Daily Walking, Working, and Winning by God's Word by Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr.

People who feasted on Thanksgiving now have to eat the proverbial leftovers. For some the leftovers are the best aspect of the Thanksgiving meal. For one your ceremony of eating has passed and now you can eliminate the fine china and pull out the paper plates. Instead of eating at the table you can put your plate on your lap in front of the television.

As Thanksgiving Day November 28, 2013 looms on the horizon, I'm reading for my morning reflection, I Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18 (KJV), "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

This text is meaningful because this summer during a study tour in Rome, Italy, I walked the final trail of Paul in Rome. He was shackled, beaten, beheaded, and hung upside down because of his love for Jesus Christ, his preaching of the Gospel, and the organizing of faith communities throughout the known world. He is writing as that fate looms in the near future for him.

How powerful a thought to give thanks for everything? Particularly when one realizes that life is not a bed of roses and rain falls upon the just and the unjust. Still, Paul suggests we are to give thanks for everything. When the very context of Thanksgiving brings memories of times when the world was unblemished and the circle of love was wide and your responsibilities were few, even as the pain of lost moves through your spirit, Paul still says, give thanks for everything.

I wondered how is it possible to give thanks for everything, when everything has not been good. Then Paul spoke to me once again in Romans 8: 28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Thanksgiving is the more meaningful now because I can give thanks in everything because all things work together for the good.Why? Because I love the Lord, Jesus Christ and the Genesis story reminds me in the creation of the world that God said everything is good.

Happy Thanksgiving! Let us rejoice in the Lord and to continue to give thanks in everything!

I'm relaxing today and had the thought this is pre Thanksgiving holiday. In anticipation of the feasting that will occur tomorrow, I'm beginning today giving thanks to God. It is divine to have a conscience reality of God and all that He does for you. I'm learning how to better express my love by engaging in greater service for Him. 

On a recent trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, I was introduced to a service by the Church of the Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ. They have the world's finest genealogical search engine and website. It is free and open to anyone. The website is Familysearch.org. Since I have been introduced to the site I have discovered wonderful things about my ancestors. I recommend everyone to visit and to create an account to begin compiling your family history. Knowing who you are, helps you to understand whose you are.

Joshua 2: 24 (KJV) "That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever."

We joined in celebrating the military veterans of Union Baptist Church. We began with a breakfast with The Honorable Clarence "Tiger" Davis. He used his speech as a opportunity to share a segment of the wonderful service of African American military professional in the many theaters in the world. In spite of discrimination and segregation they served with distinction gaining freedom for others they did not have for themselves.

Approximately 15% of Union Baptist Church congregation served in military service. They are active members and provide leadership within the church in many areas. Their discipline and commitment bring a high level of accomplishment to the tasks they undertake.

I preached today a sermon entitled, "A Soldier's Reward." The scripture reference was 2 Timothy 2: 1 - 10. Verse 3 reads "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. A soldier's reward is a crown of glory.

Today a rivalry between City and Poly will be played on the football field. The schools have played a game against each other for 125 years. it is one of the longest running rivalries among high school football teams. Its been many moons since I graduated from City. The excitement for the game has diminished. I applaud the athletes, students and alumni who continue this great tradition.  I applaud the schools for maintaining a level of academic excellence. I have long since passed the baton to the next generation - "City Forever!"

Today I served a family whose patriarch passed away last Monday. As I preached the eulogy it was taken from Psalm 8 entitled, "A Man's Man Who was God's Man."

Every religious faith tradition teaches the idea of love and to care for those who are weak.

It is heartless that our government choses to reduce the food stamp or voucher allocations of families during this recession. I spoke with families who received the shocking surprise of seeing their November allotment cut by $10 - $27. In one case the family had received $90 a month and it was reduced to $63 a month. That's almost a 30% reduction. How does the US Government expect a family to be able to adjust to such a immediate lost of support?

Within the faith community it is clearly time to address this issue head on. We need a system of cooperative food buying and distribution. We need a different model of grocery store within these communities. A non-profit and for-profit hybrid that distributes fresh fruits and vegetables for free with dry goods and can goods for sale at a marginal profit. We will need to expand our network of soup kitchens and food pantries. I'm seeing an increase in requests for support from the modest food pantry we have at Union Baptist Church. No way we will be able to respond in an holistic way without the collective energies of people of good well working together to fill this gap in service.

It is a heartless government that refuses to provide a safety net for its citizens during these times of high recession.

If you are able to feed your family during this time, consider yourself extremely blessed.

If you are on the margin and life is a struggle, seek a real relationship with a faith community not asking for a hand-out but joining in the faith with them to work through these times together. God is with you and you need to be with God.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)

This blog is dedicated to my very special sister-in-law, Gloria. She does special things on ordinary days that remind you every day is special and unique, and every relationship is to be treasured.

She urged me to continue my gift of sharing thoughts over my blog, which are read daily by many people.

Thank you Gloria for reminding me to return to my love of sharing daily meditations.

It is interesting that life can become so hectic as you bounce from situation to situation or react to each and every vibration that disturbs life's flow, that you sometimes fail, "to smell the roses."

I've been blessed in my life as you have in yours. God is an amazing God. He truly is awesome in all He does.

I think about the many places He has permitted me to see. I think about all the wonderful people I have met and relate to. I think about all the documents, books, manuscripts, poems, and biographies I have read. Think about all the music you have heard, isn't life full of wonder?

I received from Gloria a very simple gift - socks. Oh how special they are because she thought about me.

That's the greatest gift we can give to one another - thinking affirmatively about someone.

I will wear them with pride. I will walk with a new sense of determination to be the best I can be. I will always be mindful that each of us in our own way should encourage each other by doing the simple things that really matter like saying, "I love you, you are special to me!"

Psalm 40: 3 (ESV) "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."