My Thanksgiving List!

I have said many times before that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. To be honest with you, it even rivals Christmas and Easter. I know Christmas and Easter are more important, from a theological perspective, but in my mind, it is hard to beat Thanksgiving. It does not have the trappings of the other two and has been able to steer clear of crass commercialism. It is just pure and raw thanksgiving and I love it like that!

The Bible says, "I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving." (Psalm 69:30) Listen beloved, it does the soul good to glorify the Lord with Thanksgiving. I sure hope this week finds you practicing thanksgiving as you glorify the Lord. Here are the things for which I am most thankful:

• I am thankful for God who amazes me year after year with this goodness, mercy, grace, love, and ultimate purpose in my life.
• I am thankful specifically for the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He is my Lord and life-long companion. He truly sticks closer than a friend. (Proverbs 18:24)
  
• I am thankful for my family that is stirring around in the kitchen even as I type. I know I am biased, but I have one AMAZINGLY fun, active, good looking, lively, and faithful family. We are NOT perfect but we sure live life with passion and joy!
  
• I am thankful for newhope church and the pastors and staff with whom I get to work. Now that I think about it, like my family, you guys are amazingly, fun, good looking, lively and faithful. :-) THANK YOU NEWHOPE - AGAIN, I KNOW I AM BIASED BUT I THINK YOU ARE THE BEST CHURCH FAMILY ON THE FACE OF PLANET EARTH!
  
• I am thankful for the United States of American and those who serve our Armed Services.
• I am thankful my grandparents. We laid my grandmother to rest yesterday and celebrated her union with the Lord. I stood at the graveside aware of the legacy she left for me to try and carry forward. She loved her church, husband, kids, and grandchildren with a beautiful Christ-like love that I shall never forget.
  
• I am thankful that I still have some time with my one and only grandparent left, Mr. Ivan Kelley. I am thankful he handled the funeral yesterday with such peace and even joy for 66 years of marriage!
  
• I am thankful for what happened at the graveside yesterday. You will hear more later but my dad and I put the past behind us and decided to "turn over a new leaf". We then went to lunch together for the first time in 5 years. Even in my grandmother's death, God used her life BIG time. THANK YOU JESUS!
  
• I am thankful for good health.
• I am thankful for Buddy, our new 20-week-old Maltese puppy. He is a great dog and it makes me happy to see how my kiddos LOVE him.
  
• I am thankful life grows sweeter and sweeter with every passing year.
• I am thankful for Worship every Sunday - I hope to see you there this Sunday as we continue the theme of Thanksgiving and conclude Fit for Life! It's been a great series and I look forward to finishing it strong!
• I AM THANKFUL...
  

Pastor Benji