# Thanksgiving

Category: Special Seasons
Speaker: Paul Chisgar
Date: November 23, 2021

Amen. We have been mentioning tonight will be a testimony service. It is just so good for God’s people to give praise to the Lord, and sometimes just an encouragement to one another also. It creates just a great atmosphere. It kind of gets us going more towards Thanksgiving also. But just a couple words about it: let’s do our best to make the Lord look good.

It is His job to make the Lord look good, and He is good. Let’s try to make Him look good. Brother Frank is blowing his nose over there or something. I couldn’t hear it all. I’m not sure what all of who said. Oh, Brother Frank got to. All right. Brother Frank has got it. Here we go. You ready? God is good. And all the time? Amen. Amen. Amen. I didn’t know what that sneeze was over there, and I understand what it does now.

But let’s make the Lord look good. We don’t have this in our church, and I’m thankful for it. But you’ve been in those testimony services where, you know, someone complains about that ingrown toenail for 20 minutes and then, last minute, says, “But God’s taking care of it.” Let’s just not do that. Let’s just brag on the Lord. He is good to us. There are times for all that, but let’s just brag on the Lord a little bit tonight.

I feel like y’all hear from me so often, but I would like to take just a moment to start off with and give a little—just a short, quick testimony of myself. I want to thank the Lord for being my Dad. And I say it that way on purpose. He is my Dad. I’m so thankful we can be His sons.

Brother Josh mentioned it when he preached a little bit, but you don’t have to be grown up, if you will, with the Lord. You just be His boy, and He is your Daddy. I’m so thankful for that. He lets me come and just be His son, get close to Him, and spend time with me. I don’t deserve all that. That’s really what it’s all about, and that makes life worth it. It really does. I’m so thankful God is our Father. If you are a born-again Christian, wonderful.

Then I want to thank the Lord for my wife. I’m so thankful—her love language is acts of service. I don’t always interpret it like I should, but here lately I’ve been trying to focus. I know that’s her love language. The other night, I was just a little tired and whatnot, and man, she was just serving me, left and right. She really was. I’m not as good a husband as she is a wife. She was just serving me, and I thought, “She is telling me she loves me.” That is her love language, and I appreciate that. She is just so very good at it. I’m thankful I have a loving wife.

I’m thankful for my daughter, Sarah. It has been a blessing to have her up for a couple of days. Praise the Lord, she is serving the Lord down in Florida, secretary of a Christian school. She has a sweet spirit and a great relationship with her mom and with me. I’m thankful for that. She just follows the Lord with soul in her and tries to live for the Lord. I am very, very thankful for that. Praise the Lord for that.

Then praise the Lord for my son, John. They are in Oregon now, and Ms. McKenna, his wife, her dad pastors out there. John and they are just involved in church out there. He teaches junior church, he has led singing, he has preached since they have been out there, just doing whatever needs to be done in that church. I am very thankful for that. And then McKenna—praise the Lord, God gave my son a great wife. McKenna is just all about John; she loves John. I appreciate that.

And of course, I got to mention the grandson. Amen. I never knew that grandchildren would add that much to life. They are just special. They are going to be here for Christmas, and we are trying to think of how we can kidnap that grandson. So you pray with us over that thing there, you know. We are thankful for that.

Now I want to praise the Lord for my mom. I say this, you will kind of chuckle, you will think, you know, but I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her—yes, physically, but not with that. She was the first one to get saved in her family. And she just didn’t get saved; she got saved and she sold out. I mean, she just went all the way. Because of that, my dad could see a difference, and of course, my dad got saved in the family, but it all started with my mom. Praise the Lord, she got saved and sold out, and that is just such a blessing. Praise the Lord for it.

Then her church family. I am so honored to be the pastor of Fords Creek Baptist Church, and I mean that. I said this kind of in my way, but it is true: I am not as good a pastor as you are church members. You are just great church members all through our church. Yes, great church members, full of them, and a great spirit. I could say so much about that.

Here recently, Patrick and Marlene stepped up and took the teens, and Adam and Melissa stepped up and took junior church, and the Farhams stepped up and took junior church for one month only—no, I am joking. But honestly, just wherever needed, they are filling in and getting the job done. There are tons of others like that, just recent ones, and I am so thankful for that. I praise the Lord, it is not bickering and fussing and fighting and all that, and clamoring for attention. It is just we are trying to serve the Lord together, and that is wonderful. Praise the Lord for it.

I am so thankful for those that have been with us for a long time. I was thinking about Miss Joyce back there. She has been back there in that corner of the world for a long time—I do not know, 15, 16 years maybe—and praise the Lord, she is pretty much always there and faithful. I appreciate that. Those who have been here with us for years, and then down through the years—can’t get them all in there. And then the last year and a half, two years, just a new group of people, and that has been a blessing. We needed that, and I appreciate that. They brought some people we needed, for sure, and we were just so thankful for that. Praise the Lord for the new people and the old people and all of them in between—just a great, great church family.

I am honored to be a pastor; it is just an honor to be a pastor. I mean that. Praise the Lord for it. We are not perfect; we just want to serve the Lord. That is the way it ought to be. I am thankful we have a contract on the property over there and excited about what God is going to do there, and just enjoy what He is doing now, and praise the Lord for what He has done now.

Then I wanted to say this is a huge praise: Praise the Lord, we got our daughter’s car out of the shop and it is running. Praise the Lord, I got my truck back. I can get my—I need to get my stamp back on my man card. I got my truck back, all right? So praise the Lord for that. I am thankful for it.

Let us just start over here. Does anybody have a testimony? We will start over there. Brother Patrick.

The first time we walked into the doors, late February, early March last year, it was just different. There is a different spirit here; you can tell that God is here. We just thank God so much for such a great place to serve the Lord, a great place to worship for and show the Lord.

Amen. Amen. And you all are a part of it. Amen. Y’all are doing this, but let me just make sure you are saying it loud enough that way everybody can hear you. Everybody wants to hear what you are saying, brother.

I am very pleased to be at this church and have a pastor and wife and the people here. When you get down, you are down there with you, and when you get up, they cheer you on—except when you cheer for Notre Dame. I can praise the Lord for the church. Praise the Lord for the wife who helped me through this very difficult time. It is just a tough time. It is a month on the road; we will get over it.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord for that. Brother Frank.

Can I double dip just real quick? Two things. Brother Frank, praise the Lord, Ms. Juan, that she did such a great job decorating. Praise the Lord, that is such a blessing. And just everybody doing their part in this little spot, and that adds so much. I appreciate it; it looks great. And then I meant to mention earlier, praise the Lord for Brother Anthony Miscatorra. They are a blessing. They already came to us; just great people. It just seemed like the last year they have just really grown and blossomed for the Lord, and it is exciting to see. Praise the Lord for Brother Anthony Miscatorra. They are a blessing. Praise the Lord for it. I wanted to say that earlier; I forgot about it. You are a blessing, brother. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Brother Josh. Amen. Thank you, Lord. Glad you are part of it, brother. Amen. Brother Bill. Amen. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord, Brother Bill and Ms. Tab have been a great addition to our church. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Brother Adam. Amen. Amen. That is special. Thank you, brother. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord you are here. Amen. Amen. Ms. Bushow. Amen. You have been a great testimony, Ms. Bush—Ms. Suzanne.

Sarah, nice and loud so everybody can hear. Have you all been able to hear pretty much everything? Some saying yes, well, okay, as best we can, as loud as we can. Sarah, act like you are mad at me. No, if you would, please, Sarah.

It is true. Amen.

Amen. Praise the Lord. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Amen. Father. Amen. Father. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Father. Amen. Amen.

Brother Joel. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord, you got a flight out of Colorado, brother. Glad to have you back. It is a blessing. Amen.

Brother Gregory. And he turns around and decides to use us as well. Amen. I am looking for a church of people who are willing to serve in spite of our faults. I cannot tell you how many times I walked up and pulled out my house key as I am trying to get into the building just because subconsciously it is his home. Amen. Amen. We heard it just recently on the side: “I do not go to church; there are full of hypocrites in this room.” I say, yeah, that was every prayer. None of us in here are perfect, but I cannot point to a single one of the living here and say, “Well, I know you do not actually act in the same way out in society.” I think everybody here is genuine. That is something that is not easy to find. That is true. For that, in excess, to you, Pastor, for genuinely preaching the word and not trying to sugarcoat things and make us feel good, but giving us what God’s word actually says. I am making for my family. I teach Sunday school—my third or sixth-grade boys. Probably the majority of them do not have either biological parent at home, much less one. The conflict that they deal with in their lives blows my mind, and it reminds me that I am spoiled that I have both parents at home, and no offense to the present audience, I have the best parents in the world. If I did not have the parents that I do, I would not be what I am. Amen. For them raising my awesome siblings as well, and for them knowing how to serve God and use their own talents in their world.

Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord, Brother Gregory got out of college, came home, and got busy working—that is for the Lord. It was wonderful. Praise the Lord. You are a blessing, brother. Amen.

Brother Anthony. Godly heritage that I have had. My grandma came in June, and Cator’s grandma and grandpa came just last week. I am just reminded that it is just amazing—men and women that stood faithful throughout the years. That is what churches are made up of; that is what America was built on. I am just thankful for that. I am thankful for this church, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to serve. I am thankful I got to go to Mexico this year; that was a blessing. It really was. I was able to see something different, and just something I have always wanted to do, and the Lord worked so many details out. I am thankful for my wife putting up with me this last year, year before. We bought a fixer-upper for sure, and she stayed by my side, and not so incredibly about three or four times. But I am thankful for her being mother to my children, and I am thankful for the different men and women in the church that are just invested in my children. That is a big blessing to us; it means a lot to us just to see our girls run through—and hopefully they are not hucking people down—but just running through, and people just say, “Hey, how are you doing?” It is just amazing. It is a blessing from the church family. That is what we wanted, and I am thankful for you all. Thank you for the pastor. Let us stay here, and the Lord is working so many details to get us to this point. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord. You are an honor and a blessing to us, brother. Blessing us. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord for y’all. Amen.

Go ahead, Ms. Marr. We will get you. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. So true. Praise the Lord. Do a wonderful job, Brother Patterson.

Exactly. Fifty years ago today. Amen. Amen. Happy birthday, Brother Patterson. Amen. That is awesome. That is awesome. Amen.

Brother Kevin. Amen. Amen. Yes, ma’am. It is awesome. Amen. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Amen. Wonderful. Yes, ma’am, Miss Amy. You are a great teacher. Praise the Lord. You have been a great testimony to us, and you really have. Praise the Lord for that.

Brother Juan. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord. You all have been a blessing to our church, a great addition. We love to have you. It is wonderful. Amen for that.

Brother Marlon. I could not hear it. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord, Brother Marlon. God used me. That is great to see. I love it. Praise the Lord for it.

Ms. Tammy wants to double dip. Go ahead. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord. Amen. Yes, ma’am. David. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Amen. You are right. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Father. Brother Patterson. Amen. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord. Lord. Yes, sir. Brother Marlon.

Pray for Brother Bill Gillespie. He had his stroke, and the Lord was working in his heart. He walked almost a mile after the stroke to get to our house because he did—he did us, whatnot—and he wanted to get saved. He wanted to get right with the Lord and walked almost a mile like that to get and knock on the door. He wanted to get saved or got saved, got his salvation settled. Of course, he has had to move; he lives up in Nashville, but he watches every service, and he comes down when he can. But praise the Lord for Brother Bill Gillespie. He is a blessing. We love him. He is a blessing.

Yes, ma’am, Miss Judy. Amen. Praise the Lord. It is great to have your family with us tonight. That is awesome. That is a special addition. Amen. Miss Debbie are a blessing to us. Amen. Amen. Brother Donnie, Miss Debbie, and Josiah down there. Amen. That is great. There he is right there. Amen. There we go. Ms. Tabitha. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Amen. That is what it should be. Praise the Lord. It is awesome. Amen. Amen. Thank you for sharing.

Anybody else real quick. Real quick. We are winding it down and going once.

Going twice. Sold. Amen. Amen.

Original File: Thanksgiving - Pastor Paul Chisgar 112321