The Shepherd's Pen
The calendar has turned its pages to the month of November, the eleventh month of the year. Where have the last ten months of this year gone and now we are starting to close in on the end of the year.
Traditionally ,as November comes in, we almost automoatically begin thinking about Thanksgiving and family get togethers. We begin pondering in our minds the blessings we have had during the year and give thanks to God. We think of all the family coming together around Thanksgiving Day and sharing food, memories, and fun together. A few ma even begin thinking about the big shopping day on the day after Thanksgiving.
What if this year instead of thinking about Thanksgiving we put some action into words. I remember while in college one year while I was working (mopping the church fellowship hall as I was the custodian) listening to Dr. James Dobson talking about giving thanks and challenging people to write a note of thanks to their family members such mom and dad, brothers, sisters, etc. I decided that I would follow his advice and did that for my family. I wrote each a note of Thanksgiving and placed it on their pillow. What a joy it was for me to do so for my mom and dad, brother, and sister. As soon as one found out that I had wrote one of the others a note, they wanted to know where their note was. They were excited and appreciative of being thought of and given thanks for.
To the best of my memory, they were not long notes but notes to encourage and share my love with my family. This was one of my best Thanksgiving as I shared my thanks for them.
I encourage you and challenge to do something similar. Send a note of thanks to your familiy members. Send a note of thanks to a special friend. Send a note of thanks to that Sunday School teacher or Church Leader that has encouraged you and inspired you.
So many times when we do such things we think how we are impacting the other person. The reality is that as we do these things they impact is ways could never have imagined.
I look forward to seeing you at church.
Blessings,
Pastor Robert
Mini-Biographical Sketch
This is a picture of our family from August 2008. Angela is a housewife and our daughter Katie is a student at Vance-Granville Community College. Angela and I will celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary on September 17, 2008.
Angela and I were born and raised in Rock Hill, SC. Go Gamecocks! Katie was born in Albemarle, NC. Go Heels! I am a graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC with a B.S. in Music and a minor in Business Administration. I received my Master of Divinity Degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC in December 1998.
It is my privilege and honor to be the pastor of Glen Royal since April of 2006. The Lord continues to bless us here at Glen Royal as we follow Him and do His will.
Favorite Quotes: "They don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care" (from a Teacher's Quote Book) and "With Great Power comes Great Responsibility" (Spider-Man Movie).