Steve Sikes Blog
Steve Sikes Blog
(Sanctuary: A consecrated place)
Bruce Patterson and I have a thankful connection! One day this summer, I shut my front door and realized, too late, that I had just locked myself out of my own house! That very morning, I had been studying one of Paul’s exhortations to the church at Thessalonica: “In everything give thanks.” Since this passage was so fresh on my mind, I just started thanking God for having a house that I could lock myself out! Later, after getting help to get back inside and recover my keys, I met with Bruce and told him my story. Since then, whenever we get together, Bruce will usually say to anything I share with him – OK, but were you thankful?! We both smile.
This past August 30, I was standing by Bruce at our church groundbreaking as Aaron Pearl was jokingly sharing with the church family how he had really been the first one to “break ground” on our new property by getting his suburban stuck near the entrance! Bruce turned to me with a twinkle in his blue eyes and asked, “Yes, but was he thankful?” I laughed.
When Patti and I first came to Pitman, NJ, for the job interview (June 8-10, 2007), Mike Broyles led singing that Sunday morning. The one song I remember Mike leading was, “Sanctuary” by Third Day: “O Lord, prepare me – to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You.”
In other words:
• Lord, prepare me to be pure and holy
• Lord, try me to be pure and holy
• And through it all, Lord, help me to always be thankful!
Part of the Lord’s preparation of our being sanctuaries for Him is our learning to be thankful in ALL circumstances. Tall order but extremely necessary!
“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21
It appears that honoring God and giving thanks helps keep “the light on” in our sanctuaries – otherwise hearts are darkened! LIGHT CHECK! GIGATTAATTGIG! Mr. Steve