From the Pastor: A Thanksgiving message

God will provide for us, God does provide for us.  Now, as Paul Tripp writes, God may not fund all our dreams, but God will provide for all our needs. 

This day we celebrate and give thanks for the harvest of this land, for good weather, crops and food for our tables and for the friends and family who we can enjoy it with.   

And as we give thanks for all that God has given to us, we are encouraged to remember that our wealth and our lives are not for us alone but should be used for God’s glory and God’s people too.  

Last week Peter Misiaszek from the diocese reminded us of that when he spoke of first fruit giving and giving generously to the church – encouraging people to start by putting aside at least one hour of your week’s pay – your hourly rate – to God a week and then moving up in faith to the Biblical notion of the 10% tithe of one’s take home pay a month to God.  

We do this not because God wants to tax us or out of obligation, but out of gratitude and thanks.  

We do this as a way to train our hearts to trust in God more than our own abilities and to live out our faith trusting that God is indeed a good God and will provide for our needs.  

We do this to protect our hearts from hypocrisy – from saying yes God I trust you – but then acting in a way with our lives and resources that show otherwise. 

We do this as a way to keep our beliefs real and tangible – and remember that life is ultimately not just about how much more we can get or do, but appreciating what we have already been given and rejoicing in it, and sharing it with great thanksgiving and praise.  

Adapted from Pastor Jennifer’s sermon on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019.