On Giving Thanks
Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Coming up this week is Thanksgiving. It is the one time each year that we are supposed to give thanks for that which we are blessed to have.
I wanted to share a few things that I am most thankful for this season.
- My growing relationship with Christ. I will never perfect my walk with Christ. I can only be hopeful of my faith and be prepared for the day that God calls me home. I am thankful to have that relationship. Many people see the Christian life as an adversarial one in which we need to scream at the world about what we are against. I would rather show the world what it means to be truly in love with the Creator of the universe.
- My past. My past was very easy until about 5-6 years ago. Then it was turned completely upside down. For the longest time I blamed God for my life. What took me a long time to realize was that God was right there with me helping me to make sense of the predicament that my poor life choices put me in. Without those life choices, I would never had grown into the person I am today. I am so very blessed.
- My wife, Mimi. Anyone who knows me knows just how against all odds it was to even meet Mimi and even more against all odds to get to the point of marriage. This journey has not been easy at all. But true love never is easy. Mimi has been a great influence on me and a huge supporter of me. I love her and am truly blessed to be married to her.
- My kids and step-kids. This has been one of the toughest parts of my present life. My kids don’t really get along with my wife and step-kids. Because of that, I have lost a lot of time with my biological kids that I truly miss. But I am thankful for this opportunity to show them Christ. Throughout all of the trial and struggle of being without them, both my biological kids and my wife and step-kids get to experience me showing Christ. While this has led to a lot of frustrating times, it has also led to a lot of growth in myself and my family.
- My church family. I have been going to Chesapeake Christian Fellowship since 2002. I have grown as a Christian and human while there. I don’t know if I would have experienced that same growth if I had gone to a different church. Pastors Pat, Chuck, Christian, Britt and Sam have become great friends and mentors along the way.
- The ministries that God has given me. I have been blessed to minister to the young adults at church. I also have been blessed to help plan missions for the church. Because of that, I have learned so much about young adults and missions.
- My parents. I can’t believe just how blessed I am to have parents as good mine. I wish I could bottle them up and give a little bit of them to everyone because they have given me so much in this life.
- Noble Recruiting. The business I started 2 years ago has been a huge blessing that allows me to be present for my wife, kids, and step-kids whenever they need me. I am also available to spend time in ministry.
- The opportunities that I have yet to experience. Some will be pleasant. Others will not be. But through them all, God will be right there with me, giving me the love and support I need to make it through whatever struggle I confront.
This is only a small list. There is still so much I want to share, but that would take every waking moment for the next 30 years to explain how thankful I am.
Psalm 106:1 – Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
boyradd 