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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1988-10-12, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1988. From the Minister's Study "Thanks for nothing, God n BY JAMES H. C ARNE, PASTOR THE MISSIONARY CHURCH, AUBURN ‘‘Thanks for nothing” seems to be the mood of many during this Thanksgiving season. I suspect that there are those who would just as well cancel Thanksgiving this year. The rea son is that there is not nearly as much for whith to be thankful as in other years. In a newspaper article last week an area farmer says that the diminished harvest, because of the drought, has resulted in the lowest morale, ever, among farm families. A severely reduced in come has faced more farmers with the prospect of living below the poverty line and, in other cases, with the probability of losing the family farm. And it isn’t only farmers who have little cause for celebration. A striking worker walking the picket line states in a television interview that it will be a bleakChristmasfor him and his associates, tosay nothing of having little reason for celebrating Thanksgiving this year. It’s true that, if our case for thanksgiving rests upon whether or not one can ‘ ‘count his bless ings,” there may indeed be reason to say rather sarcastically, ‘‘Thanks for nothing.” The Bible, however, seems to suggesta different criterion for thanksgiving. The apostle Paul exhorts that one should ‘‘give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thes. 5:18), and the Psalmist says, ‘‘I will praise the Lord no matter what happens” (Psalm 34:1 L.B.) Now, these men are either “grin- and-bear-it” Stoics or they are on to something that we need to understand. Their attitude implies thatonecanbe ‘‘blessed” even when there are no “blessings”. I saw this illustrated in a note that I received the other day from friends whose youngest child, a girl of 18, died very suddenly three weeks ago. They have suffered a trauma that is far worse than that experiencedby falling prices or even the loss of the family farm, yet they report, “We can still say with all our hearts, ‘Godissogood, He’s sogood to us.’ His ways are always best.” That’s blessedness without blessings! This blessedness is predicated upon the assurance of God’s presence. In Psalm 34 David says, “I sought rhe Lord and He answered me.” When things are going wrong and everything seems to be out of control, what a blessedness it is to be sure of the reality of God in your life and that “in all things God works for the good of those wholove Him...’’ (Rom.8:28). Then one can take the bad with the good and still give thanks! A second factor in ‘blessedness without blessings” is the experi ence of God’s peace. David says furtherin Psalm 34, “He delivered me from all my fears.” Now, if one can be free from all his stress and anxiety though stressful and anxious conditions persist, he is blessed indeed. One can contend with lower prices and reduced harvest if, at the same time, he experiences the peace of God. The apostle Paul calls it a peace * ‘which passes understanding,” -a peace which prevails when the circum stances don’t warrant peace. Then, God promises also His provisions. In the same Psalm this assurance is found: ‘‘Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. ” This is the same God Who made special provisions for the prophet Elijah du ring a time of drought and rained down mannaand meat upon His people in the desert. IfoneissureofGodand of His presence, peace and provision, he can say withouta trace of cynicism, “Thanks - for nothing!” HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH Sunday School 11:00 a.m. TheChurchof the ‘ Back to God Hour” and ‘ Faith 20” Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CK NX, Sunday Faith20 5:00a.m. weekdays, GlobalT.V. ALL VISITORS WELCOME A Blyth Christian Reformed Church Wl takes tour The ladies of the Blyth Women' s Institute on Thursday, October 6 with the leadership of Irene Schultz, Agriculture and Canadian Industries Committee, had a tour of the Doll Museum at Wroxeter, admiring the color of the fall leaves on their way. Then the group went to the Golden Pheasant Restaurant at Wingham for supper. After supper they toured Royal Homes, the plant where the building is done, aiw^ three model homes. Refresh ments ». '-e then served, courtesy ot Royal hu^s It was a very interesting aad informative tour. 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