Thank You, God

Thank You God for giving life, and breath, and all things. Thank You God for giving me a rich heritage in Your Church that goes back five generations.

Thank You God for giving me a mother who loved You, who loved my father, and who loved all four of her children.

Thank You God for giving me a father who gave his life in Your service, who gave of himself so unselfishly to others, and who taught me to love preaching Your Word.

Thank You God for giving me two wonderful brothers and a wonderful sister who all love You.

Thank You God for giving me In-laws who raised a godly Christian woman and taught her what a Christian family should be.

Thank You God for giving me a wife who is the light of my life. Laura has loved me, stood beside me for thirty years with all my faults, and she is my closest friend in the entire world. Please let us grow older together.

Thank You God for giving me children who were a joy to raise. I am so thankful for Amanda, Jeremy, and their wonderful mates. I am thankful that they are building wonderful families of their own.

Thank You God for giving us Evie Leigh.  She has brought more joy into our lives than we could have believed possible.

Thank You God for allowing me to preach Your Word for more than thirty-five years.

Thank You God for allowing me to work with four wonderful congregations during the past thirty-plus years.

Thank You God for friends. Thank You for friends from long ago and for new friends. Thank You for friends in the church who help keep me sane and add a little color to my life.

Thank You God for filling my life with wonderful mentors, my Paul’s in the faith who have taught me what it is to love Your Word, to love the Church, and to love those who do not know Jesus.

Thank You God for allowing me to have more preaching friends, my co-workers who are always here, and who keep me grounded.

Thank You God for allowing me to be surrounded by numerous young preachers, my Timothy’s who give hope for the church for years to come.

Thank You God for setting me free by the blood of Your precious Son. Thank you for continuing to forgive me when I fall and disappoint You.

Thank You God for the Abundant life that is possible for all of us who are in Christ Jesus. Thank you for making life so rewarding and so filled with joy.

Thank You God for the promise of Heaven when we can live eternally with You, with our Savior, and with our loved ones who have gone on before us.

In Jesus Name,

Amen