'Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart...' these words to a popular hymn have been playing in my head for several days now. As we approach the season of Thanksgiving, I am trying to remember all of the varied and blesses things I want to lift in thanksgiving to a generous God. While I may forget to mention some of those things, I am assured that God knows my heart and appreciated my enthusiasm for the blessings I have experienced.
I am grateful for the ministry I had for the past five years and the wonderful people that God has put into my life. I am thankful for a successful move across this huge continent. I am especially thankful God has brought me to a place where the people are so friendly and are so excited to minister to God's people. We have been working very hard to establish a 'One Church' mindset through the work we are doing together. I am thankful for those who have been eager to help me get acquainted with the community and state of Iowa. I am thankful for the neighborhood in which I live and my precious little critters with whom I share my home.
As we proceed through the holiday season and into the future we will be doing some very important work with this community. It is time to begin the visioning phase of this merger. The time when we begin to solidify the discernment of what it is God has for us to do. Once the discernment has been completed we will then proceed to lay out a plan of how we might be able to achieve the work we are called to. We will only be able to go where God is leading us if we have a workable, organized plan; one that we can lay out on a time line knowing what is ahead and how we might get there. It will be crucial throughout this phase that we keep out emotional attachment out of the way of God's plans, so we might be totally present to the tasks to which we are called. I know I am often the stumbling block for what God wants me to do, either because of fear or because my strong personality seems to think I know better than God. I pray we will be able to put aside our own agendas long enough to allow God to complete the good work that has begun.
As the early Christians were building the church, they were filled with uncertainty, not knowing what might be ahead of them. They didn't allow this to get in the way of their mission, they made it an exercise of faith, trusting that God would give them the tools and resources necessary to fulfill the tasks to which God was calling them. So at this time of Thanksgiving I encourage you to offer to God a portion of the fruits of your labors in the offering of yout time, talent, and treasure - so that we might have the resources necessary to complete God's work in this part of creation.
With a grateful heart,
Mother Sue |