Thank You

1 Thessalonians 2:17-19

As I was reading this passage in 1 Thessalonians, many memories filled my mind with past relationships, many dear friends are no longer in this world, and many have just moved, some to new areas and our move to the Texas Hill country have also caused separation.  We often look back on these separations and refer to it as life, it just happens, people we love die, get new jobs in another area of the world, change churches or move to the Texas hills.  But their investment in your life has had an influence on you, and if that investment was of a Spiritual nature it has an eternal influence.

I have said more than once this truth; I’m uncomplicated, not a deep thinker, and many mornings before writing, I remind God that He is the Creator and I am needy, that I am simple in the ways of God and His kingdom.  Now, I must say that does not come as a shock to God, but because of the kind of flesh I have, it is a good confession.  Saying that, this morning Ray Boltz song came into my mind and it is titled, “Thank you for giving to the Lord.” 

Ray’s song moves something very deep within my spirit, it brings back a time when a group of young men most in their late twenties met with me to see what the Lord would show us from a book called “Wild at Heart”.  We began with about 22 men and the numbers soon dropped to about ten faithful seekers of truth.  The time we spend was so special, I looked forward to those Saturday mornings, and those ten men stated, we became a “band of brothers,” our lives were intertwined.  Those men may not understand until they stand before the Lord, what their investment in that group meant to not only my life, but to so many others who have been blessed from what God taught us on those Saturday mornings.

The song goes like this, “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed and I am so glad you came.”  Ray goes on in the song to share these thoughts; this person dreams he went to heaven and someone called his name.  The young person said, you may not recall who I am, but I was part of the Sunday school class at the age of eight, and one day as you prayed, I ask Jesus in my heart.  And then back to, “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed and I am so glad you came.” 

Many of us often feel unnoticed on this earth, but Jesus will take the gift you gave and   change someone, and someday they may say thank you for giving to the Lord, it was the gift you gave, that gift is why I’m in heaven today.  1 Thessalonians 2:19, “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?  Is it not you?  For you are our glory and joy.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice my blog; http://fromourbackporch.blogspot.com/