I am thankful ...

As Thanksgiving day draws to a close, I decided to pause and express thanks.

I've had several emails and SMS messages expressing thanks by the sender for their family. It is good to recognize that those primary relationships are something for which to give thanks. And it is good to have an occasion on which to come together and enjoy each other -- along with some wonderful turkey and trimmings, of course. :-)

I am thankful for friends. I'm thankful I had a place to go to share a Thanksgiving dinner with friends who have welcomed me into their home to share their family for the day for a number of years.

I am thankful that I was able to open my home and cook a meal later in the day for someone who had not had any family to be with today. (So, if you "read between the lines," I ate two big thanksgiving dinners today.)

However, I have been aware all day of the emptiness being felt by the very large family of a friend of mine who died from injuries incurred in a hunting accident this past Saturday. They have had a very different Thanksgiving this year. He was not there to smoke the half of hog or cook the turkies & hams as was his usual job for their family Thanksgiving dinner of 60 or so people. (Yes, all family.) But the greater pain would be what his mother expressed to me last evening, "his seat at the table will be empty." My heart goes out to them as they are still trying to come to terms with their sudden loss of this very loved son, brother & uncle.

I understand the emptiness that can accompany "an empty seat" at the table.

I understand what it is like when all those seats become empty, one by one, until you "alone" are left.

I also know that we have to focus on what we have, not what we have lost.

I've seen too many who focus on the one that is missing instead of turning to enjoy and relish the time with all of those who are left. That is natural at first - as with this family who are not yet even past the shock of what has happened. However, in time, we need to turn loose of the grief and refocus on those who are still with us. Rather than remaining remorseful and mournful over what we have lost, we need to become thankful for what we do still have.

So, I wanted to pause and be thankful.
I am thankful that ... I do have friends.
I am thankful that ... I do have a wonderful home.
I am thankful that ... I do have not only food on my table, but food to share.

Most of all, I am thankful that ...
I have a loving heavenly Father that watches over me constantly;
a Savior who is not only Lord of my life and Lord of lords & King of kings but also my Bridegroom;
and a Comforter who comforts me with peace that passes understanding and leads me and guides me into all truth.

I am truly blessed.

Apostolic Reformation to Transform Cities

Beginning this coming Thursday evening (11/13), I will be showing the DVDs from the recent IGAP (International Gathering of Apostles & Prophets) conference at my home at 7pm each Thursday.

The speakers were Bishop Bill Hamon, Dr. Tim Hamon, Dr. Lance Wallnau, and Ed Silvoso. The theme of all the messages was how to begin to affect our cities in a way that transforms our society.

The format for the evening will be to view one of the videos and then discuss what was taught and how we go about incorporating it into our lives / how we allow it to change us. Those who know me well know that I want to know that the information is being understood & applied – not just conveyed. :-)

If I haven't already talked with you about this and you are interested in joining us to view these and discuss the concepts, let me know.

(For those who are in or close to Arkansas City, we will be having similar sessions down there at Gateway City Church on the weekend, likely on Sunday afternoons. Dates & time are still to be determined.)