Release Date: October 14th, 2026Thanksgiving with Grateful Hearts, Faithful Hands
- by Yoel Masyawong
Have you ever noticed that we could receive 99 blessings and still complain about the one thing we don't have?
The Israelites did something similar. They had just experienced God's deliverance from Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. Yet, when they became hungry in the wilderness, they complained. Suddenly, they remembered Egypt as if it were a wonderful, delicious Thai restaurant with “pots of meat and full table of bread”.
Isn't it interesting how quickly we can forget God's faithfulness when we face today's challenges?
They forgot how God delivered them from slavery, oppression. They forgot how they cry for freedom. They forgot how desperately they had prayed for God to deliver them.
Isn't it interesting how quickly we can forget God's faithfulness when we face today's challenges?
Sometimes our complaints become louder than our testimonies. We remember what went wrong, what we don't have, and what didn't happen as we hoped or planned. But do we remember what God has already done?
Gratitude begins with remembering.
When I look back at my 21 years serving as pastor at Grace Lao, I remember many things, preaching, visiting families, funerals, VBS, picnics, church camping, and, of course, egg rolls! We made and sold thousands of egg rolls every year. Sometimes I wondered if I was a pastor or an egg-roll entrepreneur!
Faithfulness begins with trust.
But those egg rolls were more than food. They brought people together, helped us serve the church, and strengthened our community. Looking back, I realized that I served the congregation, but the congregation also served me. God formed my faith through the people I was called to serve.
God provided manna for Israel one day at a time, except on the Sabbath. He didn't give them everything they wanted, but He gave them what they needed. “But when they measured it out by the omer, the ones who had collected more had nothing left over, and the ones who had collected less had no shortage. Everyone collected just as much as they could eat.” (Exo 16:18)
And grateful hearts lead to faithful hands.
Gratitude begins with remembering. Faithfulness begins with trust. And grateful hearts lead to faithful hands.
So today, remind to yourself: What has God already provided that I have forgotten to notice?
And then ask: How can I become God's provision for someone else. Amen.
- Yoel Masyawong is an MCEC Regional Minister