Thankful Heart

Two weeks until Thanksgiving?
Wasn’t I just planning for Easter?

I love this time of the year even in its busyness. I am taking a break today from tying my View article into the Sunday Waypoints message, which by the way is on the Plagues God imposed upon Egypt in Exodus 7-12. I decided that I needed to take a moment to remind myself and you of the power of gratitude.

The past week has been tough for me and I found myself with an empty tank. The main reason my tank ended up empty is that I didn’t take time to have it filled back up again. Barb reminded me this morning that even Jesus [And I am far from having Jesus’ capacity] needed time to recharge in His humanity. This truth is what brought me to this moment of reflection on Thanksgiving and gratitude.

I can and should engage in the needs of people in my world. God made us to bear each other’s burdens and connect our lives to one another. But along with that truth is the truth that I need to be strengthened by the “renewing of my mind.” [Romans 12] Barb’s words gave me the insight to see that I had unintentionally suppressed being renewed or “refueled” the past few days. My life has always had demands and concerns that are bigger than I can handle on my own. This is true for you as well. When I go after it without God’s wisdom, strength and grace I will lose perspective. I will lose joy!

That is why I need to think about Thanksgiving.

• I am invited to see God’s beauty all around me.
• I can notice that people care for me.
• I get to gather with you and we worship together.
• God loves me and has claimed me as His own.
• What can you add to the list?

This is the perspective that I need each day and these are the deep truths that will, at all times, fill me up. This doesn’t mean that I won’t have times that I feel empty and overwhelmed. It just means that there is a place to go that can and will always fill me up.

Thank-Full,
Pastor Nick