A Note From Tracy Hipps: Give Thanks

 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" Ps 118:1. This is probably the most repeated phrase in the Bible. Today, as I read this, I stopped for a moment to say "thank you" to the Lord. As we move into this season, stop for a moment right now and say it. 

Over 30 years ago, I arrived in Chicago to work in the inner city. One of the first big events I participated in was the Thanksgiving basket delivery with a partner church in the suburbs. We spent the Saturday before Thanksgiving making and delivering food baskets to families we served. Now, years later, I am helping 49 churches and ministries do the same thing here in Birmingham. 

       Responsible Care is a core value of CSM and with this Thanksgiving initiative we will see 2,500 families touched with the hands of God and our hands. The value of hand to hand care is how this all works. We don't have lines of people waiting for hours to get a turkey. We don't parade people into our facilities. We care for people in communities and homes. Thirty-one years ago I did delivery with a family for a family and we have been friends ever since. 

In Chicago they are still doing it and this is our 5th year to do Baskets of Kindness in Birmingham. This year we are helping to facilitate 18 different sites with over 1,000 volunteers. We will serve 22 different communities with 20 city churches and 29 suburban partners. Responsible care is treating people with dignity, respect, and honor as the volunteers from the city and suburbs work together to serve the people in need. 

        "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever." That is the complete saying and I would say that the Lord hears the prayers of his people and for those whom are of the least of these. He is faithful and He uses the people of God to serve those in need. He has been so faithful to carry us all through and we have an opportunity to serve this Thanksgiving season to help others be carried through.