Dear First Pres,
Today is the fourth Thursday of April. I know we’re a long way from the Thanksgiving holiday, but I’d still like to make this Thanksgiving Thursday! Psalm 100:4 says to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” As you know, when we focus on giving God thanks for who He is and the things He has done, it has a tendency to turn our attention away from ourselves and unto Him. It has a tendency to lift our soul into a place of praise and adoration and joy. It changes our perception, which then changes our attitude. It reminds us of what is true: our God is faithful and true and loving and kind and generous and good.
There are plenty of things in our current situation that cause us to grieve. I don’t mean to minimize those things. But, even as we grieve, the Scripture calls us to “always give thanks to God the Father for everything.” So, I encourage you today, to spend some time making this a Thanksgiving Thursday. Lift up your thanksgiving to God. It might take some discipline, but it’ll be worth it.
But, then, don’t keep it to yourself! 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” How can you share that thanksgiving with another person? We need to be encouraging each other a bunch right now. A few weeks back I encouraged you to write a note of thanks to people you know who are serving on the front lines of this battle against COVID-19. Maybe it’s time to send another note.
But I also want you to consider sending a note of encouragement to the folks in our church who are volunteering their time to serve us in this season. We have children’s ministry leaders who are making videos and leading Zoom classes and reaching out to our kids. We have youth ministry leaders who are staying connected with our teens. We have women’s and men’s ministry leaders who are working to engage us. We have music and worship tech volunteers who are helping us gather for worship. We have Deacons and Elders who are working to engage our church in compassion and care and mission and discipleship. We have Connectors who are working to connect with every family in the congregation. Would you consider offering them your personal thanks today? Send a note. Make a call. Be an encourager today through your thanksgiving.
Blessings,
Jeremy
P.S. It’s been pushed to the back burner because of our current pandemic, but I want to remind you that the Biblical Tour of Israel is still on for June 2021. Click HERE for more information.
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