A Season of Thanksgiving
There is a challenge traveling around in the Facebook world about giving thanks. You challenge someone to post three things they are thankful for each day for seven days. Then everyone will comment about them and some will shake their heads in agreement.
November is the month of thanksgiving for most persons. Why, you ask? It could be because the holiday of Thanks-giving falls during that month. If we look back at history and it is most likely because it is a time of harvest in the northern half of the world. I am not a fan of the fall. Fall is a lot of work. Raking leaves, readying for a cold winter (I am not a fan of the cold), and getting out the winter coats and boots.
While I would pass on fall I do like the thanksgiving part. I like to reflect on the many things to be thankful for. I am thankful for my beautiful wife, all of my children, my grandchildren and my brother and his family. I am very thank-ful this year for the new little ones God has brought into our home.
I am thankful because the month of October was a blessing to the Gough family. One afternoon I pulled into the drive of my house to be greeted by Linda Diaz on behalf of the church with a wonderful meal, (actually it was two meals), then the next morning Kay Feichter-Thistlethwaite brought hot dogs and all the fixings for another great meal. Many days throughout the month of October I would arrive at the office greeted by cards of thanks for my role as pastor of Crescent Avenue. This summer I was able to attend a number of Tin Caps games because of the gift of tickets from Robert and Joyce Kaufman and John Gingrich. I have had a group of persons from the Firehouse ministry help me reconstruct the playground in my backyard.
I am thankful that each Sunday is a blessing as we gather to worship. How great it is to be greeted by the many familiar faces I have come to know and appreciate over the last year. It is also wonderful to meet the many new friends each Sunday who are beginning to populate our church with new life. It is a joy each week to spend time with the many children during the children’s time, Kidz Konnect on Wednesday evening and my chapel time with the day school. I am thankful for the great musical persons at the church. Some of them are new but many have served the church for many years. What a gift it is to work with Paul Kendall each week. I am thankful for Cindy in the office and all of the Day School workers.
I guess you could say, I am blessed. And all of those blessings make me thankful. Most of all I am thankful that I can know that God loves and cares for me. He forgives me of all of my bad choices and desires to have a relationship with me. He loved me so much He sent Jesus to carry my sin to the cross. I am thankful that he wants me to be special in His sight and pushes me to be everything I can be in this world. Because He loves me I can love others. I guess you could say. . . Life is good because of the many relationships I am privileged to have. All of the stuff can fade away but the people in our lives are forever. God Bless
Pastor Mark
