226 Riverbend Road, Altavista VA

Praise the Lord! Today was the day I finally stepped back into in-person worship and my heart could hardly contain the joy of being surrounded by everyone again. What a blessing it was to attend Calvary Baptist Church as the 133rd stop on this incredible, humbling journey.

My family was invited to a special Thanksgiving service, and it was such a gift to be joined by my husband, daughter, and other family members including my sweet mother- and father-in-law as we gathered with this beautiful church family to worship together.

From the moment we stepped through the doors, we were met with warm smiles, heartfelt greetings, and handshakes that felt like home. Even the children came up to say hello and that kind of welcome tells you everything you need to know about the heart of a church.

From the first moment, you could feel the spirit of thanksgiving in the room. Pastor Matt’s message, “Thanksgiving Among Us,” perfectly matched the spirit of the day. Before he even began to preach, the church had already overflowed with praise honoring veterans, celebrating a member’s graduation from aviation school, and giving glory to God for every blessing.

Sister Beth played the piano with such beauty and grace that every note felt like an act of worship. As we all sang hymns together, I could feel the walls of my heart softening, the kind of peace that only comes when you’re surrounded by believers who love the Lord and live out their gratitude.

And as Pastor Matt opened the Word and read from Psalm 136, I was struck by one simple truth that echoed like thunder through my spirit:

“For His mercy endures forever.”

That refrain repeats twenty-six times in that psalm as if God knew how quickly we’d forget.

Psalm 136 reminds us that everything we have, everything we are, and everything we will ever become rests on God’s mercy. It is His mercy that keeps the sun rising and the stars shining. It is His mercy that provides rain for the fields and breath for our lungs. It is His mercy that rescues us from ourselves again and again.

Sometimes, in the struggle, we forget. When life grows heavy and prayers seem unanswered, it’s easy to believe mercy has run dry. But today, as I sat with my family and listened to Pastor Matt’s message, I was reminded that mercy is not something God gives, mercy is something He is.

And as 1 Chronicles 16:34 declares,

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever.”

That verse ties it all together. The goodness of God is inseparable from His mercy. His goodness pursues us even when we run. His mercy holds us when everything else falls apart.

When my heart forgets, His mercy remembers me.

There have been seasons in my life when I’ve felt forgotten. Times when the pain of the past screamed louder than the promises of God. But this verse, His mercy endures forever reminded me that even when I fail, even when I fall short, God’s mercy has already made a way back.

His mercy didn’t expire the moment I broke down.
It didn’t withdraw when I questioned His plan.
It endures, it outlasts my pain, my doubt, my weakness.

Mercy isn’t just something I read about, it’s something that caught me when the world let me fall.

After the service, we were invited to share a meal with the congregation and what a feast it was! Tables were filled with home-cooked dishes, laughter, and warmth that felt like a glimpse of heaven’s banquet table.

A special thank you to Aunt Patricia for her sweet potato casserole, pure love in a dish and to whoever made those greens, bless you abundantly!

But more than the food, it was the fellowship that filled me. Sitting there, surrounded by people giving thanks for what God has done, I could feel His mercy made visible in every conversation and smile.

As the holiday season approaches, I know not everyone feels the warmth of Thanksgiving. For many, this time brings grief, loneliness, or heartache. But let me gently remind you, you are not forgotten.

Even in your sorrow, His mercy endures forever.
Even when your hands are empty, His mercy endures forever.
Even when the table feels too quiet, His mercy endures forever.

You don’t have to manufacture joy, you just have to hold on to Jesus.

I thank the people of Calvary Baptist Church for your compassion, hospitality, and love, for making my family feel not just welcomed, but wanted.

Today reminded me that the heart of worship is gratitude, and that gratitude begins by remembering mercy.

I can’t wait to see where the Holy Spirit leads me next but for now, I’ll rest in this…

“The Lord is good, and His mercy endures forever.”