Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving from Me to You my Friends!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!  I can hardly believe how quickly this year has flown by us.  It seems that only yesterday we were saying “Happy New Year” to 2014 and now we’re only a few days from welcoming 2015.  If you would’ve told me this time last year that this time next year I would not be living in my old Arkansas home and preaching up in the country in Enola but instead be living in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and be preaching in the city for the Watterson Trail Church of Christ, I would have probably laughed at you.  But, well, here I am.  Am I dreaming? 

Every day I think of my family and friends in Arkansas and miss them terribly, but I also know that somehow God will work everything out for good because I love Him and I am sincerely trying to live my life according to His will and purpose.  You can find that prescription for life in the Bible in Romans 8:28.  Sometimes living according to this prescription is mighty tough to do, but tremendously rewarding when we do it because God is the One who sees, understands, and blesses.  I know He will bless me and my family for our sacrifices.  He can and will bless you and your family too, according to your evident love and your obedient faith.  He has told us to “Give” (Luke 6:38).  And when we do the remaining part of this verse kicks in.  “…and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”  What a wonderful promise God makes to everyone who trusts and obeys!  God makes promises and then keeps every one of them.  What about you and me?  Make a promise to yourself and to God.  Then keep it.  Finish out this year by giving of yourself, not just here and there, haphazardly and negligently, but really purposefully sacrificing from your heart and soul, offering your time, talents, and treasures to God, to your family and friends, and to those who are in need as He presents you with the opportunity to do so. 

Take a look at Galatians 6:9-10.  God tells us to do good and not ever give up.  Read it.  “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  Note that this passage does not mean that we roll down the window of our pick-up truck and throw out money, or that we run around getting on people’s nerves trying to “help” them, or that we neglect our own body, mind, soul, and our families to “do good.”  This passage does mean that we get up every morning  with the observant proactive intention to show and share God’s love and the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to any and all who will hear.

I will be preaching the concluding sermon in our series “Becoming a Great Church” this Sunday morning at 10:30 here at 9607 Watterson Trail in Louisville, Kentucky.  We have studying about love, faith, generosity, unity, and leadership.  Our final lesson in this series will be about patient gratitude.  While we love, while we believe, while we give, while we endeavor to be one, while we lead and follow, while we work, we are thankful and we wait for God’s blessings, for His answer, for His deliverance, for His grace and mercy, for His prosperity, for His salvation.  Did I have to mention and preach about being patient?  Yep.  Patience is required.  Didn’t your mother every tell you to be patient?  She was and is exactly right. 

At Watterson Trail we meet every Sunday afternoon at 1:30.  Our sermon series is entitled, “God is Able – Are We?”  This Sunday (30^th) we will take a look closer look at God ability to keep what we commit to Him.  Paul wrote this statement in 2 Timothy 1:12.  What had Paul committed to God that he believed God could keep?  Come and learn and see.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and a very merry Christmas coming soon.