This is a blog that was written in order to give God all the praise and glory due Him…please don’t see me as you read.
In church this morning, we did what I am sure most churches in America did, thought about what we are thankful for.
For most of us, the list is long and may contain many of the same answers; family, health, financial prosperity, Jesus, church, friends..the list is endless really. Today, I want to share with you two of my many things to which I praise God for: the gifts He has given me and the strength in which to carry them out. I have made it a priority to serve those in need every Thanksgiving because thats what He has called me to do, and He has provided me the means in which to do it…so for me, this is my act of worship to my God on Thanksgiving day.
I can remember many past Thanksgivings in Kentucky where after the meal, I used to quietly excuse myself and set off to find homeless people. We have a belt line (Texans call it a beltway) that cuts through town, under which there are multiple train tracks. People can find shelter under the belt line and sometimes they can hop a train to another city…yes, they are real life hobos. At night they build fires and do whatever they can to keep warm…as the shelters are usually full. I made it a habit of carrying around in my car, a case of Old Testaments and whenever I was down at the tracks, I would give them out. This used to really make my mom nervous, but I always felt confident that God was my protector, and if I ever felt the prompting to leave, I did, no questions asked…I never felt unsafe. One time that comes to my mind in particular was a time when I stopped by KFC on my way there, and over a bucket of chicken, shared from the scriptures about Jesus’ last supper with a young girl and her mother…I will never forget their faces or that day….This was the Thanksgiving right before I left for Hawaii, and God used it to confirm that I was doing exactly what He wanted me to do…..All praise to Him.
This time last year…actually this very day…I was on a plane heading to California. I was finally going to see one of my best friends, Leah, after 6 years! I was so excited. She and her husband Ted were friends of mine from Hawaii, but now they live in the San Francisco area. She shared the same passion for music as I do and we immediately hit it off. Ted was the pastor of their church and Leah was the worship leader. She has a stellar voice, and even has a CD out (thought you wouldn’t mind that plug 
). I remember the best times with her was when we were worshipping our God, her on the drums (or piano) and me on guitar….we wrote a song together once, it didn’t make the cd…but i’m ok with it 
. They have since had a child and I was going to get to not only meet him, but see a side of her that I had never seen before..her being a mom. We had an awesome week, but one of the highlights was the day when we served at a Baptist Center. We packed up bags of food and gave out all that we had…I could have stayed all day!
This year will prove to be no different, as I will be serving with another friend as well as my girls from small group. My morning will begin at Open Door ministries at 7am and I will be helping with a free breakfast. After that, I will be going to another place to give out free lunches. I am very excited…
You see, all this really has nothing to do with me. It has everything to do with God, and the way He provides for us…even those who have not said yes to His Son yet. I praise God that He has given me a desire to serve others, because without Him, it wouldn’t get done on my part, because I am too selfish to do this on my own. And I praise Him again for the means and health in which I can do it…
God, thank you for creating me so that I may in turn give You all the
glory and praise due. As long as you lend me breath, I will praise Your
Name. As long as this calling remains on my life,
I will do whatever I can to serve you by loving your people, and hopefully,
make Jesus famous among the nations….Amen
