Hello dear friends,
 
          I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend and that your heart is remaining in a place of thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for and thankfulness is a great antidote to bitterness, depression, and anger.  While it is true that we have things in our lives that are difficult and sometimes very discouraging, we also have much in our lives that we can be grateful for. 
 
          Our greatest gift is Jesus Christ.  He has given us Himself in friendship.  He has welcomed us into His family.  He has paid for our sins and prepared an eternity for us of life with Him.  When we focus on that, as scripture says, our light and momentary troubles tend to fade away in their impact on our lives. 
 
          Jesus had to live a life here on earth, too, and it was far from an easy one.  He grew up in a culture of conquered people.  The Romans were placing demands on the Jews that were, at times, extremely frustrating and oppresive.  Jesus grew up in relative poverty.  He didn’t have all the luxuries and comforts that others could afford.  When He began His public ministry at the age of thirty, He did so without major fanfare.  He had no place to call home; He was constantly on the move.  He was opposed by the religious leaders, challenged by the spiritual forces of darkness, doubted by the people who loved and knew Him best.  He experienced hunger and sleeplessness and sadness.  At the end of His earthly life, He endured persecution, rejection, abandonment, atrocious physical pain, false accusation, and an unjust death. 
 
          Jesus lived a hard life. 
 
          He understands what you are going through.  He is with you and cares about you.  In fact, the reason He went to the cross was to save you and I from eternal damnation.  This was His focus; this was His joy. 
 
          Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
 
          What is your thankfulness quotient at these days?  Are you more focused on your struggles or on Christ’s gifts and kindness in your life?
 
          In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
 
          This weekend we will be starting a new series here at the church.  It is called Faith that Works and is a study on the book of James.  I am really excited about diving into this great letter from one of Jesus’ own brothers.  Pastor Michael will kick off the series this Sunday talking about trials and temptations.
 
          Then on Monday night at 7pm, we will be having our Annual General Meeting here at the church. I’d love it if you all could be there.  I especially need our church members to be there as there will be some key votes to be made.  We will also be able to give an update on what God is doing with the land purchase. 
 
          I pray that you have a fantastic weekend and that your heart will be in a continuous mode of thanksgiving.
 
          I love being your pastor.
 
Pastor Tim