“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
~ I Thessalonians 5:18
To not do the will of God, most would define as sin. Therefore, ingratitude is a sin. Perhaps it is a sin most easily remedied. It shouldn’t take hours of counseling or deliverance to spring one out of ingratitude. It simply takes a proposed confession of saying, “Thank-you”. I am one of those who believes there is a connection between gratitude and miracles. I am convinced that when I can be genuinely grateful for the blessings and circumstances (yes, even the tough ones) of my life, I provide an atmosphere for faith to be released and God to work supernaturally.
Now a quick point of clarification. Paul never tells us that the will of God is to be thankful FOR everything; but rather IN everything. No matter where I am or what I am facing, I can find something to be thankful for. I may recognize the moment I am in as less than optimum and perhaps calamitous. One that may have nothing intrinsically evident as worthwhile or beneficial. However, even IN the midst of those moments, I can find something to be grateful. For me, gratitude is one of the marks, much like love, that identifies a Christian. I find myself often saying, “You may call me many things, but let it never be said I am ungrateful”.
It is in that spirit, that I wanted to post my yearly gratitude list. I know it could be far more personal and believe me, I do things which demonstrate that personally through this week. But I offer it as a template for those who may need to “UP” their gratitude game.
- The Lord God Almighty
This would include Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I am grateful that 48 years ago the Lord chased me down as an 18-year old young man and radically saved him. It wasn’t just a “phase” I was going through, but an undeniable, indisputable, life-altering encountering with Jesus Christ. The Lord has transformed and redefined whatever direction I was headed and created an amazing life. There isn’t enough space to say, “Thank-you, Lord.”
- Tracie Baird
TMB has been on the journey with me officially for 44 years (more if you count dating time). We met in a church holding revival services together and the story really hasn’t changed. I cannot imagine another woman who could have done this life with me. The willingness to walk by faith, war with the Adversary, and be the ministry “helper” was nothing less than the favor of God. I am a better person and minister because of her.
- Family
This would include parents, who had the responsibility of raising and resourcing me for so many years, as well as 6 kids (including a son-in-law and 2 daughter-in-laws), 4 grandsons, and a host of “spiritual” sons and daughters across the nation. By way of immediate family, I am blessed and grateful that ALL of my kids are in the ministry and serving their local churches as Lead Pastors, Associate Pastor, Executive Project Director, Regional College Director, Accountant, and Executive Assistants. I watch my grandsons praise and worship their Lord with zeal. I could have never imagined.
- Local Church
I love my local church. My son is my pastor and while I stipulate my bias, I think he is one of the best communicators in the country. His wife is an equally talented leader. Tracie and I get to participate in what God is doing in this work. I even get to be a part of the teaching team of Legacy. The Lord alone brought this one to pass and I am grateful to see some dusty promises come to pass in these days.
- Pastors across USA
I know some of the best pastors and wives imaginable all across this country. You are friends, colleagues, and confidants. Candidly, you are a treasure in our life. I thank God for all of you and your consistent faithfulness and zeal for the Lord. To single a few out of so many would be impossible. You know who you are and Tracie and I love you, thank-God for you, and pray for you consistently in the assignment He has given to you. I am grateful to know that there are many who have not bowed their knee to Baal.
- LCM Supporters
Thank-you so much! You are the resource fuel which keeps this ministry organization moving forward. Whether you have sowed into this work once or monthly, your offerings have at times been providential and made a difference in what we are able to do. I am continually amazed at the generosity and the economy of the Kingdom as it manifests through God’s people. We are grateful.
- Pastors & Churches through the years.
Our household, testimony, and ministry were not built with our own hands alone, but by the support, wisdom, and prayers of pastors and churches God used over the past 48 years. Some of these men and women have past on to their eternal rewards. Others were in a previous chapter of our journey. All of them played such significant parts in our story. I am grateful for all I have learned, gleaned, and experienced by being associated with so many wonderful people and works. Each one of you adding something significant which made us better people and ministers.
- Nation
All of us pulled the winning lottery ticket being born in America. I am not blind to America’s shortcomings, problems, and sins. I have worked to biblically address all of those concerns. That said, I am grateful I live in this country and honestly, in the state of Florida at this time period. I do not take the blessing of the Lord for granted in this regard. I can think of 100 different countries in which my life would probably look quite different than it does now. While I am a Christian first, I am grateful to be called an American.
- Enemies and Adversaries
A strange category of gratitude you say? Not really. Without enemies and adversaries, how else might we have grown and learned what we needed to? God may not have “caused” the actual adversity, but He has used it to forge and sanctify things in my life. Without my enemies, I might never had known spiritual warfare, travail, and intercession. Without my adversaries, I might have never been humbled, learned forgiveness, or walked the way of the Cross. I may not appreciate adversity in the midst of it, but the fruit of such moments is priceless.
My list is actually longer than this published one. I put this out there so you might be nudged to create your own list. Thanksgiving Day, in spite of whatever it has become, was originally designed for each of us to pause and return to God our gratitude. It isn’t the warm-up holiday for Christmas (which is getting hijacked as well). It was meant for us to position our hearts so we might rejoice all the more at the news of a Messiah.
Give thanks, with a grateful heart…
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