Every November we are reminded by the date on our calendar to be thankful and express a thankful spirit. I have been spending time in some of Paul’s epistles over the past year, and you cannot help but see the consistent theme of thanks in his letters.

Phil 1:3, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer.”

Phil 4:6-7, “The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thess 5:17-18, “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thess 2:13 “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”

2 Thess 1:3 “3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.“

These are just a few of the places that Paul expresses thanks to God. I think I know how Paul must have felt. I am thankful for each of you. I am thankful in this turbulent year,

  • that our SCBI family of churches has been thankful and shown that through their giving to the Lord.
  • I have heard many times from churches that in spite of the Covid-19 virus, the church giving has been more than last year.
  • While we enjoy hearing those reports, we also know that we have churches that are struggling through the virus.
  • Pray with me for these churches. This is such a great time for us to come to the aid of each other personally and come to the aid of churches that are struggling.

This year, I am thankful at a new level for each of you and for each church. I am thankful for the ways that churches have stepped up and tried new things; new ways to accomplish the ministry that God has called them to. Calling members, helping older members with technology by sending someone to their house to set them up for online worship. Churches who have opened their building so a church plant would have a place to worship since the local school was closed to them.

Many stories like this that say we are family, and we are going to work with each other.

I am thankful for you always, but this year in a new and fresh way. Thank you SCBI churches for being faithful to the Lord like never before.

May you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving,

In Christ, Until Next Time,

Steve

“SCBI exists to partner together with churches to discover and fulfill their next step.”