A Joyful Heart This Thanksgiving

Is it possible to be truly thankful and joyful in Christ even if you are single and don’t have a “significant other” in your life?

Check out this message from a brother in Christ, Jason. God saved him from an extremely dark time in his life about 4 years ago and has radically changed his heart, mind and soul. Now, Jason works for the Salvation Army and serves God by ministering to the elderly residents in an apartment complex where he also lives. Thank you, Jason, for allowing me to share!

Ladies, I believe his story will bless and inspire you:

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It’s times like these to indeed give thanks.

I am “on duty” tomorrow (Thanksgiving day) and will be in fact very busy.

The Salvation Army Women’s Home League will be preparing and serving Thanksgiving dinner to all residents in our dining room. I will be sitting with them enjoying the meal……

Sometimes God indeed has “other plans”

Years ago, I would beg my manager at IBM if I could work so I would not have to be alone at home during Thanksgiving. As I slid into my addiction I would spend all day at dive bar in San Francisco drinking and seething with anger inside……never remembering “how” I got home when I awoke the next morning in the building lobby or sprawled out in the bathroom……

Today?

For the past two years I enjoy a well prepared meal with the people I serve. They are not just “residents” and I am “staff.” They in many ways have become building-mates, neighbors and friends. Most are widows or widowers. Most were teenagers during “The Great Depression” or when WW II ended; and most of their families live, far, far away……

They don’t care if I am married. They don’t care if I have a girlfriend. They don’t care if I don’t have the latest iphone…..what they do care about is having a really great meal, encouraging words, someone to talk to, someone to listen them.

There will be coffee with dessert and long chats in the lobby afterward I am sure; conversations about Thanksgivings long ago…….and they are always so happy when I am “on duty” because they like me (not because I am the staff member who is easy; well…..maybe that too 😉 ) but I am the staff-member that actually enjoys their company. I take a genuine interest in their well-being, and the short(er) time they now have left here on earth. I feel honored that I have been entrusted to help “say goodbye to” and “see this generation of Americans leave” our world.

I never would have dared dream a few years back that I could even consider this type of work, let alone think I was any good at it. Yes, I still have a few relatives that think I “am wasting my skills and potentials” with this kind of work. Few women (even if I was looking and wanting dates, a girlfriend, or a wife) can grasp the demands, the time, and all the extras that I WANT to do here in the facility, even when I am not “on duty” here.

There was a time not too long ago when I would think, and even cry out “Father, you don’t understand!!!!” and “What happened to ask and you shall receive??”

I get it now. God needs me here, in His army in this way, and is using me to do this work that few can do. He had other plans, and they have uniquely made me a better man. In Christ I can do all things.

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FROM PEACEFULWIFE:

Maybe you are not where you think you want to be today. Maybe Thanksgiving has you thinking more about what you don’t have than what you do have. Maybe you have been longing for a godly boyfriend, a husband, a family of your own…

Those are good things. I pray that they might come to you in God’s timing, by His power and for His glory according to His will.

But more than having a man in your life, my prayer is that you might find God’s purpose each day for you, that you might seek His face above all else and desire to obey and honor Him whatever comes. I pray that you might be able to find great fulfillment, contentment and satisfaction in doing what God has designed you to do, in being the woman He desires you to be and I pray that He might fill your heart with His supernatural peace and joy as you do it.

The world may not understand Jason’s life. The world may not see that much value in ministering to the elderly. Usually, the world only sees value in wealth, material things and worldly power. But to God, what Jason is doing is infinitely precious and beautiful. He is being faithful and obedient to God’s calling on his life right now. He is blessing and building up those God has entrusted to his care. He is “feeding Jesus’ sheep.” And it brings him great joy.

One day, each of us will stand before God – the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Judge of the universe, the sovereign and holy Lord Almighty. If Jesus is our Savior and Lord, the blood of Christ will cover every one of our sins, and God will see the righteousness of Jesus when He looks on us. Having and knowing Jesus is the only way to heaven. (John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.) But then He will hold us accountable for how we have served Him. He will judge our actions, our words, the motives of our hearts – and He will judge the quality of our work for His kingdom.

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

16Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^a ; 20and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^b 21So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas^c or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. I Corinthians 3

I can’t wait to see all that God has in store for each of you. It is my prayer that He might make you into a “pipe” through which His Spirit, power, love and the riches of heaven can flow, spraying everyone around you with His blessings. It is my prayer that God might empower you to be faithful and obedient to Him and that He might be able to say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant” to you when you stand before Him.

Take some time to get on your knees before God. Lay down everything you have and all that you could be before Him. Ask Him to be in charge of your life. Surrender yourself fully to Him. Be willing to do anything He asks you to do. Ask Him who He wants you to love and serve today. Hold nothing back but give yourself completely to Him as a living sacrifice each day. Die to your own self. Lay down your plans, your wisdom, your dreams, your desires, your priorities, your goals and pick up Jesus’ plans, His wisdom, His dreams for you, His desires, His priorities and His goals. Seek His will with all your heart. This is the path to His supernatural joy and peace.

Being close to God is the path to wisdom in life and wisdom about God’s will.

Maybe there are some children in a local orphanage you could volunteer to go visit and play with and write encouraging notes to. Maybe there are some senior citizens who are lonely, who have no family to visit them in a local nursing home and a visit from you would light up their world. Maybe there is a homeless shelter where you could volunteer to help serve meals to those in great need. Maybe there is a church ministry to youth who could use your love for Christ and your love for teenage girls where you could become a mentor or small group leader. Maybe there is a single mom who is struggling up the street from you who would love to have a godly friend to talk with and to pray with and to go with her to the park or the zoo with her children. Maybe there is a handicapped person who lives near you who needs help doing simple chores around the house and who could use a friend. Maybe God desires you to encourage people at your church, or online. Maybe He wants you to write a blog? What sparks your interest and what do you hear Him leading you to do?

Seek godly friends, and a godly mentor (or more than one). Develop strong ties with those who love Jesus.

My prayer is that you might seek God first, desire to love, obey and know Him above all else and that you might ask Him to show you the assignments He has for you to bless others.

RESOURCES

Check out David Platt’s Sermon “What is God’s Will for My Life?” on Youtube

“The Life Ready Woman” by Shaunti Feldhahn