Our time in Jonah has been so good, it’s sad to be done with the series so quickly. While we won’t have a dedicated reflection service, I’d love to encourage us all to continue reflecting and praying about what the reluctant prophet has had to teach us. I’ve already found myself praying Erik’s sermon points as prayer prompts. Maybe you are, too? How wonderful would it be if, in response to renewed and earnest prayer for those we may be tempted to relegate to the category of “beyond God’s grace” the Lord began to answer those prayers in miraculous ways? Let’s keep praying.

For the next two Sundays, we will be focusing our attention on thanksgiving. Not the holiday per se (although our hope is that these two Sundays would prepare us to celebrate the holiday with friends and loved ones in a Christ-honoring way), but the fundamental characteristic of the Christian life: gratitude expressed through thanks being given to God.

This Sunday (Nov. 12), the message will come by way of a sermon, with Walt Harrah preaching from 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Can I encourage you to set aside some time this week to read it and to pray for all who will be here to hear it? Here’s a sneak preview from Walt of the burden he has for us.

“Tim Keller says that gratitude is what we feel, but thanksgiving is what we do. Moved by the example of Christ – who became poor so that we might become rich – we choose to follow his example in real life and in specific ways, as God provides everything we need all along the way, always one step ahead of us. We express our gratitude in action, living lives of service and self-giving that causes gratitude and thanksgiving to spread and multiply. And along the way, our obedience brings God glory as thanksgiving comes full circle. Let’s coin a new word for this… ThanksLiving.”

The following Sunday (Nov. 19), we will give our attention to thanksgiving by way of testimonies. Trent Meaux and Melody Lietzau will each testify to how God’s grace has brought and continues to bring them through. As time permits, we hope to then turn the mics toward our congregation to add your testimonies of thanksgiving to God’s grace. And we will be led in our sung worship with the help of our Grace Elementary Kids’ Choir. You won’t want to miss it!

Our desire for each of these services is that “as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:15).”

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry (and thankful)!

 

SONG OF THE WEEK

You Have Made Me Glad by Charity Gayle

I’ll give thanks to You Lord
And sing praise to Your name O Most High
I’ll declare Your love in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night
For You O Lord have made me glad
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands
And rejoice in what you have done