Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Today, according to the official calendar, is Thanksgiving. It’s a great name for a day, and a uniquely American observance. But it is a better name for a state of mind… a state of spirit… a state of being.

So this morning, as we are driving down our favorite bumpy Interstate highway, heading to Jacksonville to be with many and varied Alexanders, I want to say a very specific “thank you” to God for the gift of Rebekah. She has blessed me – and The Church – with a unique and genuine approach to living faith out loud, one that I believe gets to the heart of what this observance is really all about.

Hence the photograph that anchors this post.

I captured the image yesterday, after Rebekah opened the mail and found the gift of this painted rock from our friend Randall. Randall has a beautiful ministry of encouragement, and we have both benefited from his care and his prayers.

The word Randall’s gifted Rebekah was “tranquility”. Rebekah’s word – in and through the way she gifts me, and lets God’s light shine through her and on into this desperately needy world with such compelling and genuine belief – has to be “authenticity.” Authenticity in the spirit of the following, from Romans 12: “Let love be genuine… authentic… sincere… honest… unfeigned…”

“Let love be genuine… abhor what is evil… hold fast to what is good… outdo one another in showing honor.”

Romans 12:9

Sometimes a photograph shows the truth with undeniable clarity. This one of Rebekah does for sure.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Happy ThanksGratitude! Happy Authenticity Day! I pray that it will be so for you, that your love – and your expression of love – will truly be genuine.

Peace – DEREK