As I sit at this keyboard, I am thinking of how blessed I am. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by the goodness and grace of God. I know myself well and yet God continues to love me and bless me in spite of me. It is truly amazing.

God has blessed me with a wonderful wife to stand by me, pray for me and be a great example of a woman of God. He has blessed me with beautiful children to keep me looking to God for guidance and wisdom as I pour Him into them. I am so thankful that my little family knows and loves the Lord. It is my greatest blessing to know we will spend eternity together around the throne of God.

I have lived a life of blessings that began before I was even born. God in His sovereign grace allowed me to be born into a family that loved and served Him. This is a blessing I appreciate more each day as I observe children and young people that do not have this blessing. I believe we are who we are because of the investment others make in us. I usually follow that statement by saying, "so, if there are things about me you don't like, blame them," but the truth is I am eternally grateful for the investment in my life by my parents, grandparents, great grandmothers and other family.

I also must give thanks to God for my extended family, His Church. My earliest memories are of being in church being taught the things of God. I had teachers in Sunday School, Training Union, Mission Friends, RA's and Youth Group that impacted my life in ways I can never repay. I have pastors and evangelists that have poured their lives into me and have been very patient with me along the way. I often recall just some small phrase or a full message one of these precious servants of God has taught me and I stop to give thanks. I also often stop to wonder where I would be today if they had not taken the time to invest in my life.

Today, I turn my attention to my extended family called Pleasant View. I want you to know that I love you and thank my God for every one of you. You mean more to me than words can express. It is my daily prayer that I can do for you what so many have done for me. I want to pour my life into you and learn from you as you pour your lives into me. I want you to be closer to God because we have invested in each other.

As I reflect over our years together, I know I have made many mistakes along the way. I know that I have not always been all that I should have as Pastor to such a wonderful group of people. But what comes to my mind the most is the reflection of Christ you have been to me as you have displayed such grace to me. I will say again, I love all of you and you mean more to me that I can put into words. It is my desire that you know and experience that love every time we are together.

A few weeks ago, I was in an Executive Board Meeting for the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. During that meeting a young lady came to sing during our time of worship. While I do not know the name of the song, nor do I remember all the words, one phrase rings in my ears each day. The phrase was "when they look at me, do they see Jesus?" That line is my daily desire. When believers and unbelievers ob­serve me, will they see the face of Jesus?

November is marked by a day of Thanksgiving. The truth is every day in a Christian's life should be marked by thanksgiving. I thank God for every blessing in my life and I want to challenge us to take time to give thanks each day. I also want us to be challenged to ask ourselves the question, "When they look at me, do they see Jesus?" May God grant you His peace and grace today and every day He gives to you.