I Am Grateful!

I am taking a moment tonight to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful cooler weather of this time of year. I have a couple of books and a mug of hot tea resting and waiting for me. Amy Sue is readying for Friday's Ladies Night Out, and our sons are getting ready for tomorrow.

You and I both know that it's so easy to pass through Thanksgiving and focus on God's blessings and then get really busy and forget the blessings due to the busyness of the holidays.

This week and recent months have shown me first-hand that God is working and doing marvelous things. I don't want to miss His blessings and seeing what He is doing. (I encourage you to watch the special praise service from a couple of weeks ago for a small recap.)

If there's one way I can encourage you right now is to plan times to "stop and smell the roses," as they say.

Psalm 46:10 is one of my go-to verses, and it pops out a big stop sign when I am leaning toward being a workaholic. It says, "Be still, and know that I am God..."

Does anyone else have a hard time slowing down when life is busy? Apparently, even a world pandemic has a difficult time holding people back. It's not just slowing down we wrestle with--we may also find it harder to focus on the Lord this time of year.

At Christmas, which is supposed to be a big reminder of God's Gift of sending Jesus Christ to save us from the dreaded power and punishment of sin, we focus on other lesser gifts, gatherings, seasonal music, and decorations. Don't let the tinsel distract you from the touch of God.

I am so thankful! I am thankful for God's many blessings and provisions. I am thankful for you and that you took the time to read this far! I am especially thankful for the Gift of Christ that saved my wretched, broken life and put me into His family.

I pray you have a blessed Christmas season. Be sure to stop along the way to remember God and His blessings.

Grateful,
Pastor Dennis Schaffer

Peruse our website at OpenDoorOnline.com for service times and upcoming special events to help you celebrate this wonderful time of year!