I wrote this primarily for me, for I find it quite helpful for me to count my blessings.  Nevertheless, I thought that some of you might find it helpful to read as a springboard for your own time of thanksgiving.  This is  by no mean an exhaustive list, for the more I wrote down the more I thought of.  Some of these things are obviously incredibly important, and a few of them are trivial.  But at the very least, though, I am thankful for . . .

My God:  God is the rock of my life and the foundation and source of all other blessings which follow.  I am humbled by His very real love for me.

My wife:  She is getting more beautiful each year, and I can’t imagine life without her.

My children:  I have 9 great children with tremendous love, diverse talent, and a wide variety of interests.  Life is sometimes exhausting but never boring in the Marslender family.

My son-in-laws:  They treat my daughters well and they are good men in their own right.  They are great additions to our family.

My family heritage: Grandparents, aunts-and-uncles, parents, in-laws . . . God blessed both sides of our family with a great heritage!

Our family reunion this last summer:  There is no distinction between “my family” and “her family.”  From the very beginning, I have been loved and accepted as much by the Haymores as by the Marslenders, and I loved the opportunity to spend a few days in North Carolina with my Haymore family.

Our health:  God has given our family good health, and we are very thankful.

My grandson:  Yes, Wyatt gets his own entry.  He’s my one and only (so far) grandchild!

My calling:  Serving God by preaching, teaching, caring, and leading is always a challenge.  Seeing lives change is a blessing beyond words.

FSBCA Members:  We have some of the best church members in the world.  They work hard, worship wholeheartedly, give generously, love me unconditionally, and make being a pastor a work of joy rather than drudgery.

FSBCA Staff:  They love God and they love people.  They challenge me, encourage me, love me, often outwork me, and only occasionally frustrate me.

My home:  We’ve lived in our home for 13 years . . . longer than any other house since we’ve been married.  We thank God for a good place to live and raise a family.

My country:  Despite our challenges, there is no greater country and no place in the world I would rather live.

Air conditioning:  I love living in Arizona, but I wouldn’t want to live here without a/c!

My car:  It’s 10 years old and has 238,000 miles on it, but it still gets me and my family from A to B.  And I’m thankful for a good mechanic who has kept it going for this long.

My community:  Our many outreach ministries have led me to meet many children, teens, and adults in the Southwest Valley.  It’s a great community with many great people!

Ministry Partners:  Our ministry partners (ASBC, EBA, ABCS, NLPC, MOM, SBC, NSC) help us minister to more people than we could otherwise do.  (Maybe I should say I’m thankful for abbreviations . . . I hope you understood all of that!)

Technology:  Remember “carbon paper?”  They still use it in the County Attorney’s office.  It reminded me how much I am thankful for the many shortcuts and improvements that technology affords us.  And I love my free IPAD, courtesy of a Lifeway giveaway!  And I tremendously enjoy reading my Bible on my IPAD, computer, and even on my phone!

The chance to serve my community:  Serving on a grand jury isn’t fun; most people try to get out of it.  Nevertheless, I thank God for the chance to be a good citizen and to serve in an unusual way.  It has opened my eyes more than once.  If I ever was, I am no longer naive.

I’m thankful for sports:  I’ve never been an outstanding athlete, but I enjoy the diversion and fun that sports brings.  Life can be very serious, so I’m thankful for the fun that I get from watching my kids play, and I like the fact that my children are in great shape as a result.  I also am thankful for UA, the Raiders, and the Dbacks.  I’m somewhat less thankful for ASU, but if it’s good to have a rival, then I’m thankful for them as well!

I’m also thankful for music:  I’ve never been a great musician, but I enjoy good music, and I love the fact that my children are far more musically talented than I am!

I’m thankful that I live in a country in which there is a nationally proclaimed day to give thanks to God and to talk about these things.  I will enjoy Thanksgiving with my family, and we will definitely take some time to thank God . . . and to enjoy our Marslender Family Football game . . . and to eat some great food . . . and to enjoy each other’s company.  I hope and pray that all of you who read this have a great Thanksgiving as well, for I am thankful for each one of you!