In Week 2 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a walk with Mom.
We took a long, nice walk in the pasture.
Mom recounted where the family garden was, how much fun she and her brothers and sisters had in the loft of the barn, where she hopes to build one day.
We capped it off by visiting with my aunts and uncles who all shared their own stories. It was a stroll back to a beautiful time with the most beautiful soul I know.
The best things in life are free.
I’m grateful.
#52wog
Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
In Week 1 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for my new friend from the gym.
Me: "Hey, Nina!" (pronounced nigh-nuh) "Happy New Year!"
Nina: "Oh, hey. Guess what I've got? I finally brought you that fruit cake! I was thinking it would be too late in the day to see you, but here you are."
We walked to where she had it neatly sealed in a bag.
Me: "Wow. You brought this for me?!" I teased, "Am I going to get as drunk as I did last time?"
Nina: "You betcha!"
We laughed and hugged.
Nina makes the most delicious Rum Fruit Cake. They come carefully wrapped in soaked cheesecloth to keep it moist (and will put hair on your chest!).
Nina and I met at the gym by exchanging casual greetings. First smiles, then hellos, then conversations, then food, and now hugs.
I'm so thankful for the kindness that can be found all around us.
To not only be thought of, but to be planned for. It truly made my day.
I've been ministered to.
I'm grateful.
#52wog
Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
On week 46 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for @[100006034025062:2048:Charles Lala Evans].
It is the 90s on the campus of @[100064455593599:2048:Mississippi State University]. As we would board the transit bus headed to a class, the driver, Mr. Evans would occasionally stop students and ask, "Would you mind if I took your picture?"
Amazingly, it was never creepy. His smile and spirit were genuine and disarming.
His approach suggested you were worthy of remembering.
As a black kid away from home on a predominately white campus, he'll never know how much that meant.
And to think, it was simply an extension of a tradition born out a beautiful love that he shared with his wife. There's something eternal about that.
I'm grateful.
#52WoG
“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”
—Hebrews 13:7
In Week 6 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness I give thanks to God for a mentor’s model.
A few days ago we had tacos and pound cake. It was the favorite foods of Josh Liddell, the son of Pearson and Pepper Liddell who they lost tragically.
It’s a sort of communion shared among people from all over the world in loving memory of him.
I remember at his funeral, during the family’s procession, my mentor Pearson Liddell, thrust his hands toward heaven and with a shout that was as much a heart-wrenching grief-stricken cry, yelled, “Hallelujah! I praise Your name Lord!”
That broke something in me.
It broke, if just for a moment, my preoccupation with this world that is passing away and shifted it toward what is and will be forever: eternal life through Christ with God and each other.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
—John 17:20-21
It shifted my focus to such powerful Life that it subdues even death, reducing it to “just sleeping” so that when we die, we await our rising with all those who have fallen asleep to a New Day that never ends where we’ll never be afraid again.
“These things He said, and after that He said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.'”
—John 11:11
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:13
But, eternal life, as my mentor demonstrated, is not just something we look forward to for later. It’s something we have right now.
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
—1 John 5:12-13
Christ gives us inextinguishable Life now.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'”
—John 11:25-26
This Life could not be suppressed or snuffed out even by the unbelievable pressure of an ocean of grief. In the midst of all they were going through, eternal life erupted and burst through to praise.
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”
—2 Corinthians 4:8-10
My mentors showed me what this means.
They made eternal Life real to me.
I’m grateful.
#52WoG
In Week 4 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for plenty.
I have been able to eat what I want and as much as I want for as long as I can remember.
“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
—1 Tim 6:8
I have this and enough to share.
I’m grateful.
#52WoG
In Week 1 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for a Son’s Heart.
Someone was in need, having lost their home’s much used washer and dryer in the same day.
They were hours away, a new washer and dryer set would have to be picked up, the old ones would have to be removed and the new installed. It would be a challenging job for just one person.
As my wife and I were working through how to help, my son Chris volunteers, “Dad, I’ll go.”
He gives up an entire Saturday that are typically cherished and fiercely protected by college students to help someone else.
I can scarcely think of a moment where I was more proud.
My prayer and greatest hope is that I could ever make God feel the way my son made me feel that day.
I’m proud of you, Chris.
I love you.
I’m grateful.
#52WoG
I was overwhelmed.
I found strength in the presence of Christ’s people who were gathered in His name.
So, in Week 19 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for the victory that Christ provides.
I’ll repeat this nugget from Alan Hawkins again:
“Victory is in the Lord’s communion.”
When faced with challenges, sometimes all we need is to get in formation -we need to run to the Lord’s communion, that is, the fellowship with others in Christ, especially over a meal.
Sometimes, we don’t even have to share our problems or solve that of others.
There’s a transmission happening just being in the midst of Christ’s people who are being attentive to His Spirit.
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
—2 Corinthians 2:14
But the greater the intimacy, the greater the power.
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
— Matthew 18:20
So, there’s even more strength to be had if we do share our problems with those we discern love God, love us and have His Spirit.
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
— James 5:16
Are you a believer that’s struggling? Burdened? Overwhelmed?
“Victory is in the Lord’s communion.”
I’m grateful.
#52WoG
Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, April 28, 2023.
Here is Pastor Gregory Jones at two different ribbon cuttings with me along my entrepreneurial journey.
As I prepare to open a third location, he immediately comes to mind. It reminds me that Pastor Jones was so much more to me than someone I would just consult regarding spiritual matters, he was a part of every part of my life.
So, on week 17 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for so much more than a pastor. Pastor Gregory Jones was my friend and the kind of pastor and person I hope to be.
I miss you.
I'm grateful.
#52WoG
In Week 15 of 52 Weeks of gratefulness I give thanks for hanging out with our boys.
Mom’s out of town.
She’s the fun one, always coming up with fun things to do.
I’m not great at that.
I don’t think in terms of, “Oh, that would be fun to do.”
I think in terms of accomplishing things, “It would be cool if X existed, to accomplish Y or if the boys were exposed to Z”.
So, I plan “fun”.
I know. Horrible.
So, I Google “fun things to do with young adults” and break out a spreadsheets to sort possible activities by distance and time required.
True story.
As I discuss the possibilities with our boys: hiking, miniature golf, fishing with Granddad, etc., Chris said, “I don’t care what we do. As long as I’m with y’all.”
(How did pepper get in my eyes?!)
They then conclude together, almost simultaneously, “Let’s get on Minecraft! We haven’t played with you in forever, Dad.”
And, for three hours that’s what we do.
My eldest son, Chris, takes note of the spawning point as I figure out how to get logged in, remarking, “I’ll help Dad get to the camp” because we’re playing survival and he knows I’m horrible at the game.
We talk. Challenges we face in the game spur a host of conversations about all sorts of things like ambitions, experiences, ideas and attitudes about life.
We laugh as we each die in the most ridiculous ways, mostly me (e.g. “brainflurry dies attempting to swim in lava.”)
Afterward, my youngest son, Roman, says, “I made an awesome soup the other day, can I make you some Dad?” and then proceeds to cook for us.
I couldn’t have asked for a better day.
And, I didn’t plan any of it.
Awesome things happen around awesome people, when you let it.
My kids are awesome. My wife is awesome.
I’m grateful.
#52WoG
In Week 14 of 52 Weeks of gratefulness I give thanks for a day.
On this particular day I start my day at 6:30 AM at a bible study being held in the equipment bay of a local construction company. I’m there because I was invited by a brother that I had met at a men’s lunch held at New Horizons because I was invited by another brother who I met because… and it goes on and on.
Then, at 7:45 AM I join a men’s prayer group for our schools that I became a part of because a brother that I met at… I’m sure you’re detecting a pattern.
I could go on and on about the various functions I’ve participated in with these men. I’ve done bible studies with these men. I’ve preached with these men. I’ve volunteered, worked, sweated and bled beside these men. But, today hit me differently.
Earlier this morning, Good Friday, April 07, 2023, I participated in an event called the Stations of The Cross, jointly observed by Catholics, Protestants and people of every denominational stripes where we walked through town carrying a cross to symbolize the Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrow.
The weather was perfect for it, overcast, gloomy and raining.
It concluded powerfully with these closing words,
“Lord Jesus Christ, your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven and reconciles all people to you. May we who have faithfully reflected on these mysteries follow in your steps and so come to share your glory in heaven where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Then we sat quietly solemn, the cross in the backdrop, the silence only broken by the ongoing but irregular sound of heavy rain drops upon the earth and on our heads -like tears from heaven.
Then this afternoon, I attended the Seven Last Sayings of Jesus at Mt. Peiler Missionary Baptist Church. There were congregants from different churches all across our city, as pastors and ministers from these varying fellowships expounded on the last words our Savior uttered while on the cross.
Many of these preachers were brought together because of the events and initiatives that I mentioned earlier. We sang together. We worshipped together. And, because of these men, people from their different churches were brought together too.
My point is this: what started as simply coming together for a meal or for prayer for our schools has resulted in us increasing our presence in each others lives.
God is doing something.
And, we’re just getting started.
My heart burns.
So, I’m thankful for a day that made all that possible. That day was the cross.
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19–20.
I’m grateful. #52WoG
