Who do you need to thank God for sending to you?

First and foremost I thank God for sending the Lord Jesus Christ into my life.

-My wife, Jamey, she is my perfect counterpart. As well, she is spiritually like-minded, tolerant of me (not a doormat but one who understands my shortcomings), and she is content to be my helper and grows where she is planted.

- Floyd Marasco, 82 years old, a retired barber who pastored ever since he left school (just completed 40 years at his current church). As a teenager, I knew him as my grandfather's barber who would visit him in the hospital. Years later, in my early 20s, I was 'accidentally' reacquainted with him in his old barber shop (he was retired but dropped in to hand out Christmas cards). Every since then he has been my mentor (he's even called me his Timothy). He has shared his experiences as a bi-vocational pastor and how he balanced that with his family.
As well, he has to this day modeled tireless service in sharing the gospel, whether from the pulpit, in the counseling office, or in hospital visitation.

-From a distance-John MacArthur- not only for the content of his teaching but for the discipline and one-mindedness of purpose.

-Most recently I am very drawn to the teaching of the late S Lewis Johnson.

-former (Jeff Johnson) current pastor (Gary Schneider) for not only encouraging me, but for directing my studies, and offering me opportunities.

 

I've had a policy for many years to try and thank these people before it is too late. It was the result of finding the phone number of a dear man that had done wonders in my life (realizing it was the Spirit and calling to thank him only to find he had died the week before.

Since, when someone like this comes to mind I get on the net or phone or snail mail and thank them for being used of the Lord in my life.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ,
My mom and dad,
My wife and son,
Mr. Blair (7th Grade History teacher),
Mr. Burgett (Jr. High Band Director),
Ms. Brown (8th grade English teacher),
Mr. Joe Francis (High School Choir Teacher),
Mr. Rico Belotti (High School Band Director),
Ms. Karen Dismuke (High School Band Director),
Mrs. Martin (High School Geomotry Teacher),
Ms. Rhonda Hawley (High School Choir Teacher),
Mrs. Antollick (Private Voice Instructor),
Mrs. Esch (Piano Instructor),
Mr. Anders (Low Brass Instructor - college),
Mr. Cooper (Band Director - college),
Mr. Parker (Theory / Composition instructor - college),
Dr. Connelly (Music History / Piano Instructor - college),
Dr. Morgan (Education Instructor - college),
Mr. Worthen (Christian minister who prayed for me during college when I was having a hard time),
Calvin Miller (Church Growth prof - SWBTS),
Dr. Robert Ellis (Hebrew prof - SWBTS),
Dr. Boo Heflin (Old Testament Prof - SWBTS),
Dr. Lemke (Hermeneutics Prof - SWBTS),
Dr. Fasol (Preaching Prof - SWBTS),
Pastor Birdsong (Former Pastor),
Pastor Jim Copeland (Mentor),
Dr. Amirkanian (Algebra Prof - college),
I am sure there are many more, too many to mention.

Joseph Botwinick

 

My Grandmother, I didn’t really get to know her until my late teens. A daughter of a Baptist minister that ran off with the Sunday school teacher and left her, her mother and five siblings to fend for themselves, My great grandmother ironed clothes for a living.

She didn’t speak of God often, but lived a Godly life in every thing she did, setting an example that when I started learning about God I realized just how much she must know and how wise in the way she was and righteous in the way she lived her life.

When the whole world seemed to say I was no good and wouldn’t amount to anything her hand went out to me; never judging me but asking me what I wanted to do with my life and then truly listening and believing in me and guiding me into accomplishing those goals. She knew the right questions to ask and how to ask them teaching me to follow my heart and determination to do what was right; cleverly showing me what was “right” through her knowledge. If I messed up she would let me know about it and it hurt; she could say things to me that no one else would ever get away with, things that I needed to hear and knew she was telling me because she loved me, never a doubt. I couldn’t imagine my life without her and her example. She taught me about the love of God by example. Hard to explain, but a precious gift.

God truly brought me to this woman who defines the word “Grand” in Grandmother. She has been gone for two years now and I am still learning from her and though I have thanked God for her unconditional love and wisdom I will always continue to thank God when the blessings from this lady hit my life.