A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

Thanksgiving is a wonderful tradition for us to remind ourselves of God’s blessings in our lives. Sometimes it is a difficult time when we are in the midst of life’s predicaments, or when we mourn for the loss of a loved one. Often our struggles make us blind to see God’s blessings in those circumstances. Therefore we need to intentionally count God’s blessings, starting with “I can see. I can hear. I can talk. I can move my lingers. I have food enough to fill my stomach. I have a warm place to sleep…”, in order for us to refocus on eternal God by using our minds.

When you are counting God’s blessings in your life, are you sure you can give thanks in all circumstances? Honestly speaking, we do not feel thankfulness in our hearts. We still worry about our situations, and are anxious and sometimes depressed.

The apostle Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for thris is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15–18 NRSV) He said almost an identical thing to the Philippians in his Ietter during his imprisonment in Rome, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice… Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:4 & 6 NRSV)

How could Paul write these letters? He had had a lot of awful and threatening experiences physically, mentally, and emotionally during his mission journeys. He could have been counting on his last day and death in Rome. I think Paul transcended his circumstances and his mind. In other words, his thanksgiving and joy did not depend on what happened in this world and his comprehension of it. He was much closer to the LORD in his heart and his soul. He had experienced the presence of God in his inner nature and in the third heaven. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he wrote that once he had been “caught up to paradise” without knowing if it was a vision or if it actually happened, “and heard things which could not be put into words, things that human lips could not speak.” (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).

The more I read the Bible, the more I feel that God’s love, mercy, grace and forgiveness are beyond our comprehension. They are a mystery. If I say I can understand them by my mind alone, I would be a liar. Because it means that I would be saying that in my tiny, tiny brain I completely understand God’s unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness beyond justice in this world, and grace with no merit.

Still, to read and study the Bible is very important. For our minds are like a booster rocket that brings us into a higher orbit where no word is necessary. There we are in deeper and closer relationship with God, by using our minds.

I hope we give thanks to God who blesses us not only during the Thanksgiving season, but all year; rejoice always with our Savior the LORD Jesus Christ, and pray without ceasing to be closer to God.

Amen.

With Faith, Hope, and Love in Christ,

Susumu