November 2008
Perhaps you are familiar with good news/bad news jokes. For example:
Doctor: I have some good news and I have some bad news.
Patient: What's the good news?
Doctor: The good news is that the tests you took showed that you have 24 hours to live. Patient: That's the good news? What's the bad news?
Doctor: The bad news is that I forgot to call you yesterday!
Do you tend to focus on the good news or the bad news? Two people can be in the same situation and have two completely different reactions. One may be joyful while the other may be morose. One may see the glass half-full, while the other sees the glass half- empty.
Of all people, we Christians should be half-full glass people. The lyrics of an old hymn instruct us to: “Count your blessings, Name them one by one, Count your blessings, See what God has done.” This year I can count blessings such as ten years of God’s faithfulness to our church, Crossroads… nineteen years of marriage with Theresa, the greatest wife in the world… wrestling matches with my four year old son, Timothy… coaching Michelle, my daughter, in soccer… and Matthew, my older son getting ready to drive (maybe that’s not a blessing!)
But not only should we count our blessings, but we are to have an attitude of thanksgiving. “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Col 4:2) This means that we have an orientation, a perspective, a mindset of thankfulness. We should develop eyes that see the positive instead of dwelling on negative. This means that we intentionally see the half-full glass.
This Thanksgiving season, it would be appropriate to take time to count our blessings, not only our material blessings or the pleasant circumstances of our lives, but also our spiritual blessings. As followers of Jesus, we have been incredibly blessed by the forgiveness of our sins, significant purpose in life, and our eternity secure in heaven with Jesus. As we make a habit of thanking God and seeing the half-full glass, He will grow in us thankful attitudes and grateful hearts.
Please feel free to join us at church this Thanksgiving month. On November 2, as we continue through the book of Genesis, we will talk about Joseph and leadership, on November 9, we will see Joseph reconciled with his brothers, on November 16, Mike Berk of Campus Crusade, will speak, on November 23, we’ll have a Thanksgiving service and lunch after church, and on November 30, we’ll have a baptism service.
Have a blessed and thankful month!
That’s it for now, but check in with us every month for the inside scoop. May God richly bless you!
Kevin Hayashida
Pastor