Monday Morning Quarterback
Thanksgiving matters. Gratitude is good for our health. Gratitude develops generosity — and the world is starving for generous people. 
Gratitude is the missing ingredient that when added to our prayers will lead to an overflowing peace that will guard our hearts from the inside out. Gratitude begins to put God at the center of our attention. (Gratitude was our theme last weekend and if you didn’t get a chance to listen to the talk just click
1) I’m thankful for Lynn. God blessed me — and continues to bless me with the most incredible woman as my partner in life, partner in ministry, partner in family. She is my best friend.
2) I’m thankful for each of my children. They consistently make me smile…sometimes laugh out loud. I’m thankful for the way God is at work in them. I’m thankful that each of them is shaped differently and shines differently. I’m proud of each of them, and thankful for that.
3) I’m thankful that each of my kids still loves church — or at the very least, they don’t hate church! :) I consider it one of my greatest measures of success, that my kids still like church. Way too many pastor’s kids grow up and end up, disliking church.
4) Which also leads me to say that I’m thankful for those of you who are a part of the Calvary family, those who have been friends, supporters, lifegroup members, prayer shield participants, and ministry partners — in other words, family. You are family. I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am for you.
5) I am thankful for a man who frequently serves me by helping me fix things in my house. I’m not a good fix-it guy and he generously gives of himself.
6) I am thankful for a woman who has watched our kids so many times over the course of the years that she is really part of our family.
7) I am thankful for people who have at times — so often at just the right time — have encouraged me, sometimes through words, sometimes through a gift.
8) I am thankful for hard times. I have had a few, some of them you know about, some of them you do not. I am thankful for times that have required perseverance. I am thankful that God hasn’t always given me (us) everything we want, when we want it.
9) I am thankful for critics, they keep me humble and it really doesn’t matter what their motivations are, when they critique it ends up driving me to God.
10) I am thankful that we get to partner with a God who likes to show up and show off.
11) I am thankful for the staff, leadership team, and shepherding team. What an amazing group of people! Time and again you are one of the main reasons I am here.
12) I am thankful for my mom and dad, and my siblings. They have had a pretty important part in shaping my heart, my values and my dreams.
13) I am thankful that I get the opportunity to give to our 1% offering and make a difference in the world.
14) Most importantly, I am so thankful for God. I’m thankful for the power of the Holy Spirit at work within me, for Christ’s love at work within me, for the life of God overflowing from me. I am thankful for his rescuing grace, his redeeming love, his amazing holiness.
Honestly, that’s just a partial list. But it sure felt good to put it down. Hope you have an incredibly good thanksgiving — full of gratitude.
