Coffee Talk

With Marc & Denise Atchley

A SEASON OF GIVING ... THANKS

“For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”

2 Corinthians 9:12-15, ESV

Like most of you (who live in the U.S.), our family celebrated Thanksgiving last week.  It was an intimate affair with just the six of us and Marc's mom.  We had the traditional turkey and side dishes.  The boys watched football.  Marc had the day off from work ... so he worked on things related to Greece and a new coffee venture that we're getting involved with (more on that later!).  It was a good day ... but a far cry from more solemn and spiritually reflective Days of Thanksgiving celebrated by the Pilgrims and others in our nation's history.

Years after the the Pilgrims famously celebrated a Day of Thanksgiving in 1621, President George Washington proclaimed the first Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer in 1789.  He declared:
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a DAY of PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be...

So often we celebrate the gifts -- family, friends, freedom, food ... football(?) -- and fail to celebrate the Giver.  Even on holidays that are supposed to be all about the Giver, such as Christmas and Easter, it's the gifts that grab our attention.
Well ... Thanksgiving 2019 is in the books.  But we're hoping for a more solemn and spiritually reflective Christmas this month.  "How?", you might ask.  "What's our plan?"  For starters, we're reading through some Advent materials in the evenings before bed.
And we're using these readings to inform our evening prayers -- more Christ-centered and less us-centered.  We're also increasing our giving to missions, so that the light of Christ may come to those in darkness.  Undoubtedly, we'll tear into wrapped presents on Christmas morning, eat too much, laze around ... and maybe watch more football.  But hopefully, we'll see these good things as gifts from the most wonderful Giver imaginable, and our hearts will swell with love and appreciation for Him and His most amazing Gift -- Jesus!

From our family to yours ... Merry Christmas!!!

We praise the Lord for providing partners like you! Here are several specific items for which we would greatly appreciate prayer:
- Greek visa application process
- Selection of housing and school(s) for the children (we hope to visit Athens this coming spring for this purpose)
- Decision about whether to keep (and rent) or sell our house here in Maryville
Thank you for your prayers and generosity!

Marc and Denise Atchley
TEAM - Greece