This month is a time when people are typically more expressive in their thankfulness for others. While we should always be expressing a heart of thanksgiving, it’s wonderful to live in a country that, while it often encourages discontent and greed, also dedicates a day to being thankful for what we have.
I know that many people grow up in families where there seems to be little to be thankful for; however, I hope that we can all recognize blessings, even amid serious struggles. First Thessalonians 5:18 encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Below, several of our staff share some of the things they are thankful for in their families. Take this month (and every month) to reflect on your own blessings and express your thankfulness to those in your family.
We’re Thankful For…
I’ve had a lot to be thankful for this past year. God has blessed our family tremendously. I have a great immediate and Christian family. We are all healthy and happy. What more could you ask for!
––Nathan Parks
I am so thankful that I have parents who love me enough to tell me no. So many parents don’t care what their children do and don’t take the time to correct them. I have parents and grandparents who make rules but still had time to play with me as a child and who support me now in everything I do. I am blessed with a sister and a brother who were always there to keep me company as a child and who are here now for me to talk to whenever I need them. I am also grateful that we can get along enough to go on family vacations and grow even closer to each other.
––Rachel Conley
I’m thankful that my family loves being together, whether it’s doing a fun family activity, cleaning the house to loud music, or going on road trips. We enjoy being in each other’s presence, and we don’t need an occasion! I’m also thankful that my family respects one another’s need for time alone. If one of us desires a break from everyone else, the other family members understand and happily work together to give the person in need time to themselves. Since we’re all able to refresh ourselves separately, we are happier and able to fully appreciate our time spent together, playing and working with each other, and growing for God.
––Davonne Parks
Some of my fondest memories around Thanksgiving time is the day after Thanksgiving. While most people are out shopping in the crowded malls and shopping centers, my family was at home decorating for Christmas. We always ate red, green, and silver Hershey’s Kisses and other Christmas candy, turned on the holiday music, and decorated the tree and house for the Christmas season. It was an enjoyable time that drew us closer as a family. I’m thankful for those memories.
––Carol Gartman
From my childhood, I am thankful that my mom stayed at home with me and my two brothers. We were blessed to be financially able for her to do this. I loved the feel of her presence at home––cleaning, canning, or gardening. I have so many fond memories of us just spending time as a family at home. Now that I have my own family, I am thankful for a husband who loves his family more than his job. I am so thankful for two healthy boys who are growing and learning every day, while so many children are suffering from disability and illness. Most of all, I’m thankful to be a part of God’s family.
––Lisa Grimenstein
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Heb. 12:28)
(Compiled by Lisa Grimenstein)
Mam-ma, as we grandchildren called her, would take turns with her sister inviting the preacher and his family over on Sunday afternoons to eat dinner with her, Pap-pa, and their four children. She was actually very poor but she still found ways to be hospitable to others.
Pride kept me from telling anyone that we didn’t have much food in the house. Somehow, a local church found out and donated four brown grocery bags full of food for our Thanksgiving dinner! As the two people delivered the groceries and set the bags down inside my front door, I cried and said a silent prayer thanking God for such kind and generous people.
“If only I had that car…”
Physical Self: We often take our looks for granted, and it’s not uncommon for us to complain about our imperfections. Imagine not being able to see those imperfections, or anything else. 
thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…” The author of Hebrews reminds the reader of Christ’s superiority and of this New Covenant by which we are saved. If nothing else worth being thankful for ever happens again in our lives, this should be enough! James tells us to be thankful even in temptation, because when we have obediently endured, we will receive the crown of life (James 1:12). Peter, John, and Jude continue to teach and encourage, even amid their own persecution and trials.
In a world where we’re taught to want more, and to want it right now, it can become difficult to experience 
1. THE EVIDENCE OF FULFILLED PROPHECY. Prophecy is the writing of history before it happens, and the Bible, unique among all “religious books” in our world, is filled with prophecy. With daring boldness, the Bible tells what would happen to individuals, cities, and nations, hundreds––even thousands––of years before those events happened. A study of Bible prophecy leads to the unavoidable question, “Who could have written such a book?”
What other book has turned a hovel into a home, alcohol into shoes, drugs into groceries, or thieves into laborers, and liars into honest men? This is the amazing power of the Bible. What other book can wrest a human soul from the brink destruction and transport it into the bliss of hope? The Bible humbles the proud, enriches the poor, turns the hater into a lover of men.
As far as “Bad company corrupting good morals,” my sister wants her 14 yr old daughter (not a Christian) to join a Christian youth group. I wouldn’t want my daughter in a youth group with a bad girl like her. Where do you suggest the bad girl go to be under good influences without corrupting those around her? Isn’t it true that it’s easier to be dragged down than lifted up? She currently lives out-of-state with her non-Christian dad and his family. Please help if you can!
Again, if she joins this youth group and is disrespectful and disruptive, then her heart is still hard to listening about and accepting Jesus. Pray for her that she will be open to hearing about His love for her, and convicted that she is a sinner. Also, pray for your own heart, that you will be open to showing her God’s love, and that your heart with be softened to see the positive things about your niece. Be a godly example for her, and encourage your children to be a godly example as well. Pray for your sister, who is most likely having a hard time dealing with a disobedient daughter. And lastly, pray for this girl’s father and his family. Remember, there are specific examples in the Bible of when a new believer helped lead his lost family to Jesus. This could be one such occasion. God works wonders in people’s hearts, and there is nobody who is so far removed from Him that they can’t come to Him if they desire to and are willing to repent.
A. Honestly, I think it’s impossible to completely avoid having cliques. There will always be people with whom we get along better than others. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as long as different groups can still interact and have fun together, and do not consider themselves superior to others. It is essential to be in a group that will encourage you to be godly. It’s important to have someone you can relate to in your youth group. The problems arise when cliques are taken to the extreme. If some people talk down to a certain group or completely ignore them, then there is a problem. Of course, you may not mean to isolate someone from your group, but that is often what happens. You must always be aware of how you treat others.
If someone is different from you and your friends, do not judge them for it. Be understanding and compassionate. They may be going through something that you’ve never experienced before. If that’s the case, they may need you more than you realize at the moment. We are all one in Christ 
It’s now October. We’re far enough into the school year to know our routines pretty well and we can juggle more stuff that comes up. Autumn is just starting—it’s getting chillier and the leaves are starting to change colors. This month’s project is to “adopt” a young girl from your congregation and encourage her to be virtuous.
By encouraging the younger generation, we’re helping to ensure the church’s future. The younger people (that are now kids to us) are the ones that are going to be responsible for spreading the gospel in the future. Their actions and how we encourage them to be godly will influence their decisions for the rest of their lives. We’re going to be the older, wiser people of the church that will be there for the younger ones even as we age. We all should be striving to the goal and challenge of keeping the church alive and interesting in the hearts of the younger people. Think of where we would be if someone hadn’t talked to us about Christ and showed us the true Light. Let’s encourage others to remain steadfast in being virtuous young women, just as someone else has encouraged us.
Recent Comments