A thankful heart doubles our blessings, enabling us to enjoy them twice – when we receive them and when we remember them. Today, the day before Thanksgiving, I remember my blessings and give thanks to God for each of them.

Here is my “top ten thanksgivings” list for this today!

#10 – I’m thankful for the members of a caring Sunday School class from Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri. Yesterday they mailed 35 boxes, weighing a total of about 250 pounds, to Rob McChrystal’s army unit in Afghanistan. Filled with yummy snacks, soap, shampoo, Christmas cards, small Christmas trees made by children, and other goodies, these boxes will brighten the hearts of 117 soldiers during this holiday season.

#9 – I’m thankful for Pastor Brian and Kimberly Steller. Five years ago they became pastors of a fifty-five year old church with eleven attendees. Today, the church is alive and growing. Scores of young children, teens, and young adults are part of Calvary church in Jacksonville, Oregon. I preached there last Sunday. What an exciting church!

#8 – I’m thankful for my friend, Mark Ford. Since our Central Bible College days, Mark has been a constant source of huge encouragement to me, Mark and Jan faithfully serve the Lord in Akron, Ohio, as the Executive Director of Love Akron, a coalition of Christ-honoring churches, representing many denominations, whose mission is to help transform their community by demonstrating Christ’s love through their unity, prayer, and acts of service.

#7 – I’m thankful for my mother-in-law, Audrey Clay. Her love for life, enthusiasm, passion for Jesus, and her love for others (including her children and grandchildren), are just a few of her great qualities! I love her very much.

#6 – I’m thankful for the privilege of serving the Lord as a preacher of the gospel for over three decades. I’m so grateful that God called me to preach while in high school. What a privilege!

#5 – I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve our Fellowship in my current capacity. No one was more surprised to be elected three months ago than I. God has given me a great team to lead. I’m blessed to work with them every day. You are the best, team!

#4 – I’m thankful for my parents, John and Ruth, Palmer whose faithful lives of love, obedience, and prayer shaped the lives of my sister, Marilynn, my brother, Jim, and mine.

I am standing on their shoulders. Much of the blessing I have enjoyed in ministry I owe to their godly lives.

#3 – I’m thankful for our children, Amy (and her husband, Jeremy), Jonathan, and Bethany. Each of them loves Jesus and honors and respects their parents. I thank God every time I remember them. Debbie and I are unbelievably blessed. I love each of you.

#2 – I’m thankful for Debbie. For over thirty-five years we have walked together in ministry. She is the greatest gift, other than salvation, that I ever received from the Lord. I know I married “way over my head!” The Lord has favored me. I love you, Debbie.

#1 – I’m thankful for the Lord and all He has done in my life. Because of Christ, I have uncountable blessings here on earth and the promise of living in heaven forever. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Grateful people finish strong. Ungrateful and unhappy people stumble often. I’m committed to finishing strong. I trust you are, too.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 at 3:06 pm and is filed under Encouragement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.