As I sit in our living room on Thanksgiving night, some of you are just beginning to stir on Thanksgiving morning. Funny to think that I have already lived a day that you have yet to live. As we approach the 5-month mark of living in the Philippines, I still find myself wondering if we are really here. Do you ever experience those surreal moments where you almost forget who or where you are and is this really real?
Usually on Thanksgiving, we are bustling from house to house, endlessly eating all the delicious foods, playing games and spending time with our families. This year has been quite different. With turkey costing an arm and a leg, pumpkins being practically unheard of, and my stuffing being Stovetop that my mom sent (which is actually my favorite), I have actually had some time to think about what I am thankful for.
There are always things that we can think of off the top of my head that we are thankful for. A house, food, money, family, friends, and all those things are good and true. But for some reason I tend to forget that all of these things don’t really belong to me anyway. Everything I have is basically on loan. The Lord entrusted it to me to use for Him and if we take that into account concerning everything we “have”, it puts a whole new twist on things. My house is to be used for Him. My food is to be used for Him. My money is to be used for Him. My family is to be used for Him. My friendships are to be used for Him. For each of us that will probably look a little different. What does it look like for you?
And then to compare these little things to what Christ did for us??? It is overwhelming! A new favorite song of mine explains it well. “I Am Just A Beggar Who Gives Alms.”
So, as you celebrate today, willingly and thankfully give your alms to the One who gave it to you. We are very thankful for each of you and the huge part you play in our lives and in the goal of seeing every tribe, tongue, and nation reached with the Gospel.