Saturday, December 12, 2009

And He called a child to Himself and stood him in their midst, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:2-4 NASV

On the first Wednesday in November I asked a group of 3rd-5th grade boys to write "Thank You" notes to God. Their notes warmed my heart. I hope they warm yours, as well. Here is what they wrote:

Dear God, I am thankful for family, friends, food and Hannah. Bailey (labeled drawing of each family member including Hannah the dog, two friends food and clothing)

Dear God, I am thankful for family, dad, Reagan, Hayden, food, friends, water, clothes, and God. Caleb (labeled pictures of each)

Dear God, Thank you for my brother. I know me and Jon fight, but without my brother I would be alone and sad. Love, Chandler (picture of him and his brother on a playset)

Dear God, Thank you for my family and friends, water, food and all the other wonderful things you made. Thank you for the holidays and seasons and other stuff. Grant (picture of his family and friends)

Dear God, I am thankful for my friends [Ranger] John McCallum and Caleb. John D. (picture of each)

Dear God, Thank you for family, friends, for just being alive. I just thank you for mankind. Love Keith (drawing of a tree)

Dear God, I am thankful for a family, food, juice, water and punch. Thank you for school and work. I am also thankful for a ring and it is cool. Sincerely, Owula (picture of himself with a ring on his hand)

Dear God, I am thankful for my DSI. I really don't need it, but I am glad I have it. Praise (with picture of the game)

Dear God, Thank you for your love and kindness. We love you so much. You are holy. You are the best God. From Ryan D. (picture of tree, birds and grass)

Dear God, Thank you for water, church, family, food and shelter. Ryan O. (picture of each item)

Dear God, I am thankful for my family, shelter and everything. Tyler (picture of God on the throne of his heart with the words "God in my heart. I will try.")

Dear God, Thank you for Ryan and Keith and me and Ryan 2. Xavier (picture of each boy)

Dear God, Thank you for homes, money, You, friends, family, food, water, nteligents, safety, air and clothes. (unsigned, but the drawing was Jesus on the throne of his heart)

Dear God, Thank you for my family, friends, food, house, water and nature. (unsigned)

Our Father, forgive me for my sense of self importance and my preoccupation with things like money, status and power. Help me to see with the eyes of a child the wonders of this world that You have created. Thank You for the blessings of food, water, shelter and work and the wonderful gifts you have given me that are my family and friends. Take Your throne in my heart Lord Jesus. Amen

~Ben Overbey

Friday, December 11, 2009

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7

What do these verses really mean? I have a wooden plaque in my home that reminds me of these verses daily. The plaque says “in everything give thanks,” but it’s missing the rest of the story. Life has its hurts sometimes, and it’s just hard to give thanks in the midst of them. The scripture says by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and pray without ceasing. That’s how we can give thanks in the midst of our pain. The Pilgrims suffered great losses the first winter. 102 people were aboard the Mayflower, but only 54 survived that first winter, and 21 of them were children under the age of 14. The first course served on the second thanksgiving was five kernels of corn on plates. It was a visual reminder of the hardships experienced by the Pilgrims that first winter when their rations had been so depleted that every person was given only five kernels of corn daily to eat. They were remembering God’s faithfulness in the midst of pain and suffering. We use the five kernels of corn at our own Thanksgiving table to remind us of the hardship suffered by those celebrating that early Thanksgiving, and also to remind us of the blessings in our own lives for which we need to be thankful, even in the midst of our own hardships.

Prayer: Lord, help us to remember to give thanks for our blessings, even when we’re hurting.

~Toni and Jim Kelley

Thursday, December 10, 2009

"Hallmark holiday" commercials show families and friends sitting around beautifully decorated tables, laughing, smiling, and sharing. Everything seems "perfect," but holidays in the "real" world aren't always like that. Holidays remind us of loved ones that are no longer at our tables. We live far away from our relatives and close friends, and there are many strained relationships that seem to become worse around the holidays for some reason. Some of us feel like we're not really wanted at anyone's table, and we wonder if we're going to be invited somewhere this year, and if so, who will sit next to us?

One of my favorite Christian books is The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldridge. Here is a quote from the book - one that deals with some of these issues and brings tears to my eyes almost every time I read it: "On the other hand, there is the joy of having someone save a place for us. We walk into a crowded room at church, or at a dinner party, and someone across the way waves us over, pointing to a chair he's held on to especially for us. For a moment we feel a sense of relief, a taste of being on the inside. Now consider Jesus' words in John 14:2 – ‘I am going... to prepare a place for you.’ Christ promises that He is saving a place in heaven especially for each of us. When we walk into the crowded excitement of the wedding feast of the Lamb with the sound of a thousand conversations, laughter and music, the clinking of glasses, and one more time our heart leaps with the hope that we might be let into the sacred circle. We will not be disappointed; we'll be welcomed to the table by our Lover himself. No one will have to scramble to find another chair to make room for us at the end of the table, or rustle up a place setting. There will be a seat with our name on it, held open at Jesus' command for us and no other."

No matter what has happened as part of our life in this sinful world to make us feel unworthy, unwanted, unacceptable, we are going to be invited to be part of the best feast that will ever be served with the "perfect" host who created us and had a plan for our life (Psalm 139:13-16). Now this is something to be thankful for this holiday season! And while we're being thankful, let's not forget to invite someone to experience a taste of the "excitement" of being invited into our home, having a special place set for them, eating all the special food and to have the feeling that we REALLY want them to be there. Is there someone that God would have you invite to join you?

~Karen Janes

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

Saturday, November 21, 2009

I love Thanksgiving! It’s always been a favorite. My parents were both good cooks, and they used to start preparing for the “big day” way in advance. Mom would cut up the bread and season it all week long - adding sage and poultry seasoning daily. They would make oyster dressing, ordering fresh oysters weeks ahead, and sometimes Dad would shuck them himself, reserving the liquid for the dressing. There was a favorite jello salad that my aunt would make. It took forever to “chop” all the ingredients, and the dressing for that had to be made in a double boiler with fresh whipping cream added as the final ingredient. The turkey, dressing, sauerkraut, cranberries, pies, etc., would fill the house with a wonderful aroma. I can almost smell it now as I think about it. What a great time set aside for family to stop and give thanks for all our blessings.

Interestingly, the first verse that I remember memorizing as a child (other than John 3:16) was:

“Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise....be thankful unto him and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4

Two days before Tom had his stroke in 2003...I drove my grandson, Cameron, to his Sunday evening church group. On the way in the car, I was helping him memorize his memory verse. It was from that same passage...

“Know that the LORD is God...It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3

I memorized it with him and didn’t realize at the time that it was the LORD giving me a verse that I would hold onto for the next few days. Tom wasn’t expected to live through the night, and I remember saying over-and-over the words and acknowledging God’s power and sovereignty, knowing that Tom was in the best hands he could be. That was 6 years ago. Tom is great, and God continues to bless our lives. We have so much to be thankful for.

I love the way this story covers a period of time of over 50 years - that a passage God gave me when I was a young child and added to as an adult would provide as much meaning and comfort as it did. I love that it shows how God ties it all together, that He has the big picture, and that even when we don’t realize it He is planting seeds and laying the foundation for what is in store.

“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5

~Gwen Sunderly

Friday, November 20, 2009

Have you noticed that contentment, American style, denies our human limitations? When I pursue and achieve a notable but personal goal, then I am content, or am I? When I insulate my family from possible problems with money or otherwise ensure my family is self-sufficient, then I am content, or am I? As I seek contentment American style, my own limitations too often cause me to see (1) a world that gets in the way of reaching my goal, (2) a family that’s imperfect, and (3) friends and colleagues that don’t appreciate me – that’s not contentment!!

The Apostle Paul said “I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). How can that be – Paul was in prison, in chains. He goes on to say that he gratefully accepted his dependence on God and the sharing of gifts offered by others. How does Paul accept his human limitations and express genuine contentment?

I’ve asked the same question as I marvel at the contentment that my 22-year old, brain injured son, Kevin, expresses daily. How does Kevin accomplish this? Here are a couple of observations that I’ve attributed to Kevin’s contentment: First, he is grateful for everything and everyone he encounters, with the exception of his twice daily medicine (and I couldn’t agree more on the medicine thing – YUK!). He enjoys the company of everyone he is with, and he thoroughly loves the routine of life – especially bath, bed, and prayer time. Finally, Kevin maintains a quiet center about him and isn’t interested in things of the past or concerned about things in the future. Contentment is Kevin’s natural wealth, and he doesn’t seek more because he is comfortable with his life’s position.

I’ve observed and pondered this demonstrated joy and contentment for over a decade, and I have offered plenty of rationalizations over the years as to why this could not apply to my busy life (or yours). In fact, nothing is further from the truth! Contentment is not the absence of suffering or favorable circumstances that are made beyond our control. Instead, contentment is found through my level of devotion to the worship and service to God and His Kingdom. For me, that usually means that I have to stay in the here and now – let go of past circumstances or turn off the possible worries of the future. Ecclesiastes 4:6 says “better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” I can tame most any appetite, but my appetite for worries of the future and reacting to past hurts affect my devotion to Christ more than it should.

As I look towards Thanksgiving and the example of Paul and my son on contentment, I am invited to be joyous and content through something as simple as gratitude. When I acknowledge God’s grace in forgiving my sins or notice God’s mark of love that is all around me all the time, it’s easy to be thankful and hard to be judgmental of the world around me, because God is in the middle, not me. My daily choice is whether I will loosen my grip on life’s baggage and allow God to be my porter and driver.

While I learn and grow in Christ-like responses to my life’s rough edges, I am encouraged by 1 Timothy 6:6, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Now I’m all for that!

~Jim Winter

Thursday, November 19, 2009

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2

Are the workers few at Greenridge?

I would like to take the time to walk through one of the many accounts that I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving season.

Six years ago my husband and I brought our infant daughter to Greenridge, where she was dedicated. During this ceremony the church body affirms that they will work alongside of us, the parents, in nurturing the spiritual development of the children we dedicate. So here is an account of that good work.

There have been six years of regularly attending Sunday worship services, which included childcare/worship/Bible study for our daughter: that is more than 300 Sundays; in at least 5 different classrooms with at least 2 workers in each classroom… that’s the work of 1,200 hands over 6 years. In addition to that, there was 3 years of attending the CDC at Greenridge, 9 months a year, 5 days a week, 3 classrooms each with at least 2 workers… that’s the work of at least another 700+ hands. If that were not enough, there were 2 years of Half Notes Choir, 24 weeks of meeting, at least 2 workers… almost another 100 hands and on top of that VBS for 2 years and 1 year of Covenant Christian Elementary Education, supported by members of Greenridge, both of which are impossible for me to count the number of hands who work in these two ministries. So… Are the workers few at Greenridge? Not by my account.

How is this relevant? And for what am I thankful? I am thankful that on November 4, 2009 my daughter asked Jesus to come live in her heart and she has a new inheritance in Christ. A new inheritance, not the one she was born into, but the one she was intended for. My husband and I were saved as adults, which comes with its own difficulties – difficulties that our 6 year old daughter will hopefully never experience as a result of her new inheritance, and for that I will be forever thankful. The workers at Greenridge surely had many hands sowing that process.

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke 8:11-15

I brought my little seed, and it fell upon the good soil at Greenridge. I am thankful to all the workers who persevered, and I am most thankful to my God who shows us his harvest so that we know we labor not in vain.

As the song goes… “a little is much when God’s in it HE changes the world with the seeds we sow.”

Be encouraged to continue HIS work Greenridge. His harvest is coming in!

~Melissa Dyer

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

One day after school, my 5 year old was trying to explain to me (with tears in his eyes) why he had gotten a slip for talking too much in class. I said, “Why would you do that when you know Miss Webster needs you to listen? You’re being disobedient. You can’t learn what you need to learn if you’re talking out. It makes God sad when we’re disobedient.”

He then proceeds to stammer out, “Well, it’s just that sometimes I want to be good, and sometimes I’m bad.”

As I stood there with my mouth hanging open, I replied, “Well, my son, you better be coming over to ‘the good side’ REAL QUICK if you like to sit on that behind of yours!”

After I took a “mommy time-out” to get my thoughts together, I realized …that was a 5 year old’s honest interpretation or battle with his own sinful nature. I knew if I could make my son understand how much Miss Webby does for him and how much she cares for him, he would be so much more grateful! He has a huge heart for a little guy, so I knew if I could get him to see that he needs to be obedient out of respect for her, he would try harder.

It was then that I had this “AAH-HA” moment. If we were ALL more thankful to God for his INDESCRIBABLE GIFT (2 Cor. 9:15), we would all make better choices.

When we are tempted to sin, what if we chased that temptation away with a heart overflowing with thanks! For example, when we are tempted to say or think:

-Why can’t I have that car, that house, that bank account? We refute this by graciously thanking a God who richly provides everything we need and more (1 Tim. 6:17).

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR PROVIDING FOR MY EVERY NEED!

-Why can’t my life be less stressful? I feel like I’m running myself into the ground! We can dwell on the fact that God is our rock, our comforter, our PRINCE OF PEACE.

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR BEING MY HIDING PLACE!!

-Why can’t I fix this relationship, problem, addiction, heartache, or this anger I have? We can KNOW that we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us!

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR BEING MY HEALER AND REDEEMER!!!

-Why can’t I (or my loved one) be well again? I can know that God has a plan. I can know that God desires for me to be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:16-18) even when I do not understand.

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR BEING MY SAVIOR WITH WHOM I WILL LIVE FOREVER!!!

As God reminded me to be more thankful through disciplining my son, we are trying as a family to refute our bad choices with hearts of thankfulness instead.

As we begin this wonderful season of Thanksgiving and celebration, my prayer is that we would continue to try and do what pleases God. When we are TRULY THANKFUL, we can’t help but conquer some of the doubts and sins that plague us.

Let us graciously embrace, “GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.” Psalms 107:1

~Stephanie Finch

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

This is the time of year where we all focus on things for which we are most thankful. I’m thankful for so much, but mostly for forgiveness.

I just returned from a girl’s beach getaway and had some time for rest, relaxation, fun and reflection. It was just me and my lifelong best friend, Debbi. I’m sure that our relationship is special. We were born 9 days apart and were together in the church nursery since we were babies. Even when my family moved out of state for 6 years, when we returned, our families just picked up where we had left off. Debbi and I attended Sunday school, GA’s, and later went on youth retreats, attended the same high school, and at one point even dated best friends. By our late teens things began to change. Debbi had a serious boyfriend and got engaged. We had a falling out, and frankly, not so much in common anymore. Regrettably, I didn’t attend my best friend’s wedding.

Some years later, I made contact, and we visited with each other. We now each had a child who was the same age. We were still living in very different worlds – but it wasn’t so much our circumstances that distanced us as it was unresolved business – or in Christian vernacular, unresolved forgiveness. We caused each other some hurt and never took the time to ask each other for forgiveness. I tried to gloss things over and be friendly and welcoming, and she really had a lot going on in her life of which I was unaware.

Flash forward a few more years. I called Debbi and asked if I could come for a visit. I went to her home, apologized, and asked her forgiveness for things I’d said and done in the past that had hurt her. She too apologized and asked my forgiveness, and we hugged and sobbed for a long time. If we had just done that earlier, we wouldn’t have missed so much in each other’s lives. She hadn’t attended my wedding either. My BFF and I (if you are over 40, that’s “best friend forever” *smile*) were not present for one of our most important days. We’ve moved past that, and though are lives our still very different, we keep in touch, see each other when we can, and always tell each other we love each other whether on the phone or in person.

As believers, we are commanded to forgive. There are more than 120 references in the Bible where forgiveness is mentioned. Christ forgave us while we were still sinners. How can we not show the same love and ask for forgiveness? I’m so thankful that Christ had mercy on me, a sinner, and forgave me of each and every sin. Receiving forgiveness is easy – asking for forgiveness is easy, when we remember that Christ so easily forgave us.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

~Suzie Cook

Monday, November 16, 2009

It’s all relative isn’t it? It’s no wonder we are confused!

I step out of my house, walk half a mile southeast to the newly developed neighborhoods who have brand new everything: granite countertops, new furniture, luscious space, and decorations.

I step out of my office at Open Door in East Baltimore. I see homeless people laying on heat vents to try to stay warm and digging through someone else’s trash to find something to eat.

I have less than some, more than others.

I pass someone at the store that struggles with obesity. To them I would have a slender physique.

I watch the rock solid bodies of the young ladies at my daughter’s gymnastic class and I am suddenly very aware of the fact that there is a physical battle going on with the lower half of my body to keep it from turning into mashed potatoes. (In keeping with the Thanksgiving theme!)

I have less than some, more than others.

Perhaps I am gauging what I have or do not have to be “thankful for” through the wrong type of lens. If I leave my thankful pendulum up to this ever swaying mental game, my heart and attitude will always be teetering back and forth, totally conducive to my circumstance, surroundings and appearance. Sounds like a lot of conditions on thankfulness doesn’t it?! God does not want my (our) thankfulness to be conducive to the current trends, conditions, material possessions, and/or my appearance. At a moment’s notice any one of these things could change. I know how the world would react, but how would I react? Would it look different? It should!

In Philippians 4:11-13 Paul says, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

May the Lord defog the areas of our thankfulness that are fickle! And may He reveal in us a true genuine unconditional THANKFUL heart this Thanksgiving season and every season!

~Wendy Mindte