A very important holiday is approaching — Thanksgiving Day. We who have placed our trust in Christ and have received His promise of everlasting life have much for which we should be thankful. I share just a few of those reasons that I am thankful:
• I am thankful for a forgiving Savior. At the age of eight, in my parents’ living room, I asked Christ to forgive my sins and to be my Savior. I am thankful that it was not a momentary forgiveness. It is an everlasting one. That took place on Wednesday evening, June 23, 1954. In the 71 years since, I have never doubted my salvation. For that, I am also very thankful. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul!
• I am thankful for my family. I was blessed to have parents who not only loved me but also showed me that they loved me. It will soon be 57 years since I married Karen. I am so very grateful that God has blessed our marriage. She is my rock. I am thankful for two wonderful adult children who have provided us with wonderful grandchildren, and a few of them have even given us great-grandchildren. “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children” (Prov. 17:6 NIV1984). Thank you, Lord, for the gift of my wife, our children and our grandchildren.
• I am thankful for the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew the disciples would need comfort and reassurance after His departure to Heaven. He promised them the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be their indwelt companion throughout their lives. That promise was made to me… and to you as well.Were it not for the Holy Spirit urging me as an 18-year-old, there is no telling what path I would have taken in life. But 61years ago, at Daniel Springs Camp, the Holy Spirit issued a call to the ministry. It was another four months before I answered that call. But I am so thankful He never let up. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• I am thankful for the Lord’s churches. My home church is Central Baptist Church in Ashdown. It was Pastor Edwin Peter’s Wednesday evening message that made me feel the need to be saved. That church nurtured me in so many ways. Since then, Karen and I have had the honor of serving the Lord together in four churches. Each of those has been such a blessing to us. We have seen souls saved, people added to the churches and young people grow to become strong Christians. We have also been blessed to have a number of young men surrender to the ministry. We have been on mission fields and have been blessed to have close friends who are missionaries. The Lord has permitted us to help with the planting of two mission churches, one in New Jersey and one in Little Rock. Our blessings have been abundant among His churches. Thank you, Lord, for those churches.
• I am thankful for the Lord’s promise of Heaven and a New Earth. I truly feel for those who do not know the Lord as their personal Savior. I cannot imagine how they can think about death with no hope for joy with others and with God our Father. One of my favorite sayings, which I often share with classes and congregations, is “God is not just a Promise Maker; He is a Promise Keeper.” Were it not for the Bible, God’s Word, we would not know of His promises for everlasting life. Thank you, Lord, for Your promise, knowing that You will keep it!
