It’s that season again – my favorite of each year – when we gather and give thanks, and I just wanted to take a moment to share something that I’ve found the apostle Paul was thankful for … in just about every epistle he wrote:

• I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:4
• For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ~ Ephesians 1:15-16
• I thank my God every time I remember you. ~ Philippians 1:3
• We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people … ~ Colossians 1:3-4
• We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:2
• We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3
• I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ~ 2 Timothy 1:3
• I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, … ~ Philemon 1:4

So it’s not really a surprise when Paul urges believers to do what he has been faithful about doing:

• I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2

This Thanksgiving holiday – among all the other blessings (and challenges!) for which we thank God – perhaps we should include the fellowship of believers, the church, the nations, their leaders, and individual brothers and sisters whose faith and love has inspired us.

Those we know … those we’ve heard of. Even the writers and readers of blog epistles like this one. Even when we may not be right all the time. Even when we may not get all of our facts straight.

I am prayerfully grateful for each of you.

(And you thought I was going to blog about Matthias.)