a journey this year….

His Love….

In late April in a period of two weeks I felt my heart pulled from my chest and transplanted with hurt, grief, denial and questions. I was soon to learn that He meant this for my good and that I was being handed a new dimension of love. I simply pray I am passing the test.

His Brokenness….

Earlier in the year I preached a message concerning the Lord picking up, squeezing and ripping the fish from the lad’s lunch. I twisted and broke fish sticks all over the pulpit as a visual aid. Little did I know that He had already picked me up and had begun to squeeze and break me for the purpose of His multiplication. Brokenness is not fun…..

His Humility….

Events transpired in my world that forced me to cognize that pride could not be the driving force. Pride would cause me to be hard and not extend the love and mercy that I should. I had seen others with similar circumstance that allowed personal embarrassment and pride to drive a wedge that should never have been. I knew that my pride could cause my circumstance to own me for a lifetime or I could humbly take ownership of the unfolding events. Thankfully today I own the circumstance rather than it owning me.

His Grace….

I prayed for grace only to find out that the grace I prayed for was not to be extended. However I did find His grace would be sufficient for the path I was to walk. His grace has allowed for us to be gracious in a most difficult time.

His Mercy….

I asked Him for mercy. I asked CUPC for mercy. I asked ever individual for mercy and found more mercy extended to me than I ever dreamed. One board member of CUPC publicly implored that I extend the same mercy to my own that I had extended to theirs and then an entire church family gathered and for two hours gave us a never forgotten life experience of mercy. Family and friends added to the mercy. Nearly 100 people passed through our home last week and extended more mercy. Mercy upon mercy is more than I can truly comprehend.

Friends…..

This has been an area of discovery. For some we counted as friends for a lifetime were nowhere to be found when we despaired. At the same time we discovered friends we did not realize were such. While the absence of old friends was staggering, the discovery of new old friends has been incredible. This lesson of friendship has caused a new purpose within myself of simple friendship.

The Ministry….

The men of the ministry have become more important to me than ever. The Lord has used so many of his good men to speak into our lives the past few months. Camp meeting was halted and God’s man left the stage and marched to where I endeavored to hide with a personal word from God. An old prophet prayed with my children at camp meeting for over an hour. Another prophet was sent with new direction. One minister came to my house and just wept and prayed with us, and then insisted that we spend personal time together during the new few days. While yet another young man called with a word that promised the war was over. My appreciation for the Work of the Ministry as grown tremendously for instead of ministering I have been the one ministered to. I pray special blessings upon the Men of God who have spoken into my life this year.

Trust….

I trusted and found that some are not worthy of said trust and I learned that regardless. I must trust…

In the early months of 2010 I found myself referencing Psalm 23 on several occasions, not yet realizing the path I trod….

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death….

This simple verse came alive to me as I passed through the valley and felt shadows of darkness, loneliness, grief, and anguish for I was reminded that this was simply a journey through the valley. The darkness was simply a shadow that would pass.

The death I felt was really not death but a rebirth of a new appreciation of his greatness and goodness.

The week before I found myself plunged into the dark I began a Wednesday night series called “Finding Joy In The Journey”. Little did I know that my lessons were intended for no one but myself.

For indeed…

There is Joy in this Journey….

His grace has been sufficient …..

And I stand in awe this Thanksgiving Week of His wonderful workings in my personal life….

Notwithstanding....

The doctor told Doni last week that I will be a popi before Christmas….

May your Thanksgiving be as blessed as mine has already been…..

rks