1st Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 – Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances. This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 84:11 – For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision, recently reflected on a visit he made to a church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti—nearly a year after the devastating earthquake. The church’s “building” was apparently like some we’ve seen in the D.R. in that it consisted of a tent made from tarps and duct tape.This church was pitched in the midst of a sprawling camp for thousands of people still homeless from the earthquake. Listen to Stearns’ description of the church and the lesson he learned that day in Haiti:
In the front row sat six amputees ranging in age from 6 to 60. They were clapping and smiling as they sang song after song and lifted their prayers to God. The worship service was full of hope and thanksgiving to the Lord. No one was singing louder or praying more fervently than Demosi Louphine, a 32-year-old unemployed single mother of two. During the earthquake, a collapsed building crushed her right arm and left leg. After four days both limbs had to be amputated. But that day she was leading the choir, leading prayers, standing on her prosthetic leg and lifting her one hand high in praise to God. Following the service, I met Demosi’s two daughters, aged eight and ten. The three of them now live in a tent five feet tall and perhaps eight feet wide. Despite losing her job, her home, and two limbs, Demosi is DEEPLY GRATEFUL because God spared her life on January 12th last year. ‘He brought me back like Lazarus, giving me the gift of life,’ says Demosi, who believes she survived the devastating quake for two reasons: to raise her girls and to serve her Lord for a few more years. It makes no sense to me as an ‘entitled American’ who grouses at the smallest inconveniences—a clogged drain or a slow wi-fi connection in my home. Yet here in this place, many people who had lost EVERYTHING, expressed NOTHING BUT PRAISE. I find my own sense of charity for people like Demosi inadequate. They have so much more to offer me than I to them. I feel pity and sadness for them, but it is they who might better pity me for the shallowness of my own walk with Christ.
I don’t know about you but I feel convicted by Stearns’ observations because so many times MY walk with Jesus is shallow…in that I don’t praise God as I should. I mean, there have been times when I failed to trust Him enough to thank Him in ALL circumstances. Of course, praising Him for His obvious blessings is easy…but thanking Him for the trials that come my way can be challenging. The thing I want us to get from this is the fact that maturing Christ-followers—people who are making progress in their journey toward BECOMING all God wants them to be—they learn to thank God in the way Demosi did. Their understanding of God’s character helps them to see that he is indeed GOOD to us ALL the time. That’s the way it is when we grow spiritually. The more progress we make down the path of becoming—the more we begin to see that as the Psalmist says, God…“…withholds NO good thing from us…” We come to understand that…because thanks to His sovereignty and omnipotence, He can and does bless us even through painful times.
I love the lyrics to a new song by Sarah Groves because they underscore this foundational truth. Sarah sings:
I believe in a blessing I don’t understand
I’ve seen rain fall on wicked and the just
Rain is no measure of His faithfulness
He withholds no good thing from us
I believe in a peace that flows deeper than pain
That broken find healing in love
Pain is no measure of His faithfulness
He withholds no good thing from us
I believe in a fountain that will never dry
Though I’ve thirsted and didn’t have enough
Thirst is no measure of His faithfulness
He withholds no good thing from us
No good thing from us, no good thing from us
I will open my hands, will open my heart
I am nodding my head an emphatic ‘yes!’
To ALL that You have for me.
Well, growing believers can sing a song lyric like this…and the thing that empowers them to mature enough to do so is learning to embrace a CONSTANT attitude of gratitude. Seeing God as the Source of EVERY good and perfect gift opens our eyes such that we begin to believe in His unchanging goodness—a goodness so powerful that, as hindsight shows, it can come even in times of pain.
In his book, It All Goes Back In the Box, Ortberg writes:“The great secret JOY in life—the prize that we think getting richer will bring us—is the ecstasy of GRATITUDE. Gratitude is how those rich toward God—rich in BEING, not just HAVING—play the game of life.” And I would certainly agree. The CAPACITY for gratitude….the mature mind set that allows us to thank God in ALL things—is a great blessing in and of itself. Think of it. Gratitude is that attitude—that way of thinking and perceiving—that enables us to experience EVERY moment of life as a gift…because, more than anything else, thankfulness opens us up to wonder, delight, and humility. It makes our hearts generous and liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation. It empowers us to always TRUST in God’s wise and loving provision.
Let me put it this way. Gratitude is not something we give to God because He wants to make sure we know how much trouble He went to over us. No—gratitude is the GIFT God gives us that enables us to be blessed by all His other gifts—similar to the way our taste buds enable us to enjoy the gift of food. Without gratitude, we remain spiritual infants, blind to God’s true greatness…ignorant of His loving providence.
This is one reason it is our tradition here at Redland to set aside a Sunday at this time every year to pause and Thank God for ALL His blessings. And—as usual, God has continued to RICHLY bless our church this past year. In fact, time doesn’t allow me to list all the good things He has not withheld from us—but let me share a few highlights. As I do I will intersperse God’s OBVIOUS blessings with ways I believe He has blessed us even in hardship.
First, God has blessed us with new staff members. Cydney Sherman came on board as our full-time administrator this past April and her presence has been a true Godsend. I know I speak for Bobby and Kevin and Bill in saying that she has lightened our load and made it so much easier for us to do our primary jobs of equipping you for ministry. Cydney’s work ethic shows that administration is such an important job…FOUNDATIONAL…to everything we do—and with her on board we have a firm foundation indeed. A couple months ago, after Michelle Duncan left to take a job closer to her home—which was good for her but a hard thing for us because we all love Michelle—but God withheld no good thing and sent us Christy Horton and she has been a blessing as well in so many ways. In short, I am so very thankful that God has gifted us with wonderful office staff this year.
Earlier this year, Jennifer Crocker stepped down—and that too was a hard thing for us—but shortly thereafter Mary Ann Moore came on board as our interim Children’s Ministry Director…further proof that God withholds no good thing from us. Mary Ann is doing a wonderful job! By the way, Mary Ann, wrote to tell me that she is thankful for the 130 different adults who faithfully teach and love our children in SS, AWANA, graded choirs, and nursery each week. She’s also thankful for Redland’s teens who have been faithful to pitch in to help in AWANA and VBS. Speaking of VBS, as I look back I’m reminded that this year we had 220 children who came to hear about God’s great love and 45 of those kids did not have a church home! I’m so grateful for that opportunity to impact those families with the Gospel.
My look back over the last twelve months also reminds me that God blessed us through two adult mission trips. Last January we returned to the Dominican Republic for a third time—hosting medical clinics, leading Vacation Bible Schools, and doing construction…including the building of this church in an impoverished community where the men work the cane fields. I’m so grateful for Bob Michael’s leadership on this trip! We also had a wonderful experience in Ocean City this past July working with Lynn Davis and the members of Ocean City Baptist Church. Don Mayberry did a great job leading this trip—a trip that primarily focused on CONSTRUCTION. You may remember from the SOWER that Lynn wrote us after Hurricane Irene hit thanking us for the labors of Don and his crew…labors that prepared that church for the storm so well that there was absolutely no damage. Lynn is sure that would not have been the case if we had not come. I saw Lynn at the state convention last week and she sang Redland’s praises and told me how much they want us to come back next summer.
As a pastor, I’m thankful for the blessing of these trips not only because of the good we were able to do in the D.R. and in Ocean City…but also because of the good those trips do here. I continue to see how trips like that strengthen friendship among team members…how they enable us to all work together as a church to get the materials needed on those trips…and the way they help us learn how better to share our faith and to depend on God. Trips like those MATURE us…they spur us along toward BECOMING more like Jesus and I thank God for them and pray He always gives us opportunities like that.
Continuing to remember God’s blessings…I am happy to report that since this time last year we have had 59 people join our church family. 16 of those were making their first time profession of faith in God. This is something we should—and do—praise God for. During this same time period—as is typical for Redland—we lost several families to job transfer…people like the Bahoos and the Iwamotos…and the Murray’s….but that kind of familiar sadness is also a blessing…a GOOD thing that God has not withheld from us. I say this because when people move from Redland it enables us to have an impact all over the world. I mean, if we had a globe and put a red pin on places where families and individuals now live who used to serve with us here at Redland…we’d see red pins circle the planet! Plus, all these good-byes make us more grateful for new families that come our way.
I’m also thankful to God for the blessing of your giving this year. Yes—we are behind the budget by about $87,000…but overall giving is up nearly 12.2% over last year. Much of that increase is to designated areas like the ROC kitchen, or to the scholarship program….or missions giving. But even shortages in designated giving can be a good thing because they force us to our knees. They helps us to learn to rely on God—and that is indeed a GOOD thing that He has not withheld from us.
This year we finally dedicated the ROC…our gym next door that will serve as a Recreation and Outreach Center for many generations to come. It was SOOOO hard waiting SOOOO long to get into the ROC. Remember? There were nearly three years of setbacks…construction delays…permitting problems but this Spring we finally made that CROSSING and moved in! It’s finally being used as we envisioned. I’m SOOOOO grateful to God for that—but I’m also grateful for the delays because they helped us learn to trust God’s timing….another GOOD thing.
This year we said good-bye to several pivotal Redland members who left us to enter their Heavenly reward. It was heart-breaking to see people like Cathy Mooney and Frank Coffman and Bob Dame and and Jack Bowerman and Dottie VanDevander pass away. We miss them! But their passing makes us all the more grateful for the promise of Heaven. It makes us especially thankful for the fact that Jesus conquered death for us! By the way, I want us to be sure to remember these families in prayer during the holidays—and all families who still nurse fresh wounds of grief as they look at empty chairs around the table this Thursday. We need to pray for these brothers and sisters…we need to look for ways to come alongside them, sympathizing with them in their grief. But as we grieve ourselves we must remember…that we do not grieve as those who have no hope. Every day of sadness we go through brings us one day closer to the day we will all once again sit at the Lord’s table.
Well, I could go on and on…but suffice it to say that GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME—and as He has been in the past, in 2011 He has once again been VERY good to this church! He has withheld no good thing from us. Our loving Heavenly Father continues to bless us in the good—and the bad of life.
Hebrews 12:28 encourages us to…“be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” — hence the need for a service like this. So, today…instead of a sermon…which is really a time for us to hear what God has to say to us—as in decades past, I want us to turn the tables…and make this a time for God to hear what we have to say to Him. We are taking this portion of our service today and making it into a concert of prayer in which we say, “Thank You, God for all Your blessings to this local body of believers.” At my request SIX (8:30) SEVEN (11:00) individuals or couples have prepared prayers for this purpose. So, let us now enter a time of conversational prayer…a time of communicating together with God…eyes and ears open….as we hear these prayers of thanks and offer our own. They will come to you in the order that they are printed in the bulletin. Between each prayer we will sing a song of thanks…and then after these prayers we will pause to give us all a chance to offer our own thanks to God for His great faithfulness. So, now, let us pray… “Heavenly Father, Hear now these, the prayers of Your people:
8:30 SERVICE
Jamie Kilgore
God, I am thankful for everything. You are amazing.
God, I am thankful for all you have given me. I am thankful that I am free and allowed to share the gospel. I am thankful that I can speak and sing about You. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I love you. I am thankful that you have given me everything that I need to live. Thank you for my family. I thank you for giving me a family that loves you. I thank you for the roof over my head, toys and rules. Thank you that I got glasses. Thank you for Jennifer. I am thankful that I have a fantastic church family and they love the one and only true God. I am thankful for Pastor Mark, Pastor Bobby and Pastor Kevin, for Christian music and for the ministries that kids come to. I’m thankful that you gave me a nice teacher at school. I wish the rest of the world would love Jesus as much as I do. I wish that all people would be able to preach the gospel of Jesus without fear. God you do everything for me and I cannot repay you. I thank you for Christmas when you sent your one and only Son.
I love Jesus so much. He did so much for me. He died for ME on the cross. He knew he had to do it for me to live with you. Thank you God for Jesus. God, I pray for all of the people who are not believers in your Word. I pray that they will become Christians. I am thankful that I am a Christian. God I thank you for giving me this opportunity.
In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.
Gabe and Sara Carbonell
As thanksgiving is upon us we thank God for the many blessings in our lives.
First, we are thankful for Redlands Baptist church. It is the people in this church that make it so special. Not only does 1/2 our family attend here but many of the people have become our family too. Our spiritual leaders, Mark, Bobby, Kevin, Bill and our sunday school class ;through their sermons, music, and teachings have encouraged rich discussion in our marriage, only bringing us closer together as a couple and on our walk with Jesus. When we faced a difficult time, both mark and bobby reached out too, again solidifying our choice in making this OUR church.
Then, when we had our miracle, our son, Cruz, there they were again checking on all 3 of us at the hospital. When we needed a couples bible study to fulfill that fellowship and continued spiritual guidance we longed for, there God was again and placed a group of awesome Christian couples in similiar life stage as us, in our lives.
Individually we are thankful for:
This church and it’s strong teaching that it helped instill in my husband. This faith of his only drew me to Gabe and in wanting to know more and strengthen my relationship with Him. I am thankful for The strength he brings to our family and his commitment to god and our family .Our health and the health of our family and friends, their abounding love and support The amazing family and friendships i gained through my marriage to Gabe. My mother in law Maritza. There are many reasons, but the one I am choosing to mention here; is the fact that she is the caretaker of our son during the week. Care taker is by no means the correct word because she is so much more. She nurtures, teaches, and loves him all in the name of god giving us the peace of mind and comfort knowing he couldn’t be in better hands .
Our jobs, our home, clothes on our back and food in our bellies, we know all of that is provided by our Father in Heaven. Lord, I am thankful for the many caring mentors and teachers that You have placed in my life from Redland over the last 16 years. They helped grow my faith in Jesus Christ and showed me what it meant to be a man of God. Lord, You blessed me with a great family. My Parents taught me to love and follow you. From an early age they taught me the power of your written word. Psalms 119: 105 says, “Your word is a lamp to me feet and a light to my path”. You blessed me with awesome brothers that I could experience my Christian walk with. And now, their wives and kids bring us so much joy. You also listened to my endless prayers and gave me the perfect wife and son. God, you told me at an early age that you will always take care of me. Your word says in Matthew 6:31-33 “So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” You have never let our family go hungry, thirsty or unclothed.
There is not enough time in the day to thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for us. Your blessing are endless but nothing is more important than the ultimate gift that you gave us: dying on the cross, conquering death, and washing away all our sins so we can spend eternity with you.
Thank you.
In your holy name we pray.
Amen.
Elizabeth Byrd
Dear Jesus,
First of all I want to thank You for creating me, for without You I would not be here. Thank You for a house to live in, a loving family, and food on the table. Thank You for friends who love me and support me. I also thank You for the church family here at Redland, who welcomed me four years ago. Thank You for sticking by me, even when I didn’t stick by You. Thank You for all the blessings in my life. Thank You for a free education and teachers who care about my future. Thank You for a youth group who can strengthen my generation. Thank You for friends who are non-Christians because You allow me to show them Your Light. Thank You for my worldly leaders because You have put them above me for a reason. I thank You for the talents You have given me so that I can minister to others. Thank You for hope, because without it, we would all be in despair. Your Daughter, Elizabeth
John Liming
Dear Lord, you are my Father and I am your son. Thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed upon me. Thank you for my wife Shirley to whom I have been married for 53 years. Thank you for my three daughters, Linda, Brenda and Cyndi. Thank you for our seven grandchildren and our great grandson. Linda’s children are Brandon and Brice. Brenda’s children are Jason and Haley. Cyndi’s children are Rachel, Brady and Jonathan. Jason and Lindsay’s child is Elijah. Please help us all to grow in knowledge, faith, hope and love and help us to be witnesses for you. All this we ask in your name, Amen
Shirley Liming
Our Dear Heavenly Father, It is with humble hearts that we come to say thank you for all the many ways you have blessed us. Just saying thank you doesn’t seem to be enough for the many times you have shown your love for us. Your forgiveness when we go astray, your great patience as we struggle with some of the many issues we face each day. Thank you for our daughters, our sons-in-law, our seven grandchildren and our great grandchild. Thank you that you are with them each and every moment, protecting them and holding them tightly in your loving arms. Thank you for your promise found in Psalm 91:1 which says, “ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the Shadow of the Almighty.” How blessed we are by You with three amazing daughters who are kind, compassionate and filled with love that can only come from you. This year has been filled with many doctor visits and various tests. Thank you for doctors, medicine and most especially for our children who care so much. Thank you for John, this sweet kind and loving man who has been my helpmate for 53 years. Dear Father, you are so good. Thank you for our church family. Our loving, caring brothers and sisters in Christ, who are faithful to lift each other up in prayer and meet the needs that arise. We are so blessed to be a part of a wonderful church where your precious name and your Holy Word are proclaimed and our Pastors shepherd your flock so faithfully. Each day we are grateful to live in a country where we can attend church, read your word and pray in freedom without fear. Please help us not to take these awesome blessings for granted. Each day I am so thankful for eyes to see your creation. Lately, as I have looked at the wonderful blue sky and the leaves with their many colors, I stand amazed at their beauty and Your goodness. Thank You for the tiny birds I watched a few days ago as they looked for food. They were so small, so beautiful and calm as they pecked the ground. They were not scurrying around as I so often do, they were trusting You for their care. Please keep our eyes and hearts open that we would remember that as you care for the little birds, you will always care for us. Thank you for the blessing of food, shelter and the abundance of harvest you have poured out on our country and our family. Help us to remember those who need help and may we, in loving kindness, reach out and share what you have so graciously given us. Please help us to love others as you have loved us. Please help us to comfort others as you have comforted us this year as we have said good-bye for a while to some of our church family. May we draw strength from your loving words that you are our “Comforter.” We love you and praise you for your goodness to us. Thank you for the privilege of being your children. Use us to share your love with those around us. Lord, you are so good. What an awesome blessing it is to call you Father.
In Jesus name, Amen.
11:00 SERVICE
Carl Conner
Our Dear, Loving and Generous Heavenly Father, You have blessed us beyond description. Thank you, Jesus, especially for being willing to leave the glories of Heaven to come to earth to teach us your ways and then to die on the cross for our sins so that we can be saved. Lora and I thank you for our salvation and for the salvation of our children and grandchildren, and that we can enjoy each other not only in this life but for eternity in heaven. The joy of knowing this is beyond my ability to describe. We thank you that our son, daughter and son-in-law have good jobs times in these uncertain economic times. We thank you for the health you have given our family. Thank you for the protection you have provided as all three grandchildren play sports and have avoided serious injury. Thank you especially that our grandson Nick has fully recovered after contracting Lyme’s Disease. Thank you that the grandchildren are able to attend Christian schools, and that our granddaughter is very happy at a Christian college. Thank you for the 48 year marriage that Lora and I have enjoyed, the love we have for each other and the numerous blessings you have given to us.
Lord, we thank you for our country and for inspiring great men to establish the a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, that had never been known to mankind previously. We praise you for the men and women in the past and present who have been willing to join our military and give their lives, if necessary, for the freedoms we enjoy. Please bless those who are now serving in dangerous places in the world and bring them home safely. Bless them and their families as they have to be separated for this Thanksgiving holiday.
Dear God, we thank you for the blessings of wonderful friends. What a joy they bring to our lives. We thank you for those loved ones we have known for many years and for the new friends we have found at Redland.
Lord, we praise you for the wonderful churches Lora and I are privileged to be a part of–one in Florida and here at Redland. Thank you for our pastor Mark and for his faithful preaching and teaching of your word that inspires us to be better Christians. Thank you for Sue and the leadership and teaching she provides for the ladies in Tuesday morning Bible Study. Thank you that both Mark and Sue are such loving people and for the example their marriage is to all who know them. Thank you that you have blessed them with a beautiful granddaughter, Lydia, and that she will be surrounded by love. Thank you for our other church staff and for the work they do for our adults, youth and children. Thank you for the large number of youth and children here at Redland that are being trained to be the future leaders of this church. Thank you for the wonderful music programs that lead us in worship and praise to you.
Dear Father, there is no way we can adequately express our thanks for all that you do for us. Thank you that, in this vast universe, you are mindful of us. For as it says in Hebrews 2: 7-8 “What is man that you are mindful of him or the son of man that you care for him. You have made him a little lower that the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.”
Help us to be filled with awe, humility, and gratitude as we live our daily lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
James & Varetta Hamlin
Lord, thank you for your eternal love, care for us and the many provisions given to us each and every day. Thanks for being our Lord and Savior. You provide for our family needs with out question and we thank you. In Psalms 31:1 it states that I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be on my mouth. We give thanks for our physical and spiritual health and placing a hedge of protection around us. We give thanks for the struggles as they cause us to depend and lean on you knowing that you are in total control. During these struggles, Lord you have given us the disciple to continue to give thanks to you. Through this you will transform us and continue to bless us. Lord we thank you for family. As it is your will you never leave us or forsake us. You are a blessing to our family. We are so thankful to receive news that soon we will have a new additions to our family, through our son and daughter-in-law. Not as a single birth but with the blessings of twins. Praise Your holy name. Lord we thank you for the many things that we take for granted. The beauty that you provide when the sun rises in the east in the morning and sets in the west each day. Its your work Lord, not man but you Lord. The weather that we complain about it your awesome will. You provide us with food, shelter and jobs and places of worship. You have guided us to become a part of the Redland body of Christ and we are grateful for that. May your will be done through using us in service at Redland. We thank you for the Roc and its mission to serve others. There are many in our community who need you Lord. Guide this Redland family to reach out to them with the many resources you have given us. We give thanks for comforting us and but being used to comfort others. In 1 Thessalonian 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. Thanks for your daily words that points us in the right direction, legs to stand on, cars to drive, water to wash with, clothes to wear, friends to laugh with, family to eat with, spouses to grow with. Lord you give us children to raise, grandchildren to spoil, siblings to joke with, Bibles to read freely, vision to see leaves fall, music to sing praise to our heavenly Father. Thanks for the many sacrifices that those in the military make each and every day so that we will be safe here at home. Thank you for being our Lord and Savior! Thanks for being God and God alone!!! Amen
Mike & Kristy Dean
Father,
We come to you today THANKFUL for so many things. God, your word tells us to let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in our hearts and lives. You tell us that is our responsibility and privilege as members of your body. And you tell us to always be thankful. We are to remember what Christ taught, and let his words enrich our lives and make us wise. You tell us to teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord with thankful hearts. And whatever we do or say, it is to be as a representative of the Lord Jesus. We are to come with you into the presence of God the Father to give Him thanks.
We come to you today, like your word tells us to do, to give you thanks and praise. Lord, we have been so blessed with such a supportive and giving family. They are always there for us and always willing to lend a helping hand. We are thankful for the family members that have helped us grow spiritually, as well as the others, who have challenged our Christian beliefs, giving us the opportunity to be the witness you ask us to be with the hope that they one day will be saved or grow closer to you.
Lord, we can’t thank you enough for our son, Riley and the joy he brings to our lives, as well as so many others, each and every day. It has been such a blessing watching him grow and learn since the day he was born. We thank you for his Christian daycare center where he is not only taken care of each day, but is also taught about your son, Jesus Christ. The Psalms tells us that children are a gift of the Lord. Lord, we praise you today for ALL children.
Father, we have had our ups and downs financially, as a family, but you have always provided for us and have been there to help us through our struggles. We are both thankful for our current jobs and I feel truly blessed that I have a job that I actually love going to everyday. We praise you, Lord, for work!
When we see so many who are suffering from serious illnesses of medical issues, my heart overflows with thanksgiving. You have blessed my family with overall good health. Thank you,
Father, for our health and I ask for healing and comfort for those that need it. Lord we know that a big part of our spiritual growth has happened through Redland Baptist Church. We thank you so much for bringing this church into our lives. We feel that we have grown and have been challenged through the Bible studies as well as through the Centre Pointe Counseling they support. Thank you so much for the amazing support from the staff at Redland. They were a big reason in Mike’s decision to rededicate his life this year. Every Sunday we leave this church wanting to be better Christians. The sermons, the amazing choir and the love that is given to us from all the church members encourages us to “fight the good fight of faith” that Paul told us to do in your word. For your CHURCH, Lord, we are truly thankful.
And Father, Most importantly, we thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins so that we don’t have to pay the price. We thank you for going to heaven to make a home for us. We pray that you continue to help our family and all that are here today, grow in Christ so that we may glorify you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Scarlett Woofter
Dear Lord,
I am thankful for all the things you have given me. One thing I am very grateful for is my awesome friends who are always there and ready to listen to whatever I have to say. Thank you also for my family. They are always there for me — right by my side in good times and bad. Nature is something I am grateful for. You gave us a beautiful world and you gave us everything we need through nature. Thank you! I’m also grateful for the land you gave us to live on, since most land is not inhabitable. Thank you also for food to eat and water to drink. I know that not everyone has enough to eat or drink. I’m also thankful for all my Sunday school teachers, such as Mrs. Sherman and Mrs. Terry, Mr. and Mrs. Brinkman, Mr. Doug and Mrs. Becky, Mrs. Day, Ms. Jaime, Ms. Vicki, and Mrs. Marshall, Mr. Eric and Mr. Jim, and now Mrs. Crocker. They taught me about You since I was a toddler and until now. Also I am thankful for Pastor Mark, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Bobby for preaching about You in ways that I can understand. Thank you for the Bible that tells me all about You. I’m also grateful that you were there with me when I went to my new school. Thank you, God, for everything you have given me! Amen
Scarlet Woofter, Age 10 – 5th Grade
Matt & Christy Horton
Dear Lord, we praise You and thank You for your constant provision of our needs. You have proven time and again to be God, our Provider. We claim Your promise in Jeremiah 29:11-13 as our family’s life verse: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’” There are no words that can explain how thankful I am for what You do every day of my life. You have given me a wonderful family and two awesome sons, Wesley and Daniel. You have guided me to a career where I can use my skills and talents most effectively. You have put me in every job I have ever had; providing me with the right job at the right time, every single time. I’m glad to be doing what I do, not because I’m working to work, but because I am letting God work through me. I’ve given up working for other people and myself. Now everything I do, I do for You. Through this, You grant me joy and on-going peace.
I ask that You continue to help me to rely more on You and less on myself. Lead me to be the best husband, father and provider I can be for our family. Sometimes Your calling means change is coming and we have to move with You to be in Your will. Earlier this year, I felt God moving me towards change. I resisted the change, even though it was clear to me that this was God’s plan for my life. Stress and anxiety was weighing me down and leading me to depression. I desperately sought after God in prayer for a solution. When I finally submitted in obedience to God’s will – He went above and beyond my expectations, as He always has in the past. God answered my desperate plea for help the same day I submitted to Him in prayer. First, He answered a small, but specific prayer just hours after I prayed. The next day, He answered another prayer in a very obvious way. God was preparing my heart for something bigger. Finally, He revealed His will by opening a door to a position as Redland’s church secretary. I was not looking for a full time job, but God’s timing and sovereignty is always perfect.
Lord, Thank you for Your patience as You deal with stubborn and slow to understand hearts that do not like change. You are our Provider, always giving beyond what we could hope for, and always knowing what is best for us.
Lord, we would also like to thank you for Redland and the areas of ministry in which we serve. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to direct children’s handbells, to help with Youth handbells and to play in the orchestra and adult handbells. You have provided all we need to serve You in these ministries. Thank you for our godly family and friends who help us and minister to us, encouraging us to walk closer to You.
Lord God, we are not strong enough to do this on our own, but You are strong enough for us all. Please keep our hearts sensitive to Your calling. And forgive us for the times when we let selfishness get in the way of serving You. Lord God, we pray that we are using our resources the way You want us to; and if not, then to guide us in the right direction. There is never enough time or words to express our gratefulness to You in all the ways You have provided for our family. And so in closing, we say; Thank You, Lord.
We love you, Abba.
Amen.
Errol Robinson
Father in Heaven I thank you for waking me to another day and for the opportunity to serve and offer a prayer of Thanksgiving before my church family this morning. I thank you for loving me and for the opportunity to gather together today in your house of worship. Thank you for the country in which we live and for our freedom to pray and worship in peace without fear of persecution. I give praise and thanks for all the men and women who have given their lives and for those who risk their lives today for our freedom. Thank you Lord for the grace, love and forgiving mercy you show to us so faithfully. And I pray for your continued faithfulness and mercy. Thank you for your strength, wisdom, comfort and encouragement and I pray that you would give me wisdom and understanding. Thank you Lord for my mother Vicki, for my father Fred, my Sister Jolie, and for my aunts, uncles and grandparents. Thank you for the love in my family Father. Thank you for giving me a family so centered in your Word. Make me a better Christian, son, friend and student Father. Thank you Heavenly Father for Redland, for my church family, and for the Christian love they’ve shown me through the study and teaching of your word. In the name of Your Son Jesus I pray,
Amen
Ava Archer
Dear God,I am thankful for the Redland Congregation, a congregation that values intergenerational worship and ministries that connect multiple generations. I am so thankful that this congregation has accepted me apart from my husband and that it is a place where women are encouraged to respond to the call of ministry in their lives. Personally I am grateful for my family? for Bill my partner in life and ministry?for his servant spirit and continual support of me and our children. Thank you God for allowing our older children Katie and Christine to live close by.
Thank you, God for providing our son Stephen with a successful and fulfilling college experience in Atlanta GA. Lord I am grateful that you have brought healing to my hands to allow me to continue to play piano and keyboard at school and here. I feel blessed to be able to teach school and have an impact on so many young lives where God’s love can shine through me. I want to praise and thank You for opening opportunities for ministry in my school setting with students, their families, and staff.
Bill Archer
Dear Lord, My heart cannot offer you enough praise and thanks to balance the great gifts you have given me. How great it is to take time today, as the scripture says, to remember the wonders you have done. First I want to thank you for this wonderful congregation called Redland Baptist Church. This is a place that in three short years has become family. You know that this congregation is much more that a place to go to work. Redland is community of people that connect with one another and care for each other. I have felt that connection and been the recipient of that care and am so thankful. You have blessed me to be able to serve with the staff team here that is remarkable in both skill and heart for ministry. Each staff member brings such joy to my life. I feel encouraged supported and genuinely loved by these fellow servants and am especially grateful for the fun we have working together. The blessing of standing before this great choir behind me each Wednesday as we rehearse and worship has added such richness to my life. In addition to them, I think about the 8:30m Praise Team, the Orchestra, the Gospel Choir and the other music groups here…and know how richly I am blessed to serve among a group of people whose passion for worship is such a significant part of their personal walk with you. I am so grateful for leaders willing to invest so heavily in our children and youth leading them to be worshippers and worship leaders. Lord, my heart is especially filled as I think about the blessings of Ava, Katie, Christine, and Stephen. You have blessed me much more than I deserve through each of them. “Lord, You are good and Your love endures forever.” Even as David instructed his people to voice a song of praise and thanksgiving, I humbly pray that the song of my heart will always be a song of Thanksgiving. In Christ name I pray, amen.
Now it is your chance to join in this time of thanks-praying. As the instrumentalists continue to play, let us all bow our heads and all thank God. Praying together at the same time. Pray out loud if you want—in your seat—or on your knees—but pray and thank God for all of His blessings.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Father God,
We are Your people—the sheep of Your pasture and we have come this morning to worship You with glad and joyful songs—inspired by Who You are and for What You have done. For, You are good and Your love endures forever; Your faithfulness continues through all generations And all God’s people said….A-MEN
Perhaps as we have acknowledged all that God has done for us, you have remembered the many ways He has blessed your life. And as you did, you felt the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit to give back to God in some way. You may feel led to come forward and publically show your thanks to God….by recommitting your life to Him…or by joining this church as we use all that God provides us with to minister to this community. You may want to acknowledge for the first time that God gave His Son to die for you…and today publically give Him your life as you accept Him as Savior and Lord. But however God leads won’t you come and share your decision with us?