Happy Thanksgiving from Beijing!! I know this is a few days past the actual day…but every day is a day to be thankful, right?
I hope you were all reminded and remembered to be thankful for all of the blessings in your life, and especially for the great love, grace, mercy and sacrifice of our awesome Father and His Son! Actually, I hope you are reminded and remember that every day, as every day is a chance to live for Him!!
I was very blessed with my first Thanksgiving in China and the first one away from my family. Even though nothing can replace being with family, it is awesome how God brings us all together in HIS family!! We were blessed on Thursday to be invited to the home of one of our sweet sisters and have a Chinese Thanksgiving! She cooked an amazing feast and we felt so special to be invited!! The Chinese do not celebrate our Thanksgiving, but I received many text messages during the day from friends wishing me Happy Thanksgiving with messages of thanks-because they knew it was special to us. I treasure each one!!
Then, on Friday our mission team gathered for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I was in charge of the stuffing, green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes. I have never cooked stuffing before and was unsure if I could find everything needed or if I would turn out well! Also, they don’t have ovens in most of these apartments, so you have to cook everything in a toaster oven…which with the help of my good friends, the Cooper’s…was purchased on Wednesday 
I will have to say that everything turned out great, and we had more food than we knew what to do with!! We ate, watched the Macy’s day parade that I had previously recorded, played the Wii, and laughed at Chuck Norris jokes (I have no idea how that even came about!) I am thankful for our team who is serving the people here in China, and the great time we have when we are together. It makes it easier to be far from home!
I got this idea from someone else, but I loved it…so I think I can use it, too. Since we cannot all sit around a physical table together and since we are spread out all over the world…we can pull up a chair here…at the table I have set on my blog. I want to know what you are thankful for!! I’ll start. I am thankful for…
A mighty Father who loves me unconditionally and forgives my sins as far as the east is from the west…
Wonderful family & friends who stretch across the miles and oceans.
The opportunity to live, serve & build relationships with the awesome people of China…friendships that are blossoming, hearts that are open and seeds that are being planted.
Online venues which have allowed to “meet” and be blessed by amazing people which I probably have never known otherwise.
A mission team who has the heart for people, a passion for seeing Jesus’ name spread, & who I have the privilege to serve with.
Those who are financially supporting our efforts, those who are praying for our work, and those who encourage my soul with their uplifting words.
A roof over my head, food in my cabinets, clothes on my back, shoes on my feet & clean, accessible water. I know there are many around the world who don’t have these things which we often take for granted.
So, grab another helping of mashed potatoes and some pumpkin pie-and please tell us what you are thankful for!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. ~Phil. 4:6
Katherine
7 Comments
I am thankful for a loving God who continuously woos us back into relationship with Him when we get overwhelmed by the circumstances in our life. He never leaves us or forsakes us and loves us with an everlasting love.He is my daily bread.
I’m thankful for so much. The blessings that God has given are abundant. I’m thankful for His grace. Thankful for my patient, compassionate husband. I’m thankful that I have two feet even though only one works right now (had foot surgery a week before Thanksgiving). I’m thankful for the work that God is doing in my life.
I am thankful for the mission that has been given to us as disciples of Christ. With the mission comes protection, guidance, sustenance, and encouragement. It is good to be wanted, important, and loved. Thanks, Jesus, that I am entrusted with your message and mission.
Now that you guilted me into remembering I forgot to come back & comment!!!!
-I am thankful that 1 of us is employed.
-I am thankful God brought so many amazing people into my life this past year. Through the power of the internet! I even met a couple in person!! Hmmm. But, there’s no picture as proof…..Silly girls!
-I am thankful that people like you & my daughter have the hearts of mission work. No matter how hard the hearts are where you go. She would love to go back to Germany. It’s like there is unfinished business there.
-I am thankful I have been clean for another 365 days. One day at a time. 874 total today.
-I am thankful God made me downsize. (I think). I feel like I put too much in storage. In Texas. So I have to go back for it at some point…..
Hope you feel better soon. I’d bring you TP if I could. And some food.
I’m thankful for a God who is more merciful to me than I’ll ever know.
I’m thankful for a wife who is more forgiving to me than I’ll ever deserve.
I’m thankful for a friends who are more accepting of me that I could ever imagine.
Love the Thanksgiving post.
SO true, Charmaine-I am SO thankful for a mighty God who promises to never leave nor forsake me and who I know I can always count on!! So amazing and wonderful!
Thanks for sharing, Prudence and I hope you get the full use of your foot and it heals completely soon!
Amen, Fred-what an absolutely beautiful message!! I am so blessed and humbled to be commissioned with His incredible mission and message, and all that entails! What an incredible gift and task we have been given as His disciples.
Me, too Shellie!! I have been incredibly blessed by the new friends I have made through this medium, and hope I get to meet even more. We will get our picture next time!
I love what God is doing through you and pray He continues to use you.
Thanks you-I think I am on the uphill phase-I better be!
Thanks for sharing, Trey-those are such wonderful things to be thankful for! You are an amazing blessing and example!
I am thankful for each of you and what God is doing in and through your lives. You bless me!
-What a great blog post idea, Kat! There is so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for a wonderful God in Heaven who loves us as his own.
-I am thankful for my loving husband who works so hard for our family.
-I am thankful for my precious son who will be 6 months old in a few weeks.
-I am thankful for all my family and friends who are so caring and encouraging to us as we are living in Germany.
-Finally, I am thankful like you Kat, for clean water, clothes, and food. There are so many who go without so much. May God continue to bless your efforts in China.