Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, as many of you already know by now...our family has a new addition. His name is Jaxson Topher Croyts and he is one week old today! (Hopefully I will post a few pictures very soon!)

As I prepare for our Thanksgiving Communion service tonight and Thanksgiving with my family tomorrow, I am reminded once again of just how much I have to be thankful for!!

Obviously, first of all for the Lord Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation that is made possible through His perfect life and sacrificial death. But, today I am thinking specifically of my family, friends, and congregation. But, not as something separate from God's work of grace in my life. It is so important for us all to remember that the gift of relationships is not so much about our "happiness" as it is about our "holiness". My marriage relationship, my relationship with my children, and every other relationship is first and foremost about God's sanctifying work in me and in them. Our relationships are what God uses the most to "try us", "break us", "mold us" and "conform us into the image of His Son". It is these relationships that put flesh on so much of what God's Word commands us to do. We are commanded to "love one another", to "forbear one another", to "forgive one another", to "encourage one another", to "stir one another up to do good works"...and these commands are only challenging when we actually live with one another and rub shoulders day in and day out. I am so thankful for the family and relationships that He has given me. They are for my good and for His glory. He uses them to chip away at my sinful, selfish nature. And nothing is capable of chipping away at our selfishness like parenting!

As I close this very simple but thankful post - I just want to mention how thankful I am for my wife who daily models this to our children and to myself. I know that if she was writing this, she would say that daily she battles thoughts and feelings of "selfishness"...which, to me, is what makes her behavior all that much more inspiring. It is not as if she doesnt have the same selfish, sinful thoughts and desires as I (or any of us) do sometimes...but to see her daily and even hourly put aside those feelings and thoughts to serve God and put Him first...often by serving her family...has a sanctifying effect in my life!

Obviously, as you read this...thoughts of family members, spouses, parents and even children come to our minds. The way God has used them to change us! Let's be sure and give thanks to God for His purpose in giving us the relationships that He has...and let's be sure and let them know at this Thanksgiving time, just how thankful we truly are for them!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Jerry