Giving Thanks For What Really Matters

This Sunday in church I am giving a very short testimony and singing an old song by Cheri Keaggy. The testimony is still in process, but I thought I would post it here: I hope it is encouraging to you this Thanksgiving. May God bless your holiday celebration!

"My family has a special Thanksgiving tradition, started by my mom about ten years ago. She brings out a "Thanksgiving Journal" and asks everyone to write down what they are thankful for. It's become a journal of our family. You can look back over the years and see what was going on in our lives. It holds a lot of special memories.

When we started the book a decade ago we spent a lot of time thanking God for physical things. Jobs, relationships, time with family... all of them wonderful blessings from God. But as our family went through a season of tragedy and difficult times, the journal entries began to change. We began to thank God for bigger things... His love. His faithfulness. His comfort and peace. The hope of heaven. Even thanking Him for the difficult things: because they taught us to trust Him.

I hope you are encouraged this Thanksgiving weekend that no matter your circumstances, we have every reason to be thankful. Because we have all of God. We have his promises. His presence. Our future in heaven is guaranteed. We have every reason to be thankful. Because we are children of God."

"Child of the Father"

I am a child of the Father
And I know what that means for me
It means I'm loved, and I'm spoken for
It means I'm wealthy in heavenly things
I am a child of the Father
And I know what that means for me
It means I'm redeemed and forgiven
It means I'm holy and blameless and free

The blessings that are mine overwhelm me all the time
I am wealthy in Your eyes
You are my Father
And I am Your child

I am a child of the Father
And I know what that means for me
It means I'm Yours forever
To be the person You want me to be
I am a child of the Father
And I know what that means for me
It means I'm found in Your kingdom
It means I'm right where you want me to be

The blessings that are mine overwhelm me all the time
I am wealthy in Your eyes
You are my Father
And I am Your child