On this “Thanksgiving” 2020, we have so much to be thankful for. I’m so grateful for my wife, my family. I’m finding as I grow older, my love for each of them deepens in richness. I’m thankful for my “Cornerstone” family. You amaze me more with each passing day. The Lord has given us an incredible staff; from full time, part time and right down to the volunteers; we also have a wonderful congregation. I thank the Lord for each one of you. All of the volunteers who helped Nick with the floors and Chris with audio/video revamp have been amazing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m also thankful for your generosity extended to the poor. Mozambique is one of the poorest nations upon the earth. It breaks my heart that they are going through such terror again in their country. However, you responded again, we were able to raise $15,000 to assist in caring for the refugees this past Sunday. Heidi and Rolland were blown away. Thank you, each one of you for your sacrifice and generosity.
At the same time, this past year has been one of the most challenging of any year in our lives. Mainly because of the “Covid-19” pandemic. Yet, God has been faithful. We continue to proclaim Psalm 91 over each of you. We will get through because of what I am most thankful for; We have the Lord Jesus who sits upon the eternal throne of glory. Read the prophet Daniel’s account; Daniel 7:9-10 (ESV)
“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow,and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
Then, the writer of the Book of Hebrews records this account; Hebrews 12:22-29 (ESV)
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.”
God is exposing and shaking all that has been unjust and unrighteous in our nation He is shaping us to fulfill our God given destiny as a nation. All corruption must go! Much of what we have known is being shaken. Let go what God removes through this shaking. Nothing is taking Him by surprise. I believe that 2021 will move us into a year of incredible blessing and alignment in the Lord. He is dropping His plumbline to see how everything lines up according to His design. How should we respond? With praise and thanksgiving! Declaring praise and worshipping Him continually brings spiritual adjustment and moves us into perfect symmetry with Him. I close with what the Psalmist and the Apostle Paul said respectively. First Psalm 150:6 (ESV); 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (ESV)
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
“Pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!