What are you thankful for regarding the topic of people? We hope you have been filling out the 21 days of thanksgiving chart. If you have an entry regarding the topic of people, please share it with us by adding a comment to this post.
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Nov 11, 2009
Salvation: What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of salvation? We hope you have been... -
Nov 10, 2009
People: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of people? We hope you have been... -
Nov 09, 2009
Church: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of church? We hope you have been... -
Nov 07, 2009
Nature: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of nature? We hope you have been... -
Nov 06, 2009
Material/Physical Blessings: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of material/physical blessings? We hope you have... -
Other: What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topics other than the ones listed?? We hope...
I’m thankful for Joanna and Azusa, my leaders in sophomore year who reached out to me. I’m thankful for their love, care, and patience with me, as well as how they encouraged, challenged, and comforted me.
I’m thankful for my parents, who raised me and first took me to church even when I was too young to understand. Because of my early exposure to Christianity, I was able to go back to God when life got harder in college, and it wasn’t such a struggle for me to believe in the existence of God, more than trusting that He is a good God that has His best in mind for me.
I am thankful for all the directors. Some of us have been together for over 20 years. Because they let me lead them, they’ve made me take myself that much more seriously. They’ve inspired me to love God with greater zeal.
I am so thankful for James Kim, our praise leader. He leads our Jr. High ministry, preaching at the Jr. High service most Sundays, and then he leads praise on top of it. Sometimes he’ll lead praise 3 or 4 times a week, while doing everything else he does, and all w. a cheerful heart, never complaining. We change things on him all the time, too, calling for last minute special music, or changing the set, and he is consistently gracious and flexible about it. I thank God for giving James such musical gifts, and for shaping him into a mature person who so beautifully offers it back to God as he serves in this capacity.
I’m thankful for my friends, some of whom I’ve known since my freshman year, many moons ago! We’ve been through many highs and lows together, and we have seen each other grow in many ways. I am thankful for the blessing of friends who know me very well, can hear me out, pray for me, and speak the truth to me.
I am thankful for my leaders, peers and fellow directors with whom I can run this race together for past 20 years. They inspire me, push me to give more of myself to God as we get older. I’m thankful for all the younger staff and students I know here in Austin and in Berkeley/Davis/Hsinchu, through whom I see the power of the Gospel transforming their lives. The Good News never gets old to share!
thankful for my friends suzanne and sarah. i’m so thankful that God has allowed our friendship to grow and mature as we serve the college students together. they are my best friends who know me so well and who really make up so much of my weaknesses. i’m thankful that we can work so closely together ministering to the students on the berkeley campus.
I am thankful for all the fellow directors whom God has placed in my life with some whom I’ve known for past 20+ years. I am thankful that together we spur each other on to run this race daily with all our hearts, mind an soul!
I’m thankful for all the directors. Some have been my leaders while I was an undergrad. I’m thankful for all their labors to create what we enjoy today. It’s been almost 20 years since I came to this church and it was through the long relationships that I’ve enjoyed with them that I’ve been taught about the gospel and have had the joy of serving God together. And now we labor together to carry on the ministry God has entrusted to us.
I’m thankful for the director sisters in front of whom I can really “let down my hair” literally and figuratively
They know me and put up with me and still love me and accept me, and inspire me to greater commitment and devotion to God.
I’m thankful for godly spiritual heritage. My maternal grandfather was an itinerant evangelist who became a christian through an American missionary and traveled throughout North Korea to preach the gospel. My maternal grandmother, my aunt and my mom were all godly praying women that always opened their homes to the beggars and the homeless. My father was a successful businessmen who responded to Jesus’ call to the Rich Young Ruler to sell all that possessed to follow him. He literally gave away all of his wealth and became a poor pastor. I’m thankful for their example and sacrifice.
I am thankful for my roommates and life group sisters. This past week, I came down with cold. My roommates and life group sisters brought food and medicine and checked up on my health. I am really thankful for their care and love.
I am thankful that I am fully known and yet fully loved by God and His people. Especially by my leaders, peers and husband who have seen me in my worst moments and yet have persevered in love and truth with me throughout the years. I have experienced God’s tangible love through them to whom I continue to owe a debt of love.
I thank God for the staff under me who follow us, even though they know me and see my faults. I am thankful that they are obedient to God in this way.
I am thankful for the InterHigh helpers. They were amazing tonight. They labored in all the behind the scene work. They helped with registration then they were cooking in the kitchen. Once session 1 was done, the helpers set up the food, helped made the InterHigh devotionals, and help clean. They were willing to serve with anything that needed to be done. InterHigh wouldn’t be possible with all the helpers! Thank you!
I’m thankful for all my past and current leaders. Their decision years ago to follow and commit their lives fully to Christ has changed the directions of so many college students’ lives, including mine. Their wisdom and guidance has kept me walking on the narrow path and it’s truly amazing that I get to serve along side them as co-laborers today.
I’m thankful for our tech guys (and gals), without whom none of what we do can be done, from Sunday worship service to prayer meetings to Interhigh to Joyland and all our other ministries. They are unseen faithful servants and I am thankful for their tireless service.
I am thankful for the Element teachers who take care of my three youth boys. They are taken seriously even though they are young, and the teachers spend so much time with them, feeding them, doing small groups with them… Our kids are so blessed to have such positive role models!!
I’m thankful for people that God has placed in my life to love, especially those whom I’m discipling. And I’m so grateful that they actually give me trust and accept my imperfect love. Their trust and respect and love for me actually push me further, inspire me to greater heights and compel to me sanctify myself. I am so thankful to them, they make my life so much richer, so much fuller than I could ever have imagined.
I am grateful for so many people in my life! Just to name a few: 1. My parents who have raised me and are still giving it their all as missionaries far away 2. My leaders and fellow directors/friends whom I’ve known the past 20 years – who have been a source of truth, strength and encouragement for me. They inspire me and spur me on each day 3. My wife for being so patient with me and being my co-worker in Christ 4. My Koinonia team – who know me, yet follow me, and for inspiring me to run this race that much harder 5. For James, Paul and Dan for what they do weekly in softening this heart of mine 6. For Joyland & Joytown teachers who are teaching my children and planting the seeds of the gospel in their hearts and making an eternal impact in their lives… and for many more people God’s placed in my life – I am deeply grateful!
by Berkeley Koinonia, Homegroup ER Senior Sisters
We really want to thank Pastor Ed for all that he has done these past couple of years. Although we all come from different backgrounds, God has used him to speak to each of us personally. His humorous yet thought-provoking messages always find a way to convict us and challenge us to put our faith into action. We’re thankful for the time commitment and sacrificial love that Pastor Ed has poured into this community in order to help shape us and disciple us. Thank you for being one of the many connections into our airport hub!
We know that as one gets “older”, it certainly does not get easier to relate to us young’ns!
Thanks for showing us that one never gets too old for ministry!
… Just kidding! Happy birthday, Pastor Ed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xajfnwFv16g/youtube
I’m so thankful for my direct leaders Daniel & Sarah, Jammy & Hannah. Without their guidance and the risk they took to speak the truth in love to me these past couple of years, I will be so far away from God today. I’m so thankful that I have authority figures like them in my life whom I can turn to and trust, because I know they love me and want to see me grow to be more like Christ.
I’m so thankful for all the older sisters I have here at this church. As I think about how I have so many older sisters who have loved me in so many different ways it is overwhelming! It would take too long to name them all here…The sisters who have been my leaders, were upper classmen who took care of me during undergrad, studied with me, been loving roommates, shared wisdom with me, prayed for and with me, cooked for me, invited me to share in their lives and tag along with them even though I’m younger than them…they never treat me as “just a little sister,” and the blessings they’ve brought into my life are immeasurable.
I am thankful for my peers in both Berkeley and Davis. Even though we don’t see each other that often, we build a close relationship through serving the Lord together through our church. I am thankful for their care and acceptance to me and welcome me to their houses all the time.
I thank God for younger ones who force me to push past my emotions and laziness to help guide them, and remind me that God is at work through their changed lives!
I thank God for allowing Korean ancestors to invent amazing Korean food such as Kimchi, Soybean paste, rice cake, and so many good soup!
I’m thankful for my fellow staff brothers and sisters here at SF State Koinonia. As we strive to bring God’s Word to this City, I feel so privileged to do so with such like minded, God-honoring, and sacrificial brothers and sisters who want to see God reign in one of my most secular cities today. Though the challenge is great, I praise God that we can be a part of God’s salvation plan for SF!
I’m so thankful for the younger people God placed in my life. Starting from my Joyland students to younger sisters, I’m grateful for each one of them as they act as hinges of protection in my life. At times when I just want to give up because Christian life seems too “hard” and fall into sin and cynicism, I think about each one of their faces as they spurn me on to persevere and finish the race I am called to.
I am thankful for this family of God who helps, supports and be by my side through high and low time of life.
I’m thankful for all my roommates : Sharon, Angel, Michelle and Candace because they help make our apartment welcoming to people. Not only do they follow the weekly chore chart despite their busy schedules (I’ve heard that some apartments just completely ignore their chore charts…gasp), they also welcome visitors anytime of the day/week.
I am thankful for my housemates, who keep each other accountable and who would postpone house dinner at Texas Roadhouse again just because I couldn’t make it.
I’m thankful for my brother. He got married this past weekend. He’s all grown up! In a lot of ways, I have much to learn from him in the way of compassion and sensitivity towards other people. One example is that he has done a lot over the past year in order to try and end the cycle of enmity in our extended family. He has taken it upon himself to have it stop with our generation, and he has reached out to some of our cousins, some of whom we haven’t seen in over 15 years. I admire him for that, and am thankful to have him as my brother.
I’m really thankful for all my leaders (past and present) and all the directors at our church. I’m thankful for their persevering love and total commitment to the gospel. I’m thankful for their concrete love and acceptance of me, to help me understand the gospel lived out. I’m thankful I have a great cloud of witnesses that go before me and spur me on with all their different strengths and just the precious opportunity to see their lives day in and out.
I’m so thankful for my peers, who are thinking about me and praying for me even though I’m thousands of miles away! I’m thankful for the times that I did have with them while I was in te Bay Area.
I’m thankful for all the people God used to bring the gospel and God’s love into my life – my grandma, my dad, my mom, many teachers and pastors when i was living in Korea, all the friendly congregation members of Assemblies of God church in Flushing when our family first immigrated to the US and settled in NY, Renee who was my children’s dept pastor, Tom who was my pastor in 7th grade, Marianne, Marion, Theresa who were all my teachers who opened up their homes to me and shared not only God’s love but good old American cooking, Pastor Yim and his whole family, Pastor Kim and his wife Jung Sook after we moved out to California, Pastor Park and his wife down in San Diego during my college days and countless many others….
I’m really thankful that God placed in my life my small group brothers and leaders who I have been able to share life with and really begin to see what a real relationship is supposed to be like with others. I’m just really thankful that they’ve all been so patient and supportive of me through my struggles and bearing with all my quirks and habits.
Thank you to my mom who taught me how to cook garlic shrimp for Monday’s potluck!
Also, thank you to my roommate Debbie, who talks and listens to me until late at night! It’s a mystery why most of our best sharing moments are when we are about to go to sleep around 11pm. Then we end up going to sleep at 11:45pm instead… I guess when you can not fall asleep, you really need to share with a close friend in addition to praying to God.
I am thankful for the heroes of faith that have gone before me – from those listed in Hebrews 11, to those that have sacrificed their life and families throughout the centuries to bring the message of the Gospel to all the different unreached places on earth, to the ones I know today who are still giving tirelessly to the Lord – locally and overseas. I am thankful for their sacrifices without which I would not be so blessed with so much that I experience here in this community.
I am thankful for my sister, Hannah. As I was doing my DT today v5 really impacted me- “For IN HIM you have been enriched in every way…”. Indeed, God has enriched my life in every way, esp as I think about my rel with my sister. Growing up we never really fought because we were so different, had differing interests, groups of friends, etc. but after meeting Christ, God has enriched us in every way, including in our rel with one another. I am so thankful that we were both able to meet Christ here at our church, thankful for her partnership in the Gospel, thankful that we are able to serve God together, shoulder to shoulder. I am thankful that we can share Godly vision together as we mature in our faith, share victories, and carry each others burdens as we minister to college students on the Berkeley campus. Praise God for His faithfulness!
I am thankful for my friends. We are not perfect and have our disagreements at times, but overall I am thankful for these people in my life who are willing to bear with me, speak truth in love to me, are committed to me and love me. I am thankful to have this group of people to live life with and to run this race together with.
People i’m thankful for who’ve had a hand in my spiritual journey:
johnny p.
kwai
john & paula
daniel
richard
john
kelly
seulla
randy
steve & suzanne
william & esther
john
andy
steve & eunice
chris & judy
ed & kelly
manny & sunny
bree
moraga
ray
jeff
dave
richard
jason
rich
ray
chi
kosit
albert
joe
I’m thankful for my peers back home in Berkeley. Thankful that we have a culture of meeting one another’s needs and praying for one another and spurring each other on. Recently they donated a large gift to the 605 house to purchase a screen and projector. So thankful for their generosity and initiative in anticipating needs and contributing so tangibly to loving the students at UT Austin.
I’m thankful for my sister, Lauren, who has been instrumental in my salvation and me coming to this church. Though she was 4 years older than me and went off to college when I was a sophomore in High School, her persistent care brought me out to our church when I was a junior in high school. She made sure all the older brothers here, like Kevan Ho, Joe Song, Tim Fitz, and others in their class (whom i’m also very thankful for) took care of me and also asked Pastor Manny (whom i’m really thankful for!) to call me and try to draw me in. Without my sister I don’t think I would have wanted to come to Berkeley so much, and I might not have given God and church another chance! THANKS!
Coming back from Berkeley and going to Joe’s place, I was surprised to not see him there, but to hear he was at a leads meeting. It just reminded me how much time our leads and directors for their sacrifices day in and day out, meeting on a weekly basis to make sure that we as staff and interns are being properly ministered to – it’s one less day they get to spend with taking care of their families, just hanging out with their friends, or even being able to do direct ministry in their already full schedules. I’m thankful because they take their roles in our lives just as seriously as their own and want to do their best to minister to us.
I’m so thankful for my peers, especially while I’m away from so many of them now. I recognize I have relationships that I cannot find anywhere else in the world, where distance doesn’t diminish the closeness that we can have in Christ and serving His purpose. It’s not based on business networking, going to the same college or high school, having the same likes/dislikes, etc… It’s the unity that is founded on our salvation and unified purpose to serve God, no matter where we are. I was so thankful this past weekend especially when I was just able to pick up the phone and dial one of my peers when I needed some encouragement, and I was able to immediately experience that kind of closeness that only the gospel can bring. That is sheer blessing from God. Can’t wait to see how God will spread us out with our new church plants!!! (TO ALL MY PEERS: YOU GOTTA GO, MAN! YOU’LL NEVER REGRET IT!)
I’m thankful for Howard and Marybelle Schipper (who I call “grandpa” and grandma”). They sponsored my mom during the Vietnam War and allowed her to live with them in their home in Holland, MI for almost 2 years. Afterward they helped my mom’s whole family of 15 people come over from Vietnam. They showed my mom and her whole family Christian hospitality by providing shelter, clothing and food. Through my grandparents, my grandma became Christian as well as some of my other relatives. They also helped to resettle 3000 Vietnamese families in West Michigan into Christian homes. I’m really thankful that I have them to remind me that the Gospel transcends ethnicity and culture (my grandma really likes fish sauce too!). My grandpa/ Rev. Schipper passed away 4 years ago. God Bless his heart. I really hope and pray that I too can leave a spiritual legacy just as they have.
I thank God for two key people in my life during the difficult transition period of immigrant life, divorced parents, and adolescence. My 5th grade teacher Mr. Tollette looked fierce but was in reality full of humor and kept us in line with a lot of fun yet strict standards. My Sunday school teacher, Peter Chung, took detailed care of all of us, taking us out, feeding us, teaching us the bible, and driving us everywhere while being a full time computer programmer. I think he was the first real example of a bivocational leader. My mother credits both of them for helping me through that period, and I see how God provided them in a timely way.
I’m thankful for Bob and Elaine Metcalf. Several years ago, when Ed and I were going through a particular difficult time in our lives, i prayed specifically for older godly white couple who can encourage us and I remember thinking how God answered my prayer in such a specific way when we met them in China. Since then, they have been such a huge source of encouragement in our lives and I find myself wanting to grow old like them, still full of energy, fervor and love for God and people. I thank God for answering my prayers so specifically. It was during that time that we also got to reconnect with JP Moreland and met his wife Faith and other godly women at Vineyard Anaheim who particularly encouraged us during that difficult period.
I’m also very thankful for my mother in law who is such a prayer warrior. She has been such a wonderful mother in law making absolutely no demands on us and always supporting us with much prayer and just always being available to be with our kids when we need to be away from home. I really could not have asked for a better mother in law. I am also very thankful for my own mother who is still going non-stop serving the LORD, doing mission work in China, Cambodia, Africa and other places. She’s busier than we are and her tireless efforts to keep serving the LORD never ceases to amaze me. Thank God for these women warriors for the LORD in my life!
I’m truly thankful for my brother, not only because he’s an amazing person, but also because he possesses a majority stake in my decision to find a community of faith at Berkeley. For example (although this example is neither the most significant aspect in which he has impacted my spiritual journey, nor the most direct method through which his influence can be seen), during the latter half of my high school years, one of the primary reasons I began going back to church was because my brother would always shower in the morning, and on Sunday mornings, the sound of the shower running next to my room would act as my cue to get ready for him to drive us to service since I was awake anyway. Without that catalyst to propel me back to church, I would never have made it back on my own. His guidance didn’t stop when I entered college, and he’s always just a call away from encouraging me along my way. I’m continually blessed by just seeing how much he has grown in Christ, how much he places his trust in God, and how actively he lives out his faith. I’m really grateful that God gave me my brother.
I’m also extraordinarily grateful for my wonderful roommates. Preparing for sophomore year, I didn’t intend to live with anyone from Gracepoint, but I somehow ended up living with two of my peers, Pearl and Sooyun. Honestly, I didn’t expect to like them so much, since we weren’t in the same small group last year and hadn’t developed any relationships outside of conversing at church, other Gracepoint-related activities, or the rare on-campus sighting, and I hadn’t been keen on the idea of living with people from Gracepoint. I expected only a continuation of cordiality this year, but I am so thankful that God has put them into my life! Not only has God placed with me fellow sisters in Christ, but He has also given me great friends, nonpareil accountability partners, SK1-homework buddies, amazing bakers and cooks (We’ll never go hungry in my apartment, that’s for sure.), confidantes, and comedians. Through them, I’ve experienced how God works in our lives through other people. Truly, He has our best interests at heart.
Oh, yeah… through my roommates, I’ve also learned to redefine the boundaries of “weird.” I love 305!