Pastoral Perspective: 1,000 blessings
It is with great sadness and joy at this Thanksgiving season that I write my last letter to all of you as the newspaper is looking to discontinue the Religion section at the end of the year.
It was a joy and privilege to be able to write to you through the newspaper. I received so much positive feedback on the streets of Pontiac from those who sometimes couldn’t make it to church and yet in the paper they could get some positive words. I know they are cutting God out of everything — knew our days would be numbered, but didn’t think it would be this year.
With Thanksgiving upon us my challenge for you is to grab some paper and start listing your 1,000 Blessings from God. This brings Joy!
Many are not feeling blessed, but we ask God to reveal our hidden blessings. Just that you were born in the USA is a terrific blessing! God is blessing us so we can, out of love, bless others.
Some lessons we’ve learned in the Old Testament are how there were so many good Kings and bad Kings — and the kings that stuck with God — when they were outnumbered terrifically — God would fight their battle for them and there was victory after victory.
Watch who you develop an alliance with. When good kings would align with a bad king, then they would lose their battle because they were uniting with the evil forces instead of with God. In your trials — always go to God first and he will fight for you. Let God vindicate for you.
Thank God for your trials (James 1:2-3). In prosperity, we don’t grow; but in adversity, we feel the closest to God and grow deeply in God. We lean into God and He walks us through.
This year I want you to look at your trials as blessings. This year give thanks when your heart was broken, and for your health scare that brought you closer to God. Twenty-five years ago I went completely numb on my left side and grew closer to God during the trial. Before that I thought I was invincible.
Romans tells us God works things out for the good.
God has a purpose and plan and nothing will thwart it. We can’t see the big picture but God has a purpose.
So thank God for the financial struggles, marital struggles, stressful situations, heartache, anger and for the peace and calm that God supplies to get us through the difficulties. Instead of asking “why me,” we should ask “who” will help us through it — God!
Most of the time our suffering shapes us for service to others because we’ve just been through it ourselves.
In the New Testament, we see how the first missionary trips were difficult — but the people remained faithful and thankful, knowing Jesus’ last words to them were to take the Good News to the ends of the earth!
In the book called “Grit,” it says you succeed because of your passion and persistence to persevere and hold fast — and invest in something you believe in every day. When you have “grit” you fall down seven times and get up eight times.
In the Bible, it says you must run and not give up. One man climbed Mount Everest but he was warned not to let it become his biggest achievement. So, later he traveled 277 miles in a kayak.
We’re not to rest on our past laurels but continue to dream big. Our dreams are more important than our past achievements. When we read what Jesus endured at the end of his life for us — and will be with us forever — we are encouraged!
There are more than 100 verses in the New Testament telling us to warn others. It’s part of our responsibility as followers of Jesus.
First and foremost, if you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, it’s time. The signs of the times are pointing to his return at any moment, and there will not be a second chance. This is it. The time is now. Everyone has a God-sized hole in their heart. Everyone needs Jesus — Jesus is enough!
Second, get right with God and repent of any lingering sins.
If you do these two things then you can know you will be in heaven with God. Believe and ask Jesus into your heart, and ask Him to forgive your sins.
And He will forgive them! There is no sin too big to forgive. And at this very moment the Holy Spirit comes into your heart and changes us from within.
Third, pray daily and throughout the day. Pray for strength to endure the times to come. Pray for peace. Pray for discernment.
Fourth, get in God’s word — daily. Read the Bible for yourself and let it soak into your spirit. Memorize scripture.
Fifth, put on your spiritual armor DAILY. See Ephesians 6 for this.
Sixth, make sure you are following God‘s lead for your life. Are you doing what he wants you to do? In your career? In your home? In your ministry? Be sure you are on His path for your life, not your path.
Seventh, restore any strained relationships and pray together if you can.
Keep God’s commands. If we don’t, we are basically like a country club, just friends that love each other and want to gather weekly.
Job had it all, lost it all and remained faithful and thankful to God. He didn’t leave the faith but stuck with God.
David made mistakes in sin but didn’t wallow in it for 40 years like some do, instead he went directly to God and asked to be forgiven. There are consequences for our sin, but God called David a man after His own heart.
What needs do you face that feel either too impossible or too insignificant to bring to God? He knows all and cares about every detail of your life. Don’t let your pride or self-focus keep you from God. Look to God. Focus on things that are eternal. Pray for revival, that God will take the embers of our heart and start a bonfire.
When we are faithless God remains faithful and compassionate to All with His unending Grace!
Have a joy-filled Thanksgiving!
Rev. Janeen Tronc pastors at Cornell UMC and United Church of Odell