Good Morning Church Family,

It's good to be back home in Michigan. Our Work & Witness Group got into Flint about 6pm last night. We had a wonderful time in Arizona, made some new friends, and were able to be a help and a blessing to a pastor and his congregation. I am hoping that this coming Sunday night we will be able to share our story, show you some pictures, and have testimonies from the group. We are all doing fine and I know your prayers made a difference as we were out in Arizona ministering for the Lord. God is so incredible! How grateful we are that we could be used by Him.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I want to share some thoughts with you on that theme this morning. There are over 550 references to thankfulness in the Bible. For someone to be thankful, that person must be grateful for something and to someone. First on my list this morning would be thankfulness to God. II Corinthians 9:15 says, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." To me that means God responded to our greatest need, with the greatest sacrifice, by giving the greatest person, so we could enjoy the greatest gift -- Heaven. Thanks be to God, for it was an indescribable gift!

Secondly, I want to tell you that I believe an attitude of thankfulness transforms us. It changes our thinking, how we see people, and emphasizes the positive. We don't dwell on what we don't have but are continually praising God for what we do have. I am always blessed when I am around a thankful person, but a griper and complainer are a negative drain on you every time.

My advice this morning is give God thanksgiving. It is your personal gift to Him. It is an offering of praise to God. I heard about a boy named Bobby who went to a birthday party. When he got home his mother asked him if he thanked the lady for the nice party. Bobby replied, "I was going to, but a girl ahead of me said, 'Thank you,' and the lady said don't mention it, so I didn't." Let's not take things for granted but take them with gratitude this week. I hope it's a great week in your life.

Till next time, Pastor Don

P.S. I can't wait for Saturday night and our all church "Harvest Dinner." We got a great program planned and I know you are going to enjoy it.

P.S.S. Food for Thought: Stay Close to Your Family

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