My thanks

Hebrews 12:25 says, “Let us please God by serving him with thankful hearts.” I have learned over the years that the people who are the best servants are always the people who are most thankful. THey are the people who are first and foremost appreciative to God and for His love, grace and mercy. They are thankful for the fact that even though they continue to sin, God loves them unconditionally and sent His Son to die on a cross for them. THey are also thankful for their families, their friends and their lives. I am convinced you cannot serve God without a thankful heart. People who serve the right way are doing it for God and because they are doing it for God they only want God to get credit for it. WIth God getting all of the credit they don't do anything to draw attention to themselves or their accomplishments they simply keep on serving. THey also keep on thanking God for the opportunities to serve. Today I want to share the things I am most thankful for in my life. These are in no particular order: 1. I am thankful for God, loving me and sending His Son as a ransom for my daily goof ups. I am thankful that He loves me through my darkest days and not just on my good days. 2. I am thankful for God placing me in a Christian home, I was adopted at just a few days old and placed in a home where I was in church all of my life. I was taught very early in life the importance of reading my Bible, praying and serving and those lessons have stuck with me all of my life. 3. I am thankful for the values my parents put on church. I was raised in a house where we loved sports, I played baseball, basketball and football from 6 years old. I was always doing something with sports but never on Sundays. I was taught that if I wanted to do something for God, I could not do it during a time that I am supposed to be with Him. I now drag race and some of the biggest races every year, the most prestigous opportunities to win a big race come with a Sunday schedule and I will admit I am tempted to attend, but I never do because it just doesn't feel right. Along with this I am also thankful that my children are following that same pattern. Alexa and P.J. realize as children that if they are going to do it for God, you can't glorify Him by skipping church to do it. God's plan for your life is God's plan for your life and putting Him first on His day only multiplies your chances to reach the potential He has given you. (No I am not on my soap box, but I do hate that Christian families push their children to play sports on Sundays thinking it gives them an advantage of those who choose to remain faithful to God) 4. I am thankful for an awesome wife and great children. I love them with all that I have, I love that they support me when they see me struggling with other peopel's inconsistencies. I love that they want to be a part of my ministry every step of the way. From standing on the sidelines of football games, to sitting in the stands during my races and softball games, to attending Monday night small groups and everywhere in between. My family is a ministering family and I thank God for that. 5. I am thankful for the opportunity to have been called in the ministry. I love that God chose to use me, and still chooses to use me to further His Kingdom. THere is no job in the world that compares to the opportunity to minister and to meet the needs of others with love. Thank you for reading and have an awesome Thanksgiving!