Hello Gloria Dei,
The Bible teaches that we as human beings are created in the very image of God. We are more than just living bodies with blood running through our veins. Each of us has a living soul or spirit.
Most of us try hard to take care of our bodies. We go for walks. We may go to a gym for exercise. Some of us prefer to walk while playing golf. We are mindful of what we should eat and what we shouldn’t eat to keep our bodies healthy.
Yet let me remind you today that we need to take care of our souls too. At its heart, the human soul longs for peace, contentment, purpose, and happiness in life. The human soul longs for fellowship, for sharing with others, and most of all, to be in a loving relationship with the God who created us.
Yet, I’m quite certain that most of humanity strives to take care of the body more than the soul. And without care of the soul, we become out of balance. We become overdone with the striving for pleasure and material goods to please the physical self, yet we are lacking in meeting the needs of the soul.
Part of taking care of the soul is pausing, being quiet, and simply giving thanks. Gratitude is one of God’s greatest graces. Gratitude leads to being content with what we have, while striving to do great things for God. Gratitude takes our focus off of ourselves and lifts our soul to God. Gratitude opens our lives up to our neighbors’ needs. Gratitude, in short, is food for the soul and it leads to joy.
As you gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, enjoy the blessings bestowed upon you. Laugh together, pray together, talk with one another, and above all, give thanks to God together. The bottom line is this; nothing but God ever really satisfies the soul. Give thanks to God often and always and see the joy in your life soar.
We will gather on Wednesday, November 27, at 6:00 p.m. for a worship service of Thanksgiving. After worship all are invited to stay and spend time in fellowship while enjoying a delicious piece of pie… or two. Our souls and our bodies will be well fed.
See you in worship!
Pastor Tim
P.S. A big thank you to all of you for your support and involvement in this Christ-centered ministry. You give your time, talents, and treasure to make Christ known in our community and our world. This month, we are asking for each family to complete an Estimate of Giving Card for our General Fund ministry for 2025. If you haven’t already, please use this link so we can plan appropriately for our mission in the coming year. Again, thank you!
