From the Desk of Pastor Jan . . . Forever Grateful

A human heart beats 42,048,000 billion times in a year at the rate of 80 beats per minute. Our blood cells travel 12,000 miles around our body in a day (4 times the distance across the US from coast to coast). If we convert every heartbeat to dollars, a 65-year-old would be $2,730,120,000 rich, effortless. We had nothing to do to make our heart beats nor the blood circulation in our body, not even the capacity to breathe. We are born with a complex body system that even modern science is still learning how it works. <!–split–>

This complexity of life is but a gift from God. Our Creator, the Provider and Sustainer of Life makes all these things possible. Every breath we take is but a precious gift from God for which we should be grateful.

Scriptures from The Old and New Testament call us to be always grateful. In Deuteronomy 26:11 it says: “Be grateful for the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family.” In Philippians 4:9 we read: “Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.”  Our Lord Jesus in our Gospel reading in John, declared he is the Bread of Life. In John 6:35 he said: “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “Those who come to me will never be hungry; those who believe in me will never be thirsty.”

This is an invitation to the people to seek beyond the material need (the bread itself which Jesus had miraculously multiplied or the manna, which was given to their ancestors through Moses in the wilderness) to eternal satisfaction to which God can and will provide.

In times of our bounty and harvest, in times of conflict, in times of hunger, remember God is with us providing for all our needs. God is the source of our bounty, no matter how much effort we give or invest in it, the big factor in that harvest is God. God made it all possible.

At times of conflict or distraught, God still provides. His providential grace is always available 24/7. In all seasons of our lives, God provides.

In our celebration of All Saints Day and Thanksgiving, let us celebrate Our God. The God of Harvest, The God of Grace, The God of Miracles. Our God deserves all honor and glory, to whom we should be Forever Grateful.