“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” Corinthians 9:11

My youngest is 5. He is such a sweet and giving child. I recently received a note from a parent of a fellow student in his preschool class, telling me how grateful she is that he is so kind to her son who has autism. He doesn’t have many friends, she said, but Jack goes out of his way to make him feel cared about.

I praise God for this. It’s all Him. I think the Lord is working in His young heart because his father and I have been very intentional in telling Him about God’s love and how important it is to love the Lord and to love people. Not that we by any means have this down perfectly. My husband and I are still learning this same lesson in our 40s! Let me give an example.

Over the summer, we make a few visits to the Cincinnati Zoo, it’s one of our favorite vacation destinations. We typically go in the mornings and once we get off the Interstate, we always see a lady holding a sign for help or food.

My son was very concerned about her and so we decided to feed her and pray for her. Every time we go to the zoo, we bring an extra breakfast sandwich.

Iv have to admit on this particular morning I was feeling good about the gesture. You feel good knowing you are making a positive difference in someone’s day. Well, God wanted me to give my heart a challenge that day, apparently.

We continued driving toward the zoo. On the sidewalk up ahead I saw a gentleman with a sign asking for help. We didn’t have any more breakfast sandwiches but,the Spirit reminded me that I had a little bit of cash on me.

“No,” I said, in my head. “We might need a drink later, I’m saving that.” 

I felt a tug on my heart.

Still, I refused. And thought: “If Jack mentions you have money to give, I’ll give it. Otherwise, no.” Now I was sort of cheating because Jack had no clue I had cash on me. At his age it would be rare if he’d think of that. HA!

Jack finally caught sight of the man with his sign. “We have to help him,” he said.

“We don’t have any more sandwiches,” I explained.

“You have money, give him that,” Jack chimed.

Oh boy! I knew then, that God had been speaking to me for sure! At that moment my greediness melted away and I wanted to give the man what I had. I grabbed my purse and rolled down my window. The man with the sign and tattered clothes was so grateful. We also prayed for him as we drove away and I thanked God for reminding me the importance of having a giving heart.

“And on that day you will say, ‘Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.’ Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth.” Isaiah 12:4-5

I have a confession. When Nov. 1 rolls around, I’m typically almost constantly replaying the lyrics of “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart” in my head. Over and over they go. Sometimes a faint hum slips from my lips… There’s nothing quite like the season of thanksgiving.

Do you know the tune? It’s catchy. Do you know the lyrics? They’re joyous. Do you know the story behind it? It’s inspiring. 

“Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.

And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks…”

“Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart” was written in 1978, by Henry Smith. The song was his only published worship song out of 300 unpublished compositions! Smith penned the piece after having trouble finding work following his graduation from university. Smith had a degenerative condition that eventually left him legally blind.

While at his church in Williamsburg Virginia, his pastor inspired him with a reference to how Jesus made Himself poor to make others rich through Him.

What a testament this song is to what the Lord has done! I’m certainly grateful.

Fellowship is essential to a happy life. Time with our close friends increases our sense of belonging and purpose. Friendship boosts happiness and reduces stress. It also improves our self-confidence and self-worth. Friendship is a beautiful blessing from God. Here are five Scriptures about true friendship and what it entails: 

1. Friends love us and are willing to put each other above themselves: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:12-15
2. Friends genuinely care for one another. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
3. Friends are family. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”Proverbs 17:17
4. Friends learn from one another. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 
5. Friends pray for one another. “My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.” Job 16:20-21

In the spirit of an approaching winter, and the inspiration of Matthew 25:36-40 we are excited to launch a Thanksgiving Coat Drive. This heartfelt initiative is not just about collecting coats but also about spreading warmth, love, and hope to friends everywhere, just as this scripture instructs us.

Matthew 25:36-40 states: “‘I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you. When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

This verse is a powerful reminder of our duty to help the community and our friends of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, who are in need of warm clothing. Our coat drive is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and make a tangible difference in the lives of those struggling to stay warm during the harsh winter months. Come be a part of this Thanksgiving Community Meal on Wednesday November 22 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. at our Family Activity Center in Price Hill.

 How You Can Serve:

1. Donate Warm Coats: Please consider donating new or gently-used coats.

2. Volunteer: Join us in the process of collecting and distributing coats.

3. Spread the Word: Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to get involved.

The coat drive is a way for us to embody the message of compassion and service. Let us come together to make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors, showing them the love and warmth that we all deserve

If you’d like to volunteer or make a coat donation, please contact Melissa at mreinert@lordsgymministires.org for details.

We are hosting a Community Meal 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 at the Family Activity Center in Price Hill. We  are in need of volunteers, and we are collecting coat donations. If you’d like to volunteer or make a coat donation, please contact Melissa at mreinert@lordsgymministires.org for details.

I hope this message finds you well. If you weren’t able to attend our Community Awareness Breakfast on September 27, I’d like to take a moment to share a story from the breakfast that embodies the spirit of our organization.

One of our esteemed Lord’s Gym board members, Todd Kuramoto, has had a remarkable journey with us. More than a decade ago, Todd was introduced to the Lord’s Gym community breakfast by a friend. It wasn’t until two years later, after another invitation and attending another breakfast, that Todd’s desire to give back and volunteer for Lord’s Gym was ignited. Sometimes, the most profound passions are born from a simple invitation.

Fast forward five years later, and Todd found himself at a men’s meeting where he had the chance to meet our very own Tom Lipsey. This encounter fueled Todd’s determination to make a meaningful impact. He started by assisting with programs to feed our community, and soon enough, he began coaching youth basketball and is currently in his second year coaching football. Todd’s journey of giving back all started with a simple invitation.

As we celebrate our 30-year anniversary, we reflect on the countless simple invitations that have contributed to our success. These invitations have transformed lives and communities, and we believe that your simple act of inviting others can help shape the next 30 years of our journey.

We have a humble request: Can you join us in extending a simple invitation? Could you invite 30 people to our upcoming Community Awareness Breakfast? Even more powerfully, could you forward this invitation to 30 more individuals? It’s a ripple effect of kindness, with the potential to touch countless lives – 30 to 30 to 30 to 30.

Join us for our upcoming community awareness breakfast.

Time: 7:00-8:30 AM

Location: Madison Event Center in Covington

RSVP: https://bit.ly/OctComBreakfast

Thank you for being an essential part of our Lord’s Gym community. We look forward to celebrating our journey and building an even brighter future with you.

Stand firm.