Dear Church Members,
For what or whom are you thankful? This year has been filled with anxiety producing events and many of us may be feeling uncertain and worried, perhaps finding it difficult to find anything for which to be thankful. Each Sunday when we are able to gather together in person, we sing the words: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” We have so many blessings from God that offering praise and gratitude should be part of our daily routine; but sometimes we don’t know where to begin. We may feel like the musician Andrae Crouch, who wrote:
“How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me
Things so undeserved, yet You give to prove Your love for me?…
To God be the glory for the things He has done.”
In these challenging times, many of us have reassessed our values and lifestyles, and have become more focused on the basic necessities of life, rather than the frills. Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask him (Matthew 6:8) and the Apostle Paul wrote that God will meet all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). How comforting these words are in times like this. A favorite song encourages us to count our blessings:
Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
What is God doing in your life? How is God blessing you? When we take the time to seriously consider these questions, we may be amazed at what we discover. We may find God present in almost all of our daily activities and encounters, more often than we ever realized. So this Thanksgiving season, I encourage each of us to take a few moments each day and reflect on how we experience God in our lives. And may we all proclaim the following words from the musical, Godspell:
All good gifts around us Are sent from Heaven above
So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love…
We thank thee then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seedtime and the harvest, our life, our health, our food,
No gifts have we to offer for all thy love imparts
But that which thou desirest, our humble thankful hearts!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Rev. Martha Dominy
Note: Please consider giving a financial “thank you” gift to God this Thanksgiving season through the church. You may use the envelopes included in the Thanksgiving letter mailed to you. Also, you may drop your financial gift in our church mail box (located at the side door of the Parish House) or mail to First Baptist Church 493 Main St., Malden, MA. 02148.