Note of Encouragement

Something To Be Thankful For!

At Thanksgiving, our nation takes time to give thanks. We all as individuals take time to reflect upon the blessings of God. This was originally a time meant to give thanks for harvest and other blessings. Abraham Lincoln made it a federal holiday in 1863. As I was reflecting on this I thought about where I once was without Christ and where I am today IN Christ. I often consider the blessings of family, friendships, and the things that we need in life - food, shelter, job, transportation, etc. It's easy to look past the most fundamental blessing we have of being saved. Today I want to highlight an elemental blessing of God. We all have a problem called sin and the only remedy is the blood of Christ. Ephesians Chapter Two may be one of the most eloquent writings of this amazing truth.

     As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:1-10

The first part of this is so horribly true and accurate of where I was without Christ. I love how it transitions though as Paul writes “BUT BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US…”
I am so thankful for His great love! Let us enter this Thanksgiving with hearts that are truly thankful for the transformational work that God has accomplished and is accomplishing in each of us. Let's press into these "good works" that He has prepared for each of us! May Christ the King bless you in abundance this Thanksgiving. I pray the love of Christ would overflow in you and through you! May the abundance of His grace and peace manifest powerfully in these coming days.
 
Sincerely,
Tom and Joy Bollig