Living Thankfully

Dear Parents,

Thanks-giving has come to a end for another calendar year. I love Thanksgiving. As a former Canadian-now-US-Citizen, I can say that this is one holiday we Americans have nailed down to perfection. It is the worship time together, the food, the family and the football that make it all worthwhile.

This past Thanksgiving, I heard one of the best sermons ever. Probably, what made it a top 10, was my need to hear it. The theme was living thankfully. The church was /is Faith Reformed Church in Dyer, Indiana. The pastor of this sermon - Mike Pitsenberger. I strongly encourage you to listen to it. You can cut and paste this link in your browser or download it to your i-Pod.

http://faithchurchonline.org/grow/media/podcast-audio/item/204-live-thanks

If we chose to live thankfully before God we are able to walk through the valley of suffering and reach the mountaintop of joy, being thankful.

Ephesians 5: 15-20 was the sermon passage.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How do we give God thanks in the midst of illness, marital struggles, depression and all the other issues we face? Listen to this sermon.

Wayne Dykstra