Three Thankful Things

I often get caught up in the activities, the events, the obligations and the "moving parts" in my week.  It is easy to start the week on Sunday with the flurry of church-related things and then wake up sometime on Wednesday and wonder what happened.  Where did those three days go?  What did I accomplish?  Was the time expended worthy of God's view and value of time?  Hard questions for a Monday, aren't they?

This week I was wondering if I filled any of my days with something that I know God values ... giving thanks.  This is an appropriate thought for this week since we will celebrate the Eucharist this Sunday.  The Greek, eucharistia, means "giving thanks,"  always a good thing when we are remembering what Jesus has done for us.  What can I do this week to both give thanks and prepare to give thanks formally this Sunday?  I think three things are always appropriate responses to God's goodness to me.

God is honored by our worship.  When Jesus struggles with Satan (Matthew 4:10) in the wilderness [some of us are there now] He says, "worship the Lord your God and serve Him only."  Jesus was hungry, tired, hurting and He had been in the wilderness for 40 days ... and He remembers that worship in times of struggle both thank God for everything and never forget that worship is appropriate 100% of the time.  Pauley Perrette (actress on NCIS) has a special prayer that is her daily worship routine ... "God, thank you for everything ... forgive me for everything."  I think God is honored!

God is thanked when we witness our faith in Him to others.  Wednesday evening we will hear testimony from several of our brothers and sisters from Celebrate Recovery.  This testimony has been borne out of struggle, trial and hardship.  Here is the beauty in this part of God's plan ... as we share our struggles and our witness to a God who has lifted us out of the miry clay God plays out Psalm 40:3 which says "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him."  God is honored by our witness.

And ... God is honored when we thank him by serving.  The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is already working toward responding to the epic flooding in Texas.  All of us can work toward helping God's people here in several ways.  We can keep up-to-date on the ways to help by going to the UMCOR website .  We can send or fund flood buckets  to those in need in Texas.  We can work in the many missional opportunities available at Abbeville United Methodist Church including Celebrate Recovery, Belize, Red Bird, Boys and Girls Club and many others ... see the AUMC Website . God will be honored.

Worship ... witness ... work ... let's fall into Jesus and grow close to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  Randy