I really enjoyed our recent testimony Sabbath together in anticipation of this Thanksgiving holiday. Hearing our church family and visiting friends of all ages sharing what they are thankful for spoke to my soul. Something sparks inside of me and fuels my fire spiritually as a result. Later that afternoon we had Pastor Dale Ziegele’s memorial service. We heard wonderful testimonies of Pastor Dale's life. Person after person praising God for his positive influence in their lives. I came away feeling unbelievably blessed. My heart was and still is so full.

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Expressing joy in the Lord is a great energizer. Maybe it’s an energy source that the world far too often leaves untapped.

Pastor Dale demonstrated joy in the Lord undeniably well. For the past year he continued to stay thankful even in the midst of his incredible health challenges. Instead of focusing on what frustrated him, he continued to foster an attitude of gratitude for all the many blessings God had given him throughout his life and he even consistently found blessings from God in the midst of his declining health. Pastor Dale embodied Nehemiah 8:10 to his core. God made a positive impact in his life and as a result Pastor Dale had a positive impact on others.

I’ve heard it said:

“-JOY has 3 letters and so does SAD;

-LOVE has 4 letters and so does HATE;

-JESUS has 5 letters and so does SATAN."

There are two opposite paths we can choose in life. Choosing God leads us down an increasingly positive path. I want more and more positivity in this life. How about you?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Let's give thanks to God the great Giver of joy!

-Pastor Michael Brackett