I spent last week in the country of Haiti with some of my favorite people on planet earth—my son Nathan, many of the staff pastors, Pastor Rene Joseph and his family, and a very special group known only as, the Mighty Men.
Leading up to Thanksgiving it was difficult to see much to be thankful “for” in this earthquake and poverty torn nation. Despite all this, there were defiantly some bright spots and it was these that helped our entire team once again learn the difference between being thankful “TO” and thankful “FOR.” And believe you me, there is a HUGE difference.
People who are Thankful “For” mention things like…
• I’m thankful for my iphone
• I’m thankful for my talent
• I’m thankful for my stuff
• I’m thankful for a life that is so comfortable
• I’m thankful for my health
Nothing “bad” on that list really, but see if you can see a difference between it and the following list.
People who are Thankful “To” mention things like…
• I’m thankful to God for my salvation!
• I’m thankful to Jesus for giving His life for me!
• I’m thankful to the volunteers and servant-hearted people of Southbrook Church who helped serve and cloth so many in Monroe through our “Closet” ministry.
• I’m thankful to a church that cares about their lost friends, co-workers, neighbors and even strangers enough to bring them to church to hear the good news!
• I’m thankful to God because His love is unconditional!
Are you thankful “To” or merely thankful “For?”
This year I am thankful to God for filling the hearts of His people at Southbrook for a hurting and struggling nation buried in the heart of the Caribbean—thankful enough to go repeatedly and give generously over and over again! Let’s keep making a difference in Haiti throughout 2012!
And I’d like to single out one particular group that some of you know little about—the Mighty Men.
• I’m thankful to them for willingly being the Beta Group that will hopefully set the tome for years to come!
• I’m thankful to them for giving up Monday nights throughout the year in order to take their spiritual walk to the next level.
• I’m thankful to them for allowing God to stretch them throughout the year for things like counseling, prayer up front, ministering to families, teaching, leading Lifegroups, mission trips, and so much more!
• I’m thankful to them for committing to stay the course and grow on into the new year!
• I’m thankful to the ones who have already begun “Mini Mighty Men” groups of their own!
• I’m thankful for their servanthood, prayer covering, counseling, teaching and protection over my son during a very intense mission trip to Haiti in which spiritual challenges were around every corner!
• I’m thankful to the ones who kept important commitments at home and in the church yet were unable to go to Haiti this year—you’re still Mighty Men, ya know!
Thank You, Jesus for the Mighty Men!
