Bishop Ward encourages us to look at God’s beautiful creation with joy and thanksgiving and be mindful of places where we can offer generosity and healing.
Give thanks with a joyful heart. Indeed this is a season of thanksgiving.
As I drove through our children’s neighborhood in Atlanta, our 3-year-old grandson was on the backseat. We were admiring the beautiful color of the trees – red, yellow, gold, even purplish -and then he said, “I’m a good look-atter.”
I pray that I will be a good look-atter as well. I want to be able to look out upon this world that God has made and give thanks for what I see. I want to be able to look out upon this world and see the places where generosity is needed, where healing awaits. I want to look out upon our connection of United Methodist people and see the good things that are emerging.
The youth at Pilgrimage offered $38,000 toward hurricane recovery that is being matched by our Annual Conference. They’re well on their way to raising $500,000 for disaster response. Already, charge conference offerings for impacted teachers and students has reached $50,000. On and on we go, seeing, marking and giving thanks for the signs of God’s goodness among us.
As Thanksgiving comes this week, may your heart be full of joy and may you look at all the blessings that God is pouring into your life. May you look at this world in need of the ministry that you and your congregation offer.
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.