Pastor Terry Cheek Th.D.

For the next couple of months we will take a break from our study of the Sermon on the Mount. Many of you have followed our study from month to month, thank you. I promise to continue the study where we left off. For now let’s take a little time and think about the coming holiday, I am referring to Thanksgiving. The word Thanksgiving brings to mind Psalm 26:7 “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” This turned my attention to God’s work in my life.

I would like to publish a personal testimony of Gods work in my life as a public thanksgiving. In the respect of time and space I will have to thoughtfully limit my writing because my thoughts are many. As I share some of the thanksgivings in my life I encourage you to consider your life and the work God has accomplished in it.

I am thankful for salvation. No one beyond God and myself know the sin that He forgave. Because of salvation by Grace through Faith that life is no longer relevant. I am born again, a new creation. I am not going to give the devil anything to tempt others with, therefore I will not elaborate about my past life. I have much to say about the new life given by Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean salvation is a life lived without issue or problem, there are many. I am thankful for the security and guidance I have through Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for my family. We are no different than any other family. We have our disagreements, arguments and shortcomings but we also have love. Yes it does exist even in family crisis. Family is seasoned through crisis and my family has experienced our share of seasoning. My wife, children, parents, siblings and all the extended family have been there when no one else would consider me. I try to be there for them as needed in every way possible. I remember the birth and childhood of my children and grand-children, the mountains and valleys they have had to walk. I remember holding the hand of a pre-mature baby boy and listening to the doctors say we’re doing all we can. I remember them telling us a blood transfusion is the best opportunity he has. I remember watching the power of human blood (life is in the blood) and God blessing it to give strength to a tiny baby. If human blood has this power, how much more the blood of Jesus. That tiny baby boy is now in middle school and plays offensive line on a football team. I remember every trip to the emergency room and the sleepless nights of prayer because of sickness and fever. I remember looking into the children’s eyes, as I held them they stared at me with a look of dependence on their face. I now find myself often looking to God with that same look of dependence on my face.

To my wife I cannot say enough. As a pastor’s wife she endures plenty that is never revealed beyond our home and the throne of Grace. She has stood by my side when no one else would, not because she felt obligated but because she knew truth from a lie. She has been beside me through serious health problems, spiritual crisis, and emotional ups and downs. Through it all our love has only strengthened and our commitment to one another grown stronger.

To my parents I can only say thanks for giving me the foundation you did. Also I want to take the opportunity to apologize for the heartache I caused as a teen and young adult.

To my brother I can say I love you and thanks for being there during some very difficult times and never giving up on me, always keeping me in prayer.

I am thankful for Gods call to serve Him and His church. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church may be last in this article but they are far from last on the list. Gods timing is never wrong and my pastorate with you is evidence of His sovereignty. This church will never know how much you mean to me and how much I appreciate our relationship.