I thought it would be fitting to kick this month off with a moment of thankfulness. The picture you see above was taken last night at our weekly Akron Navs dinner. Now let me tell you a story.
In January of 2012, I unofficially committed to help a team of people from Oxford, Ohio start a new Navigator ministry in Akron, OH. I didn't know any of them. I didn't know the campus. I didn't know if we would have any students at all. There were too many uncertainties to count, but I also knew that God was undeniably leading me to the University of Akron. By May I was officially committed and in August we kicked off our first year on campus.
Not too long after that we initiated weekly dinners as a way to create a family environment within our ministry. Also, since we were so small we didn't have a large group meeting (still don't) and dinners gave the students a neutral event to bring friends to. Our very first dinners had two students. By second semester we had grown to between 5 and 7 students attending. Last night 11 students came. (And there were some who couldn't make it who are usually there). We have grown to the point that we are sitting on random stools and sharing chairs around the Graham's two dining room tables. Last week there were no leftovers. This week I had to make desert in two 13x9 dishes. It's awesome! And to think that all this has happened primarily through word-of mouth.
Praise the Lord for his faithfulness! Our theme verse for Akron Navs this year is Ephesians 3:20-21. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." We are praying this over the ministry, over our lives, over our students...and we are watching God provide in truly immeasurable ways.
I have been challenging myself to pray for big things. I want to always view God as an "immeasurably more" God...not to see what I can get, but because that is just how powerful he is. Because if I really trust him, then why am I afraid to ask for the big stuff? I love that God cares about every little thing and every big thing in our lives. We are of the utmost worth to him...he loves us so much and he wants us to ask him for things in faith. (Matthew 10:29-31, Matthew 21:22)
Today I am thankful for a growing ministry, a bible study filled with young women who desire to know Jesus and make him known, a beautiful home that far exceeds what I deserve or could afford on my own, the return of the gingerbread latte, living in a place where I can openly talk about my faith, the money to buy new tires when I need them, wonderful roommates who want to take screen-printing classes with me and surprise me with treats (food may be the way to my heart...) and are seeking the Lord with their whole lives, and the fact that I live 5 minutes from one of the best thrift stores in the country.
And as much as I don't want to forget that God is an immeasurably more God, I also don't want to forget that my response to his provision is praise. "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." (Psalm 100) I serve a good, good God who would be worthy of praise for the sole fact that he redeemed me...but he keeps on blessing me and providing for me in ways I would never think of on my own. This deal is just too sweet.
Since it is the month of Thanksgiving, let's challenge ourselves to focus on our thankfulness rather than our frustration, pain, confusion, anger....whatever it is that is keeping us from living in joy and freedom. We serve a good God who has good things in store! (Romans 8:28) I have found that when I thank God for even the hard stuff in my life, it softens my heart and wipes the bitterness away. When we trust that God is always working for good, we can be thankful for our trials knowing that they are producing good fruit and growth in us! This is not to say that pain isn't real, but it has been valuable for me to learn how to thank God through it.
