As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, it is an appropriate time to pause and consider the many blessings given to us by a gracious God. The opening verse of Psalm 107 tells us to “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever.” During the past few months, the Lord has given me many opportunities to rejoice and give thanks for each of you. In keeping with the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to share ten reasons God has given me to rejoice over Vanna UMC. I give thanks and praise to God for:
1) our members who faithfully use their gifts to serve others in a multitude of ways
2) all of the tangible and intangible resources entrusted to us that can be used to bless others
3) students who consistently attend Sunday school classes and diligently study God’s word
4) the beautiful collection of unique personalities present in every worship service
5) ministry leaders committed to fostering unity, communication, cooperation, and collaboration
6) the honor and privilege of baptizing Tami Renner
7) everyone who is involved with Vanna’s first community Christmas program
8) the loving, kind, and generous people who are making travel to Israel possible for me and Jim
9) the joy of watching Vanna’s children grow both physically and spiritually
10) folks who have said they are considering being baptized and/or joining the church
These are just a few of the things that compel me to give thanks for Vanna. My list contains simple but solid evidence of God’s goodness. The following is a sweet prayer of thanks written by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Thanksgiving For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.
How do you see or sense God’s goodness at Vanna? I challenge each of you to come up with your own list of reasons for giving thanks to God for what he is doing at Vanna UMC. As we practice offering thanks to God, he may surprise us by increasing our ability to see and sense his goodness in our midst.
With thanksgiving for you, Lacey