“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.” Psalm 100:4-5
A couple of days ago was the anniversary of the day we said goodbye to John Hall and quietly walked away from his grave on a cloudy afternoon in TN. We have been trying to fill the big shoes that John left this past year and are thankful for the directions he left and the countless dedicated volunteers to carry on what the Holy Spirit moved John to begin in 1998. A few months ago Keith, Denise and I attended the Best Practices Heartland conference in Columbus, IN and answered questions about Trinity/HOPE from our table and also had one presentation on the opening day. This was the first time that all three of us got to work together and I am so impressed with their knowledge and work ethic. The photo I took of them on day 2 was during a low crowd time after lunch and I fielded questions on the right side of our table while Keith and Denise worked on a list of future Grants on the left side behind a photo. There were other vendors in the same room reading books, texting, talking on their phones and these two professionals were working diligently with the time they were given. Today, please join me in giving thanks for Keith Logan and Denise Gudlin and for all they accomplish for Trinity/HOPE. I am closing today with the words from the song ‘Give Thanks’ that were written by Kenneth Paul Barker, Andy Cloninger, Claire D. Coninger and Henry Smith and released in 1999.
“Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son. Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son. And now let the weak say, "I am strong" let the poor say, "I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us". And now let the weak say, "I am strong" let the poor say, "I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us" Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son. Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son. And now let the weak say, "I am strong" let the poor say, "I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us". And now let the weak say, "I am strong" let the poor say, "I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us"; give thanks. We give thanks to You.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay