The timeliness of this holiday season can not be overstated. I am not one who gives thanks in all circumstances. Neither am I one who readily remembers the blessings of God in my life. Thanksgiving Day brought me a renewed heart of thanksgiving from which I could offer a new song of praise to my Father who provides all things.This week, I returned to Valparaiso with my teammate and friend David, Chinese freshmen Amy and Tracy, and my Taiwanese friend Henry. I am grateful for the Berube family for hosting my friends and me. Indeed, it is nothing less than an answered prayer that the internationals could be received by a Christian family, and that I would remember what that resembles.
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
That for which I am especially thankful (an exhaustive list is not plausible):
* My salvation in Christ, from which I have gained identity as a child of God
* My parents, who have entrusted me back to God and continue to be an example of diligence and godliness
* My sisters, who love generously and strive to impact the world
* My adopted families, who have opened their homes to me in the physical absence of my family
* My friends, who run this race of life alongside me and encourage me to be a better man
* My ministry, which was entrusted to me and continues to yield fruit
* My ministry partners, who spur me on through prayer and obedient support
By His Grace,
Jon Chen
