Thankfulness

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  (Colossians 2:6-7)

Thinking ahead toward Thanksgiving, as I read the above verse, I was reminded about how much our Lord has done for us and how easy it is to neglect to thank Him for those blessings.  It can also be a real challenge to live a life completely in accordance with His will.  It certainly is easy to get diverted with incidental things and likely miss even additional blessings that were aimed in our direction.  During this holiday season I am focusing upon both being thankful for the Lord’s blessings while at the same time asking Him to illuminate each area of my life that is not perfectly aligned with His will.  Hopefully this will result in a daily examination of my life throughout the year.

I have been blessed with visits from daughters Karin last week and Lisa this week.  It was fantastic to be able to have some quality time together.  What a blessing family and friends are!  I will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday with part of the family in Indiana so I am busy wrapping things up to make the trip.

My dear friend Stuart is continuing to experience additional effects from the CJD both mentally and physically.  It is always difficult to travel those “roads” with loved ones but a tremendous blessing to know where that road leads for him.  All of his children were with him for a long weekend, returning to their homes on Sunday.  Daughter Rachel returned again briefly to assist with some urgent needs but will be returning home tomorrow.

I trust that you each enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Love to all,

Chuck

Encouraged

I realize that a bit of time has passed since I last sent out a blog so will do that tonight before retiring.  This morning I was reading Colossians and was challenged by The Apostle Paul’s desire for the people in Laodicea:  “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ in whom are hidden all the treasurers of wisdom and knowledge.”  (Col. 2:2-3)  Later on in that chapter he talks about the Spiritual fullness of Christ along with the freedom that we have when knowing Christ.  I was challenged as I read those verses by how easy it is for me to miss opportunities that God brings across my path to be a positive witness for Him.  I can come up with all kinds of excuses from being too busy to not feeling qualified for the task, but the bottom line is that He has already equipped His own people to respond to those needs according to His will so I should not delay in my response!

Stuart continues to battle the CJD which is continuing to weaken him in mind as well a body but he continues to fight the good fight, trusting God for all that lies in the future and thanking Him for all that He has given him.  While he may easily lose his train of thought when talking, he still remembers to pray diligently for many.  As we pray together I am always amazed at his ability to pray without losing those thoughts and only occasionally has trouble recalling a specific name.  Please join me in praying for him, Donna and the family as they travel this difficult road together.

Monday I was having lunch with a friend.  As we were about to get up from the table in the restaurant, he said that he was feeling a bit “funny.”  Within moments I could see color flushing from his face.  He indicated having a bit of pain and wondered if I would drive for him back to his house.  By the time we got into the vehicle his pain was excruciating so I took him directly to the hospital ER to find that he was passing a kidney stone.  After apparently passing it, he was released but has been having similar pains at a lesser intensity these past two day.  Pray for Mike as he meets with the doctor tomorrow to find what is causing the continual pain.

I trust that your days are going well and always enjoy your emails and notes updating me about your lives and of your family members.

Love to all,

Chuck