Count those blessings—It’s good for you!

I enjoy doing the spiritual exercise of counting my blessings. It honors God and it builds my faith to remember the good things he has done. So let’s reflect on some of the many blessings God has showered on His people here in the Family at First.
· Bina Morgan, Kenny Miller and many others who have been steadfast in their service to the Lord for many years. What an example they set for others! Like them so many of you who have been relentlessly serving your Savior. Like Paul in his letter to the Philippians (Phil. 1:3) “3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,” We can easily point new Christians and new members toward your example.
· I’m also thankful for the new souls God is bringing our way. Do you realize that the 2009 Family Fall Festival was organized & mostly carried out by people who have been part of the Family at First for less than three years? Amen for the rookies! So far in 2009 we’ve baptized 24 people and have at least six more waiting their turn. The six souls represent 3 young couples, some with children and some without, but all with a need to have lives centered on Jesus Christ. The “new activity” that we’re seeing in the Family at First demonstrates a couple of important things: a) God is at work among us (we’ve joined Him in His work), and b) Folks at First don’t have to wait in a long line to start doing something substantial with their faith.
· The blessing of family coming together to enjoy each other and strengthen each other. Isn’t that a great priority of the holiday season???? We reorganize and prioritize for the regular family gathering। We clean up, prepare the most delicious stuff and then anxiously await their arrival. I hope that all of you will (allow Jesus to) clean up (your lives), prepare your sweetest service (to the Savior) , and anticipate meeting with Jesus in your homes and as you gather together with your Spiritual Family here at First.
I’m praying that the most exciting thing you experience this holiday season will be a praise offering for the wonderful things God has done in years past, and the new things the Lord wants to do both in your private walk with Him and in your service through your Church family. Psalm 104:1-4 “1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. 3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind; 4 He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers। ” Until He comes, Pastor Marty