A New Heights Nazarene Thanksgiving Greetings!
I wanted to take a moment to send you a note during this special time of the year to let you know that I am very thankful for all of you here at New Heights Nazarene. The prayers, sacrifice and love you have shown me during this past year and especially since I have been diagnosed with cancer has been such a comforting blessing of assurance that God is at work, and for that I thank each and everyone one of you. When writing to the Thessalonian Church, Paul said these words:
“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.” 1 Thessalonians. 1:2
As we all are going to begin to get ready for the “Christmas rush” and all that goes along with it, it seems that in God’s foresight, he has placed a season of Thanksgiving before all this business happens and all that the Christmas season brings along with it. I believe that Thanksgiving should be more than a “one day a year” holiday recognition where we eat too much then settle down for some football on television (as much as I enjoy that)…or whatever happens to be the Thanksgiving tradition in your particular family. As Christians we should have a spirit of thankfulness on a daily basis throughout the year and if we stop and think about what the Lord has done for us, it should not be too difficult to do.
Someone once said: “Thanksgiving, to be truly thanksgiving, is first thanks, then giving.” How true.
Abraham Lincoln, in the Thanksgiving proclamation of 1863 said: “It has seemed to me fit and proper that [the gifts of God] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens . . . to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
I again, wanted to let you know during this season of Thanksgiving how thankful I am for each and everyone one of you. The Lord has blessed me, and surrounded me, with people who love the Lord and want to serve Him to the best of their ability. Each of your lives in some way has touched me more than you will ever possibly know and have blessed me beyond measure. I thank God for each you and the privilege to serve you as your Pastor.
May God add His richest blessings to your life during this Thanksgiving season as you continue to look to Him as the source of all blessings.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Don