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Martin Rinkart was a pastor in the little city of Eisenberg in Saxony, Germany during
the first half of the 17th century. During that time this walled city was the goal of countless refugees as they suffered from famine, pestilence and the ravages of the
30 Year Wars. As a result starvation and the plague wreaked havoc on the little town
until practically the whole population of the city died.
Rinkart, the only pastor left in the city, had as many as 50 funerals in one day!
One evening after having conducted funerals all day, he sank down exhausted,
thinking that he could bear it no longer; but it was then he wrote the words of
the famous hymn:
Now thank we all our God
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His world rejoices;
Who, from our mothers' arms,
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
Pastor Rinkart demonstrated a timeless spiritual lesson: It's the will of God that
we be thankful! (If you need further reminders of this biblical imperative, you may
want to examine Ephesians 5.20, 1 Thessalonians 5.18 or Philippians 4.6.)
Isn't paradoxical that in times of plenty and ease we tend to become indifferent, perhaps even complacent? Gifts, people and blessings are often overlooked and unappreciated and we may even view the pleasures of life with an attitude of entitlement. That outlook caused author and speaker Dr. Warren Wiersbe to observe:
"I have felt for a long time that one of the particular temptations of the maturing Christian is the danger of getting accustomed to His blessings. Like the world traveler who has been everywhere and seen everything, the maturing Christian is in danger of taking his blessings for granted and getting so accustomed to them that they fail to excite him as they once did."
It's obvious then, Thanksgiving really isn't a holiday, but an attitude! As a mark of a healthy believer, thanksgiving doesn't have to wait for prosperity or peace, but it is something we can do whether we feel like it or not. Keep in mind, God's word commands us to be thankful, not feel thankful.
And that's why I wanted to write. I wanted to take this opportunity to express my thanks to you for your prayerful support of this ministry. It has been a source of tremendous encouragement in the past and provides motivation for our faithful excellence in the coming days. Your participation has directly allowed us to minister to many who would never have been able to afford training
or materials if it wasn't for you. Through your prayers and financial giving you are very much a part of this
ministry outreach. As a non-profit organization, your gifts are fully tax-deductible, but more importantly we consider your investment in this ministry a sacred trust. As stewards of your funds, ultimately responsible to
God, we will use your contribution with honesty and integrity. Thank you for your willingness to partner with us!
In closing, as you and your family approach this Thanksgiving season, remember the advantage that Christians have because we know Who to thank. We understand that even in hard times when blessings may seem scarce, we are still abundantly graced with the abiding presence of God. Remember four things: remember, the love of
God that desires the best for you; remember the wisdom of God -- that He alone knows what is best for you; remember the power of God -- that He alone can bring to pass that which is best; and remember the provision of God - that only He supplies all our needs.
In response, we can't help but sing; "To God be the Glory Great Thing He Hath Done!"
Blessings,
Dr. Greg Morris
