As this Thanksgiving Weekend winds down, here are ten grounds for thankfulness:
- The environment of grace–from the Triune God–that surrounds me, preceding, succeeding, super-ceding, meta-ceding (not a real word, but I think it communicates), grace that awakens, convicts, converts, corrects, transforms, heals, overcomes again and again and again.
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A baby boy to be born next spring (our first grandchild).
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The final of three daughters married to a fine young man.
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All three daughters and their husbands are earnest Christ-followers.
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Lavone, a wonderful partner in life and ministry, without whom the preceding three would not be possible (She could easily be placed second on the list, but the listing shouldn't be understood that way).
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Families of flesh and faith that relentlessly serve as friend of grace on my/our behalf–both those known–more immediate family members and the church visible that welcomed me into the Household, and those unknown–multiple contributions of faithfulness and love from those who "parented" my forebears and the continuities of life in Christ and its legacy of wisdom iinformingg my leg of the journey.
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Colleagues in leadership and ministry who complement me and step with me into Spirit wrought syngeries that can bless beyond our thoughts and dreams.
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The grand and mysterious story of God's way with creation–humbling to serve, emptying out to make full, and dying to make alive–in the end, a story that is big enough to embrace every other human story and good and strong enough to right every wrong.
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Enough glimpses of the grand and mysterious in small and simpleplaces to keep me hopeful and confident, even on days when hurricanes alter the landscape, economies collapse, and the violent erupt.
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Most recently, a new church plant in Emi Worro, Kogi State, Nigeria, pastored by a Muslim-born Christ-follower who began to follow when God spoke to him through a dream. No doubt, this is just the beginning of dreams coming true!