November 21st, 2024
by Pastor Mark McAdow
by Pastor Mark McAdow
By Pastor Mark McAdow
Thanksgiving is only one week away. As I mentioned Sunday, it seems like fall has only two holidays – Halloween and Christmas. Some of our local stores had Halloween and Christmas decorations out in early September! The Halloween yard decorations come down and the Christmas lights and decorations immediately go up! It always feels so very rushed, especially this year with Thanksgiving so late in the month.
But … don’t miss Thanksgiving! I don’t mean the day of course, but the activity of “giving thanks.”
As we enter this busy season, I pray that we will take time out to genuinely thank God for our abundant blessings. Sometimes I stop and just say to the Lord, “Thank you for my bride. Thank you for my family. Thank you for a warm home. Thank you for the food at every meal. Thanks for clothes that fit ... mostly! Thank you for my Willow View family.”
What happens when we take time to give thanks? It helps us focus on our Heavenly Father who is the source of everything we have. He is our faithful provider. Giving thanks is also an antidote to complaining. After all, complaining comes very naturally to most of us. The Bible reminds us, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.” – Philippians 2:14. Sounds like today – especially today!
I had Officer Hart from the Enid Police Department come to file a police report yesterday. Two months ago, someone apparently stole one of our nice potted plants (always well cared for by Debbie Hodges) at the church entrance. Last weekend, someone stole all the miniature pumpkins we had on display at the front doors. We noticed this morning that our memorial park bench under the tree was missing, too. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I hope the Enid PD might help guard our church property as well. Thanksgiving really is an antidote to complaining!
Looking forward to being with you this Sunday, Nov. 24, for one worship service at 10 a.m. as we make our commitments to Jesus Christ as our Willow View family. Afterward, we will share Thanksgiving dinner together and help begin decorating for Christmas, too! Advent is coming early this year – Sunday, Dec. 1. Thank you for always giving to the Lord!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark
Thanksgiving is only one week away. As I mentioned Sunday, it seems like fall has only two holidays – Halloween and Christmas. Some of our local stores had Halloween and Christmas decorations out in early September! The Halloween yard decorations come down and the Christmas lights and decorations immediately go up! It always feels so very rushed, especially this year with Thanksgiving so late in the month.
But … don’t miss Thanksgiving! I don’t mean the day of course, but the activity of “giving thanks.”
As we enter this busy season, I pray that we will take time out to genuinely thank God for our abundant blessings. Sometimes I stop and just say to the Lord, “Thank you for my bride. Thank you for my family. Thank you for a warm home. Thank you for the food at every meal. Thanks for clothes that fit ... mostly! Thank you for my Willow View family.”
What happens when we take time to give thanks? It helps us focus on our Heavenly Father who is the source of everything we have. He is our faithful provider. Giving thanks is also an antidote to complaining. After all, complaining comes very naturally to most of us. The Bible reminds us, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.” – Philippians 2:14. Sounds like today – especially today!
I had Officer Hart from the Enid Police Department come to file a police report yesterday. Two months ago, someone apparently stole one of our nice potted plants (always well cared for by Debbie Hodges) at the church entrance. Last weekend, someone stole all the miniature pumpkins we had on display at the front doors. We noticed this morning that our memorial park bench under the tree was missing, too. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I hope the Enid PD might help guard our church property as well. Thanksgiving really is an antidote to complaining!
Looking forward to being with you this Sunday, Nov. 24, for one worship service at 10 a.m. as we make our commitments to Jesus Christ as our Willow View family. Afterward, we will share Thanksgiving dinner together and help begin decorating for Christmas, too! Advent is coming early this year – Sunday, Dec. 1. Thank you for always giving to the Lord!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark
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