Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
11/23/2023
The Season of Thankfulness. How do you prepare your heart for family and Thanksgiving?
I want to wish all of you the most splendid Thanksgiving ever! Can you believe it’s another year?
I love the cooler weather, sweater wardrobe, and especially good company. But it is also accompanied by stress and expense. Sometimes there is so much to do it steals the joy from the day or season. It shows how hard it is to slow down, take time off,
and enjoy time with loved ones, and celebrate Christ.
But it will start with you. As you prepare your heart to lead a small group you must prepare your heart the same way to lead a Thanksgiving day celebration and perhaps even more. It was said, that Jesus was not welcomed in his own hometown. I think that can be true of us. Many are taken for granted. They know you! The good and the gray and they tend to not listen the same way.
But we must be the priest, God has called us to be.
We must deposit in them reminders of not just being thankful for family.
My granddaughter was baptized on Sunday and I asked her if she had received any instruction on what Baptism is. She nodded her head no. I said it is so much more than just getting dunked in water and I asked the gathering if they minded me taking ten minutes to explain that critical sacrament of baptism. It was a wonderful time they will long remember. (I kept it to 10 mins 😊 )
As most of you know I underwent triple bypass surgery just 8 weeks ago and although I am coming alone it is just too slow for my wanting to just go nonstop. There are so many obligations that often feel like to-do’s when they are really privileges. (I see that more clearly today) I have a large family and that includes the stresses that go with that. At times, I can let it get the best of me until I remember to stop and give thanks and not sweat the small stuff. My perspective is obviously a little different having survived this life-changing event but truthfully, we all can learn from my perspective. You don’t have to go through this to appreciate what I see today. So how can you prepare for this most lovely day of celebrating Christ?
Pray: Prepare your heart for the day and the season. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with joy, thankfulness, peace, and wisdom.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” Philippians 4:8 NLT)
Be Intentional: How many times have I said that? Can I challenge you when you connect with people this holiday season and focus on making them feel special, heard, and loved? Tell them why you are thankful for them. Be authentic.
I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3 (NIV)
Lastly Think like Christ: Some of your family may not know Christ or really walk with Him. You may be their only exposure to Christ. Am I loving the way Jesus wants me to love? Remind yourself it is never, never too late to start loving more.
This is a season of thankfulness. Be thankful for more than just your family. Ask Him to fill your heart with the spirit of thankfulness and praise and express it out loud. Let people know who you love and why you love. Jesus. Be thankful for, your life, your breath, your family, and your home. Although you may be struggling through this time, remember and speak it out loud because God is with you through it. He will not leave or forsake you. You may suffer for a little while but his Glory will show itself in due time and you will be in it. Believe that and speak that! “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10). It’s not about the glass being half full or empty it is about having a glass!
About being a vessel that God can mold as the potter. Be humble…be moldable.
Can I say thank you to all of you for listening to me this year? I want to say bless you to so many who have sacrificed so much to lead others, grow others, and give yourself away…. to give your love away. You are so inspiring to watch and so easy to love. There are some of you and you know who you are, that I overflow with love for your sacrificial love and example to so many.
Blessings to each of you. I pray you will rise up this Thanksgiving
and show forth the glory of God in all you say and do!
1 Peter 1:13 TPT. So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdO2cRXVHII He’s been faithful to me. Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
