Thank You, Lord!
A dear friend of mine who is a Licensed Professional Counselor has shared how he often has clients write down a “gratitude list.” Psychologically, there is something powerful, therapeutic, and reinforcing when we physically write down the things and people for which we are grateful. I cannot think of a better way to begin 2026 than to list a few of mine for 2025:
The array of cards, gifts, baked goods, and well-wishes that you gave to our staff over the holidays. We felt hugged!
The moving and uplifting Christmas Pops Concert and Cantata.
Watching our staff act out The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Tears and smiles at the communion rail on Christmas Eve.
Celebrating 40 years of marriage with my girlfriend.
Burning a mortgage note.
Watching our golden retriever crawl and play ever so carefully with a two-year-old.
Marveling at still pulling cherry tomatoes off our vines … in mid-December.
Watching a small child come RUNNING down for a children’s sermon.
Consecrating a “new front door” and Bird Nest.
Being awed by God’s amazing heavenly colors before sunrise while walking our golden retriever.
A burger with my son — just two guys hanging out.
Baptizing a baby and all of us embracing that child with love and covenant.
Looking at Christmas lights, including those on our church!
Some amazing college football games this season.
The smiles of reunion every Sunday around worship, coffee, and donuts.
Thank you, Lord, for these, your many blessings in my life!
I invite you to write down your own “gratitude list” before you get too far into 2026. See how the writing makes you feel facing forward. The challenges will always be there, but God’s grace and sufficiency outdistance them all. Thank you, Lord!
P.S. The totals are still being tallied, but we did finish 2025 with a deficit. More information will come next week as we prepare annual giving statements to mail out. Your church’s leaders will be meeting to strategize on how to faithfully move ahead with ministry in 2026. Thank you to all who made generous gifts in December to reduce our deficit. That, too, is a source of gratitude for me. Blessings!
Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,
Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor
