“Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Psalm 40:5 (NKJV)
An old hymn exhorts us as believers, “Count your blessings. Name them one by one.” That may be an impossible task according to this and other verses, but we should strive for thankfulness in overflowing measure toward our Lord and Savior – first of all for His matchless, atoning sacrifice on Calvary
Most recently, I thanked God for the 2025 Annual Meeting. This gathering of Alabama Baptist messengers and guests on November 11-12 in Huntsville at Whitesburg Baptist Church for the State Convention meeting was indeed a family reunion and a harmonious one at that. Thanks to Dr. Darryl Craft, Whitesburg’s senior pastor, who leads a team that provided a superb welcome to all who attended. Together, we focused on being compelled by the love of Christ in all we do as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. I am thankful for our family of congregations, local Baptist associations, entities, and SBC mission boards and ministries.
I can think of many other things for which I am thankful – not just during this special time of the year but year-round. Here are five more:
- Conversion and Calling. I am so grateful to God for new life in Christ. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” I am likewise thankful for His calling upon my life to serve at your State Board of Missions.
- Family. That includes my precious wife, Pam, and our two daughters – and then also our four grandchildren. I’ve said before that one of the most underestimated blessings on earth is being a grandparent.
- The Family of God. “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God,” declares an early praise-and-worship chorus. To be part of the Body of Christ is truly a gift from God. I hope and pray that you are serving the Lord in a local church.
- Good health. This is certainly nothing to be taken for granted. Good health should be seen as a gift from God. I am grateful for this blessing from God.
- Alabama Baptist faithfulness. Churches in our state are mostly not the largest. But we are pacesetters, consistently #1 in Cooperative Program gifts to the SBC. As Christmas approaches and, with it, the season for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that in 2024 Alabama Baptists gave $12,546,558, surpassing the goal! May we be even more generous this year!
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us continue to remember the message of 2 Corinthians 5:14 – that “the love of Christ compels us” to be ever thankful and grateful to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who died for all and gave us the Gospel that we must share with others.
