Israel's Shepherd-King testified saying, "I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."  Like David, I have lived long enough to see changes in this world that I never thought possible:  some good and some not so good.  I grew-up in a time when my family had no telephone and we used sheets (as message flags) and bells to communicate with our distant rural neighbors regarding some extraordinary event; however, I have lived long enough to use wired phones, cordless phones, and the latest iPhone.

 

When I was born in 1923, Warren G. Harding was President of the United States. It was a time when African-Americans were disenfranchised by Jim Crow laws and we did not enjoy many of the privileges (e.g. voting) as we do today; educational opportunities were rare and discrimination was rampant.

 

Yet, at age 95, while my eyes have seen a lot of things, I can say emphatically, that I've never seen a time when the Almighty God abandoned or neglected His Children.  Growing-up, we may not have had all that we wanted, but the Lord provided everything we needed.  We serve a God who specializes in preventive promises that ensure His Children are blessed and not beggars; bountiful and not wanting; distributors and not reservoirs; and, conduits and not collectors!

 

Today, as I take a Davidic-look over my life, I can testify that God has kept His promises and surely He is still keeping me.  I preached my first sermon at age 15, pastored my home-church (New Hope B. C.) for 62 years (1946-2008) and another church (Ninth B. C.) for 45 years (1963-2008) until my retirement 10 years ago; and, I've been married to one woman, Annie Mae, for 70 years!  God gave me a front row seat to see and experience how He takes care of His own and the offspring of His Children.

 

I'm grateful for so many things---life, health, strength family, and friends, but most of all I'm thankful to my resurrected Jesus Christ. Thanks to our outstanding NBCA President, Dr. Samuel Tolbert, for letting me address you on my 95thThanksgiving Day!  God is a great and worthy of all praises!  May God bless NBCA and this country!

 

Happy Thanksgiving,

Reverend M. L. Thomas

Ville Platte, Louisiana