Pastor Angie's In-Spire-ations December 2017

“I always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in my prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  That should sound just a little familiar.  (1 Thess. 1:2-3)
By the time you read this, I will be back on my feet and this will be behind me, but for the past week I have been held captive on my couch by a fancy moon boot and doctor’s orders.  I’m sure you know me well enough by now to know that this is NOT a normal state for me!  I have teased my friends that they are coming to visit just to see me sitting still with their own eyes.  Chris has been an absolute saint!  I have loved this man since I was 17 and didn’t think I could love him more, but I was wrong.  We have been blessed with visits, cards, calls and food.  Much of that from our Trinity family, which is why I opened with this scripture. I mean every word and I do pray for you daily.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I have had plenty of time to sit here and consider just what “thanks-giving” means.  We say the word so fast and move right on with thoughts of turkey, family gatherings and all that needs done to pull off the church dinner.  Being forced to slow down has been a challenge for me, but a very good time for me to re-set as we approach the end of one year and the beginning of a new one.  Perfect timing as we are less than a month away from Advent.
Thanks—giving.  I am so thankful for your giving.  I’m not very good at accepting help.  I love to give it, but it humbles me to receive it and you know what, that’s a good thing.  We all need a reminder now and then to remain humble.  Mom used to tell me, and I’m sure you have heard this…”When you don’t allow someone else to help you, you are robbing them of the blessing they receive from doing so.”  She told us to smile and say thank you.  Every time one of you has reached out to us, we are smiling and do thank you very much.  You have blessed us over and over throughout the past year and a half.  You are family.  You are friends.  You are a living work of faith, love and hope for us and for our community. 
Maybe this word “thanks—giving” should be about this whole season from the gratitude of Thanksgiving to the giving spirit that comes with Christmas.  Maybe this is one of those times when the dash in the middle is the important part of all of this.  Advent is that dash.  As we approach it, I leave you with this scripture from the first Sunday in Advent:  1 Corinthians 1:4-9
“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind—just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you—so that you are not lacking any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
God bless you as we move together from thanks to giving with the anticipation of Advent.  Let us remember not to dash through the dash too fast.  Savor Advent.         

Pastor Angie


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