Omaha Church of Christ

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5: 18

It is God’s will for us to be thankful, grateful people. The great theologian, Karl Barth, has said the worst sin mankind can commit is the sin of ingratitude. It is a useful and necessary practice to take time as a society to count our blessings. Thanksgiving is a great holiday which was initiated by the pilgrims in celebration of surviving the harsh transition to America with the help of the Native Americans. I want to share with you a list I made last year to count our blessings. Prayerfully this list will inspire each of us to realize God’s presence in our daily lives. I was able to list twenty areas we can be thankful for as Christians, which include:

1. God: Our Father cares for each one of us. He is the creator of all that is good.
2. Christ: Jesus is our hero and example. He is our inspiration and Lord.
3. Cross: We see the demonstration of God’s love and forgiveness at Calvary.
4. Resurrection: Our risen Lord assures us of our hope and our victory over sin.
5. Scriptures: We have truth, knowledge, wisdom, and guidance delivered from God.
6. Holy Spirit: Spiritual power resides in all of us to overcome the flesh.
7. Church: God reigns in our spiritual family and our home of faith.
8. Prayer: We have a relationship with God at every moment in our lives.
9. Heaven: Our hope is assured because of our savior and our future is eternal.
10. Christians: Relationships which are deep, mutual, purposeful, and eternal.
11. Husband/Wife: Our best friend is a unique gift from God for a lifetime of love.
12. Children: Family is a treasured miracle, which fills life to the brim.
13. Friends: In Christ we have trusted friends where spirit is thicker than blood.
14. Family: Our parents and siblings are the initial foundation for our lives.
15. Teachers: Instructors have taught us the needed lessons to live productive lives.
16. Creation: The handiwork of God is a constant reminder of his goodness.
17. Physical Body: Our amazing bodies allow us to experience life.
18. Suffering: Comfort and strength have come from the hardships in our lives.
19. Country: Each nation provides a sense of belonging and identity.
20. Work: Our jobs allow us the opportunity to contribute and be useful.
21. Gifts: God has blessed each of us with abilities to share with others.
22. Mission: Our purpose to glorify God and love as he loved is reason to live.
23. Service: It is more blessed to give than receive and serving is its own reward.
24. Peace: Our peace is inexplicable beyond understanding due to God’s sovereignty.
25. Faith: Without faith we would be lost, groping for foundation and hope.

Our list can go on and be even more personal. May you meditate on all the blessings of God in your life this holiday season! I am so grateful for the Omaha church with all our many strengths and our weaknesses. I am grateful that we are moving forward as a church while we strive to not leave anyone behind. I am grateful that we are a church which is united but not uniform. I am glad we have unity with diversity.

We are learning to be holistic small groups. We are learning to worship with the anticipation of the presence of God in every assembly. Our understanding of grace is growing and therefore our relationship with God is more secure. The Omaha church is not a vender oriented church but a congregation with a mission into the world comprised of disciples who come to church to serve God and not to be served or entertained. We are learning to use our gifts to be effective evangelistically. We are learning to be a brotherhood because of our common purpose and commitment. We are reaching out beyond our comfort zones to not allow ourselves to be isolated and stagnant in our growth.

Praise God for our deacons and their wives. The spiritual responsibility upon them is great but they cheerfully serve and lead us in righteousness and faith. Praise God for all the children born this year in the church. We are so grateful for the Kids Kingdom coordinators, and teachers who are planting the seeds of faith for the next generation. Our thoughts of praise and gratitude should not cease after Thanksgiving as there is so very much more to rejoice over in our church. As the song says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings see what God have done!”

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he, who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalms 100:1-5