November 12th, 2023

As we heard last week from Pastor Adam, gratitude begins with the acknowledgment that all we have and all we are is a gift of God’s grace. Grace “seeds” gratitude, which is expressed in a lifestyle of prayerful thanksgiving. Prayer moves us from acknowledging our blessings to offering them back to God. Prayer courageously asks, “Based on all you have given me, all you have done for me, how can I give back?”

In reading the stories of some of the biblical saints, one of the primary characteristics they share is prayerful willingness. Those great men and women used by God to bless the world are never portrayed in scripture as being perfect or morally pure, but they are prayerfully willing. This weekend, we’ll look at two of them—an old man and a teenage girl—Abram and Mary. One wealthy, one poor, both ready to say YES to God’s blessing so that they might be a blessing to others.

What’s more, we’ve ALL been blessed to be a blessing!