Friends & Family,
“God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.” ~ Elisabeth Elliot
“A thankful heart is one of the primary identifying characteristics of a believer. … No matter how choppy the seas become, a believer’s heart is buoyed by constant praise and gratefulness to the Lord.” ~ John MacArthur
“The habit of celebrating the greatness and graciousness of God yields an endless flow of thankfulness, joy and zeal.” ~ J. I. Packer
“It is one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.” ~ Tim Keller
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” ~ Ps 100:4
We have often sensed that Brazilian believers are envious of our celebrating a national holiday called Thanksgiving. It is obviously a holiday born here in the US, but in Brazil, there are a few churches that have a Thanksgiving service (“Culto de Ação de Graças”) on Thursday evening.
Interestingly, Brazilian believers have a tradition of Thanksgiving that takes another form, one that we can learn from. It is not uncommon for a family to invite their pastor, close friends and family members to their home for a small worship service led by the pastor to give thanks and praise for an answered prayer, an unexpected blessing, a particular victory in some area of a family member’s life or deliverance from a catastrophe of some sort. Psalm 111:1 says, “Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”
The phrase “an attitude of gratitude” is one we have heard for most of our lives. For “thanksliving,” an attitude that manifests itself in gratitude seems essential! Interestingly, the word “gratitude” comes from the same Latin word for “freedom” (gratis = free). So, thanksgiving…thanksliving is rooted in receiving the gift of eternal life and founded upon having been made free in Jesus Christ! And, that is at the core of all that EE-Brazil is about and is trying to do by equipping pastors and church leaders to accomplish the Great Commission through multiplication.
As career missionaries, we strive to be among those who demonstrate a lifestyle of thanks! We may not always be as timely as we should, but we give thanks to our heavenly Provider on a daily basis, keenly aware that He provides through faithful friends and relatives like you, praying and giving, in order for us to do what the Lord called us to do! Your partnership in the Gospel has helped 2023 to be a fruitful year, and next month we’ll share more details! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!
You may be reading this ATUALIDADES on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Please be reminded that the Tuesday following Thanksgiving Day (this year on November 28th) has become known as #GivingTuesday, the “opening bell” so to speak for the year-end charitable giving season. If this is a day in which you begin to think about year-end giving, you may take advantage of the opportunity by clicking anywhere in this email that you see #GivingTuesday. The link will work today or any day that you wish to be taken to our secure website and giving portal. Thank you so very much!!
May the Lord richly bless you this Thanksgiving,
Robert & Mary Jo Foster,
Serving Evangelism Explosion-Brazil
* Atualidades a Portuguese word that means news or up to date information. We want you to have the latest information in order to support us in prayer, as well as financially when the Lord leads/enables. Thank you!