Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Nov 24th, 2011 Truly Blessed

Today’s Passages – Acts 26 – 28; Proverbs 24

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 116 – 118; Memorize – Romans 1:21)

Click here to read “Three Expressions of a Thankful Heart” by Pastor Paul Chappell

I am writing this post from my daughter and son-in-law’s house in Paradise, Texas. Everyone is still asleep here, except my son-in-law who left earlier to go hunting. My son, Phil is on a plane right now, and should arrive here a little later this morning. The only child we are missing this year is Samantha who is out at college in California and is spending the holiday with our dear friends, Dan and Carla Owens. This is the first Thanksgiving in 47 years where I will not be spending it at my parent’s home in New Jersey.

In the quietness of the hour, I am thinking about all of the ways that I have beeen blessed by the Lord. God has been wonderful to me throughout my life, and this year has certainly not been an exception. I have been provided for in every way possible. I got to thinking, however, about what I was thankful for more than anything else in life. Did you ever think about that? What would be at the top of your list? I guess, we would all have to say that the greatest blessing that God has given to us who are saved is the gift of His marvelous salvation. But apart from my relationship with Christ, what am I the most thankful for? The answer to that question is easy for me: I am the most thankful for the people that God has placed in my life. God has given me a wonderful wife and family. I cannot imagine what life would be like without them. I am not just referring to my immediate family, either. I include all of my extended family as well. I even enjoy being around my daughter-in-law’s, and son-in-law’s families down here in Texas. In fact, a strange thought occurred to me while writing this: I don’t have any family members that I have anything against, or that (to my knowledge) have anything against me. I not only love them all – I like them all. That’s bizarre if you think about it.

I need to broaden the list a little further. God has also given me a number of good friends that have been as close to me as my family is. I believe that I have some friends that would take a bullet for me. God has been very good to me in many ways, but this Thanksgiving, I am the most thankful for the family and friends that God has brought into my life. I am truly blessed. If you think about it, people are much better than possessions because they are eternal. I will be able to enjoy the friends and family members that are also saved for all eternity. Houses and cars won’t be with us in heaven, but people will. A little later today, I will be sitting down to a meal with some of my friends and family. It will be just a little slice of what Heaven will be like.

To all of my family and friends who I won’t see today, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.