As I said on Monday, this will be my last post this week. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day so I’m going to take my own advice, to practice what I preach, and take time to be thankful. The church is serving a meal for the community at noon and there will be plenty of preparation leading up to that, but I still want to take the time to be thankful. For this post I want to do what I have suggested the folks at OVCF do: make a “gratitude list.” Here is mine (at least in part):
But first, I want to show you something. I just finished reading Romans 16 this morning and Paul does exactly what I have recommended we all do: make a list. Have you ever read Romans 16? You ought to right now. Hint. Hint. He lists names. Lots of them. Names I have no clue who they belong to. Some yes-Prisca and Aquila. They are mentioned in Acts 18. Gaius (v.23). He is mentioned in 3 John by the Apostle John. Erastus (v.23). He is mentioned in Acts. Timothy (v.21). But the others? Clueless.
But what a list! Name after name. So, I’ll take a cue from him:
- Always at the top: my Lord Jesus. No one is like Him. No one is worthy of His praise and honor. (See Paul’s words, his benediction, in verses 25-27)
- Jo. For almost 50 years she has stood by me. Believing in me even when I had trouble believing in myself.
- Tami and Janna. My 2 daughters. I was blown away at their births and they still put a sparkle in my eyes.
- Braden, my only grandchild. I marvel at God’s goodness when I think of him. Smart (4.0 student…and I can guarantee he didn’t get it from me). Funny. Athletic. May he always strive for the right things. (And he just passed his driver’s test yesterday. Yikes!)
- OVCF. The church I have had the joy of pastoring the past 17 years. I started #18 this week.
- For friends throughout the years. My life is much richer because of them. Doug, my college friend whom I still get together with upon occasion (for pizza and laughs). Jim, a past cycling buddy, who has moved away. Jim is a cancer survivor. Ryan whom I met when he and his family moved here in 2008 when they started attending OVCF. We quickly became friends and our families became “Sunday eating out” groupies. 🙂 Hardly a Sunday went by that we didn’t go out to eat together. Jo hated that! NOT! He has moved away, but not so far that we can’t see each other (and even ride bikes together).
- For my blogging friend, Martha. Blogs are almost passe’ now, but some I still read and comment at. Martha and I have stayed in contact through our blogs for a lo-o-o-n-g time. For other blogging friends: Linda. Gail. Glynn. Pam.
- So many more. I could fill page after page, but I won’t bore you. 🙂
Now…it’s your turn. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. To God be all the glory, great things He has done.
Happy Thanksgiving, Bill! Love your list. Even amid sadness, I’m so thankful for and to My Jesus, My Abba, and My Holy Spirit for all the goodness in my life and my list goes on and on from there. Blogs sure do seem to be a thing of the past. I write for myself I guess…Enjoy your time off.
It is so good to hear from you Diane. It has been awhile. And yes, even amid the sadness, Jesus is faithful. have a grateful Thanksgiving.
Bill,
I am honored to have made your list.
I have been thinking a lot about those in my life who have had and continue to have a significant impact. I count you on that list and I am blessed because of it. Thank you for being a SAGE in my life. Thank you for the many kind words and thank you for the friendship.
May you and Jo, your family, and OVCF have a blessed Thanksgiving and may the community be blessed through your generosity of time and a meal.
Looking forward to many more years of friendship!
Happy Thanksgiving!
WOW Ryan! Your words humble me. To think someone feels that way about me is truly “slaying.” Thanks for allowing me to part of your life. I count your whole family as a huge part of my ministry life. And, Lord willing, I look forward to many more years of friendship as well.
Thanks so much for the mention, Bill! We do form unique friendships through blogging, that’s for sure.
It’s very frustrating, though, to now have to search you out instead of enjoying you showing up in my inbox. I did try to sign up for both, but Cycleguy told me my sign in was invalid, and Living in the Shadow said I’m already signed up. Go figure! I will just make a note to check on you every day (but not on Thanksgiving).
Blessings to Jo, you and the whole OVCF family!
As i said on the other blog: technology can be maddening. But thanks for going the extra mile. I hope you and Danny have a grateful Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiivng, Bill. I’m thankful for your faithful service of maintaining not one but two blogs.
Thanks Glynn. I need to be more consistent on Cycleguy’s Spin though.