what I am thankful for

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.

This past Sunday our church family was asked to share why each has a THANKFUL HEART. The answers were all over the place and a real blessing. Some really hit home with me. Here are some of the ones that stuck out:

Forgiveness. Family. Health and saved from difficult sickness. Freedom from addiction. Restoration of family. Children. Home. Blessings of friendship and home.

There are many, many more things that were shared. Each one brought me to think about the things that I am thankful for. You may choose the same, but I’d like to share with you as we celebrate Thanksgiving.

My family. You know that my mom died a month and a half ago. These have been difficult days, but the truth of knowing she is in heaven makes life sweet. I am grateful for my sweet wife and kids. I am grateful for my dad and brothers. I am also grateful for those who aren’t biological family but stay close. I am grateful for friends who are a gift from God.

God’s grace. There’s nothing like second chances. When we receive God’s grace, it takes us in directions that nothing else can. He gave me forgiveness and strength. He opened new doors that came because of peace and the love only God can give. It is incredible to share God’s grace with others. I am grateful for God’s grace.

Meaning. Living with meaning is much easier to live. When we begin to give what we have and our effort to serve others, we will find the meaning that God intends for us to have. Meaning gives life brilliant light and removes from our minds pain and even depression. I am grateful for the meaning God has put in my life.

Bright future. The days ahead are full of the promises of God. These promises allow me believe God will do more than I can do on my own. He will fill the places that often seem empty. He will let my children experience His best and become all He made them to be. Last weekend Julie and enjoyed the beautiful view of mountainside overlooking a gorgeous lake. That view reminded me of the refreshing that God has brought my way and the beauty that He continues to bless us with. I am grateful that my future is going to be amazing.

Thanksgiving holds many historical facts. Thanksgiving holds many memories for my family and even for you. What thanksgiving does so well is change our attention from getting to giving, from selfish to selfless and to a thankful mindset.

This thanksgiving holiday I want you and others to know that I am incredibly blessed, that what I am most thankful for is my family, God’s grace, the meaning God has given my life and the bright future that we have ahead for us.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you

why is it Good Friday?

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Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba. Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve. Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba. There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met. No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more. These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana. On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours. We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours. We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good. We visited two partner churches. In the morning we were with one church that

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