We’ve recently moved house, so it’s all go in the Porter household as we try to unpack and get things straight. It will take a while but I’m grateful to the property team at York Diocese for all the work they’ve done into renovating the Vicarage at Jubilee Terrace. Whilst there’s still some work going on they’ve done a fantastic job!
Greg and Tamie Downes move to the Vicarage in Muncastergate at the end of next week to join us at The Belfrey. I’m grateful to Rob Hill and a small team who’ve been working amazingly hard to turn the Muncastergate Vicarage round ready for their arrival. They’ve been going the extra mile!
This week a great saint of The Belfrey, Malcolm Morris, died. It was a privilege to be around the bedside with him and the family the day before – to pray and anoint Malcolm in preparation for the fulness of heaven. I’m grateful to the kind staff of Derwent House Care Home in Kexby for their care – and especially to the many people from church who have visited them. It’s been great to see the compassionate body of Christ in action.
I spoke with a wonderful couple this week who I married twelve years ago. They’ve been through some tough times but they’ve come through. But rather than moaning or blaming each other I’m grateful that they’ve instead chosen to renew their wedding vows in church before God. I think that’s great.
Some boxes that had been in storage arrived this week which included some old books from the family home. As I sorted through I found some old letters written in hard times and heartache. They were full of warm, comforting words. There was even my grandfather’s bible that he’d dedicated to his son (my Uncle Gordon) who’d been killed in the Second World War. I was deeply moved as I read the words he’d inscribed: ‘In memory of our loving son… For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive’. I’m grateful not only for my Christian heritage but also for the fresh reminder that faith in Jesus really is transformative, giving us real hope even in the midst of deep sadness.
As I look back on this week, these are just a few of the things for which I’m grateful. And this morning I’ve been turning my gratitude into thanksgiving to God.
How about you? What are you grateful for? And have you turned your gratitude into thanksgiving?
Discipleship Blog 
Lovely blog Matthew. I’m very grateful that my husband has been able to support both of us since I finished work in November. Also I am grateful that I can grow things which makes us more self-sufficient.
I too have my mothers, fathers and grandfathers bibles and my uncles letters from the 1st World War and his medals, humbling but brilliant they were never thrown away.
Mary
Hope you are styling in well!
I am glad for this reminder about counting blessings !
Thanks Matthew
Thank you Matthew, so encouraging. I too found a book someone gave to me when I lost my father when I was ten years old. It was most helpful at the time and is at this time when I am losing friends.
God bless, Audrey
Styling= settling “Doh! “
Thank you for this Matthew – so “grateful” for this reminder to be a “thankful” follower of Jesus. I love the English Standard bible version of Hebrews 12:28 “Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken”.
Matthew, I am grateful for many things, firstly I am gratefuI for the loving upbringing I had from my grandparents, my grandparents were to me my father and mother. I have 3 brothers and a sister who unfortunately did not have the same loving upbringing as I did, they along with my father and mother moved to Canada when I was 12 years old.
I am grateful for the son and grandson I have, and the extended family I have in England and in Canada. For 12 years, at intervals life was very challenging for me, I left my wife in 2002, as a result of materialism and selfishness becoming very apparent in the relationship. Divorce proceedings were very difficult.
I am grateful that with Gods help, my immediate family in York and my extended church family I was able to pull through that situation and living in a bedsit for 2 years.
I am grateful that shortly after my 60th birthday after being apart for 3 years I was reconciled with my son. over that period of time I am grateful for the prayers of others that helped lead to the reconciliation. I am grateful for the story of the prodigal son and have shared the story with my son on more than one occasion.
I am grateful that in 2007 God provided with my present home.
I am grateful that God provided me with a job at Royal Mail in 1972 and the wonderful 42 years I have been able to share in the various communities I have worked in, particularly the community I work in now, which lead to me befriending my dear friend Margaret Hornby ( a member of St Mikes for 40 years) the most inspirational lady I have ever met.
I am grateful that God spoke to me at a time when I was exhausted by working full time and trying to serve at 2 different churches and lead me to commit to St Michael Le Belfry.
I am grateful that God lead me to get involved with the Alpha Course, prophesy course, prayer ministry team
I am grateful that God sent me on missions to Malawi in 2010 and 2012 and that he continues to call people all over the world.
i have a listed a few things I am grateful for, none would have been possible without the love of God and my extended church family.
Every Blessing
Mick