Sunday, November 22, 2009

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Philippians 4:4-7 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What is Thanksgiving? If you look at the definition of thanksgiving in the Merriam-Webster dictionary it gives three different definitions.

1: the act of giving thanks
2: a prayer expressing gratitude
3: a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness

How profound these definitions are when we think about what our Lord has done for each and every one of us. We should, every day, thank our Lord for the sacrifice of His son and express our gratitude for our salvation through His son and be bold in our acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as our Lord. So many times over the last few months I have thought in amazement how my Lord has brought me to where I am. So many changes in one year can be completely overwhelming but when I think about these changes I am so thankful to God for his grace and mercy. I truly rest in the peace of God which transcends all understanding. There is no other way to describe this peace that is in my heart.

Sixteen years ago as I approached the Thanksgiving season I was ending a relationship that had become abusive and very destructive to my self confidence and my self worth. This man and I had never married, but we did have a 2 year old son. I was facing the prospect of raising this child on my own. By my own decisions I had ended up in this very dark unforgiving place, but God is faithful to His people, and He was calling me back to Him. The Lord in His infinite wisdom had brought my mother and me closer together during this time, and the Lord used our relationship to help draw me back to Him. I started attending church again with my mother and my son. Over the sixteen years from the breakup with my son’s father to now, the Lord led me down paths I never imagined for myself. Now after these long years of struggle, growth, and trust in the Lord, the Lord has not only restored me to where I was before but has given me more than I could ever have dreamed. First it was stability in the home, then it was the healing of my heart, and sixteen years later, as the Thanksgiving season approaches I am marrying a man who has Christ at the center of his life. I never thought I would ever marry, but my plans are not the Lord’s.

Yes, I am thankful to the Lord for sending me this man to love, but above all I am thankful for the Lord and His forgiveness. I trust the Lord to direct me in His path so that I can live my life for His glory, and nothing else on this earth is more important.

~Donna Derrick