Thanksgiving

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever." - Psalm 118:1

The spirit of thankfulness, as Pastor Tom Mason of Grace Church in Vienna says, is deeply biblical.  Abel's offerings to David's Psalms demonstrate how we as His creations should show thankfulness to God for all He has given us.  We can be so ungrateful towards God especially when we look at our circumstances, trials, failures, and frustrations.  When our focus is solely on ourselves, His provision seems so removed from the daily grind.  It's when we lose ourselves, we gain heavenly eyesight to see how He orchestrates our entire existence especially our dependence on Him alone.  So in this week of grateful thanks, allow me to mention some of the things He has done.

• Salvation - the greatest gift anyone can receive
• His Spirit - for guidance, comfort, and more.
• His Plan - not completely reveled which keeps us dependant
• Debt - freedom - owing only Him is the only way to live!
• A new place to live - on the mission field in Europe, serving Him daily with teens and adults from all over the globe
• Places to serve - ICSV and Grace Church, Vienna
• Weight reduction - changes in diet, more exercise by walking everywhere = 2 dress sizes less for Channon and really, baggy clothes for me!
• Our kids - even though transitioning continues to be tough, they are doing better than we expected and we can see God's mercy and power through each of them.

"How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.  I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people." - Psalm 116:12-14

This week of Thanksgiving, I pray that you refocus your eyes on Him so that He can show you how He is working in you and help you to be more thankful for all He is and provides for you!

The Unknown God...Jesus

As I sit to write tonight, I am reminded of Acts 17 when Paul was in Athens.  He noticed all of the statues to the gods of the Greeks finding them to have many, even one to an unknown god.  Using that, he witnessed to them sharing the truth of Jesus and the redemption found in only Him.  ICSV shares some commonalities with Athens.  Students from every populated continent sharing a small space in time, hungry for a god to meet them where they are and worshipping any god that can fulfill that desire.  Some are gods of drink, music, social life, religion, and fame. All are empty, silent destroyers of the soul save one.  Jesus, the Son of God, Author of life, Redeemer of Mankind.  And His name is being taught and proclaimed daily to a religiously diverse and searching student body. 

Each has heard John 14:6 proclaiming Jesus as the only way and many are questioning their "faith" in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikh, and more as the truth is penetrating the shadows of the enemy seeking to save those who are lost. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says we were made not for impurity but for holiness.  We find that holiness in Christ alone, being able to live lives devoted to Him and His gospel.  Every day, I have the chance to affect a life for Christ.  Every day I can make a difference in eternity.  Carpe AEternum - Seize Eternity...the phrase still impacts me today as when I heard it this summer in NY.  The big picture rather than just the daily monotony of life.  Every Christ follower can affect eternity by sharing their faith with those around them.  Intentionally, we should live our lives as "imitators of God" so that they may "know Christ and the power of his resurrection".

Please pray for the students who are making decisions daily for Christ.  A student from an atheist background, a Sikh who has just added Jesus to the list of gurus, others who are struggling with family beliefs and Jesus.  Pray that His voice will be clearer and His light will shine brighter bringing each into salvation and eternity with Christ.