Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone ~ I hope you is enjoying God's blessing this wonderful day. It's the time of year when almost all of the stores are closed and one must reflect on the wonderful bountiful blessings He has provided. I have really enjoyed this week with time spent with John and spending the rest of the day with Rhonda's family. I'd like to share a scripture sent by my good friend, Jim Donica and he hits the nail on the head. Satan is scheming more and more of his time seemingly to have his time at the park; nevertheless, we know who the winner is.

During this Thanksgiving Day, we can celebrate God's goodness and thank Him for opening the door for our salvation. Jim's scripture is found in I Peter 2:9 - 11, "But you are are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness in His wonderful light." Thanks, Jim for sharing from your heart. It meant alot and is one of my favs.

On another note, Pastor Gene asked everyone at church on Tuesday night to reflect on someone that had blessed them in their life. I wasn't able to attend church; however, I noticed on his blog the request he made. The first person that came to my mind were my parents. My dad worked for the Post Office for twenty-seven years and during that time, he pastored a church and raised all of his family in church, teaching and preaching the gospel. My mother was a stay-at-home mom, raising the children in the admonition of the Lord. A while back I ran across a letter my mom had sent to her sister Dorothy when they lived in California. Just reading the letter meant so much to me. You could sense the love she felt for her God, family, and friends. I miss my mother so much; nevertheless, as time goes by, the Lord allows you to have a better feeling of her not being here. Knowing full well she is in a much better place, not feeling anymore pain and knowing she ran a good race and finished her course. I can remember as a kid, we used to deliver papers to the paper boys. My mom and I would go throughout the city and dump the bundles at the various neighborhoods for the newspaper boys to pick up. She would always tease me saying that during half of the drive, I would want to stop at McDonald's on Kemp Boulevard and have a "Wimpy Hamburger" (long story). I appreciate being taught to work at an early stage in my life. You see, I've been working all of my life and wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks, Mom for all your lessons in life you taught me. Now, Dad, let me begin: He is an awesome pastor, teacher, leader, mentor and someone to look at in life that would lead you to Christ. He wasn't ashamed to share the gospel on the job or anywhere he went. I sometimes wish I had that much ferver and determination to share the wonderful news of Jesus Christ. Everywhere I go, someone is always coming up to me asking about Dad and telling me a funny story about something that happened at the Post Office or in the church we grew up in or the church he now pastors in Vernon. You see, Dad was one of those preachers that had to work for a living. He felt God had called him to minister the gospel and in doing so, had to maintain a job in the secular world in order to make a living. To this day, I don't know how he did it. Nevertheless, he was--and is--a very strong man and endured through the test of time. He wasn't afraid to preach the gospel and allow God to change people's lives by accepting the word of truth. He preached the word unwaivering, but with love and compassion to the saints of the church. As I'm writing this, I am brought to tears thinking about all of the good times we shared as a family growing up in the church, and working in the church in Vernon. God has truly blessed us. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for sharing the gospel through the love of Jesus Christ.