By Carol Round

GROVE, OK (ANS) — “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2

Summer flowers have died. Leaves are changing colors. Life goes on. Seasons change in our lives. We experience cycles of trials and calm. Life goes on.

Many affected by the destruction of nature’s wrath this year are still struggling. But life goes on. Even then, we sometimes forget to recognize the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary—and life goes on.

Sometimes we’re reminded of God’s extraordinary in the midst of our ordinary. A friend’s relative lost his home last spring in a Missouri tornado. Six months later, through the efforts of his small church family, he is almost ready to move into a newly constructed house. While funds for the construction have dwindled at times, leaving the crew wondering if they’d ever be able to complete the project, God has shown up in the midst of their uncertainty to reveal how much He cares for His children.

In a moment of divine intervention at an Arkansas baseball game, the leader of the construction crew met a stranger. During their conversation, he told her of the church’s efforts to finish the house. This woman was not just any stranger, but was from a neighboring Missouri town and was part of a church seeking to help tornado victims.

After learning of the need for funds to finish the tornado victim’s house, she arrived at the church the following week with a donation. The donation was $2,100—the exact amount needed to purchase the air and heating system for the new home.

However, that wasn’t the end of God’s extraordinary provision. After hearing about the need for cabinets, a deacon at the tornado victim’s church volunteered to build them. Another church member is making the countertops. Both contributions to the project have been donated to the house that God built.

Sometimes, in our ordinary, busy lives, we don’t see the extraordinary. God doesn’t always provide as He did for this tornado victim. But nothing can stop God’s amazing work in our lives. He even crosses state lines to orchestrate His plan.

As Christians, we are called by God out of our ordinary lives to be His hands and feet. We’re asked to step out of our comfort zones, to use the gifts He has given us to do extraordinary things for His kingdom.

While we might overlook the extraordinary each day, His amazing grace is evident in the things we take for granted. In nature, we see the carefully planned creation of a God who loves to astound us with the myriad of colors amid a variety of creatures, foliage and weather. Without diversity, life would be a dull grey.

Life goes on, but God shows up in extraordinary ways in the midst of our ordinary.

How about you, have you noticed the extraordinary in the ordinary of your life? It can start with developing a habit of thankfulness, which could begin round the table this Thanksgiving. If you have nothing to be thankful for, perhaps it’s time to recognize that Christ died for your sins, so that you might have eternal life.

The Bible says that God sent His only begotten Son , Jesus, to die for our sins, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Now, that’s something to be thankful about.  It also says that if you confess with your mouth, that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)  Pray something like this:

      Jesus, please forgive me for being so ungrateful. I’ve made so many mistakes and realize that you died for my sins. Please teach me your ways and help me to live my life for you, to be thankful each and every day for the rest of my life. I want to start a new life with you leading the way. Amen

Congratulations, if you have prayed this prayer the Bible says, “ Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cr 5:17)

If you’ve prayed this prayer for the first time or are renewing your commitment to the Lord, please let us know so that we can pray for you as you start your new life in Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving!