The Transforming Power of Gratitude
They’re two of the most life-giving words in the Christian vocabulary: thank you. When spoken from asincereheart,theynotonlyhonorGodbutalsotransform us.Givingthanksismorethanapolitegestureatthedinner table or a quick note after receiving a gift. For followers of Christ, gratitude is how we see the world, a posture of the heart, and a pathway to joy.
The Apostle Paul gives us a command that seems impossible: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Notice Paul doesn’t say “give thanks for all circumstances,” but “in” all circumstances. Life brings seasons of blessing, seasons of hardship. Gratitude doesn’t deny pain but refuses to let pain have the final word. Gratitude opens our eyes to the hand of God, even when circumstances defy understanding.
Think of Paul—writing letters of joy and thanksgiving whileinprison.Hecouldhave focused on chains, guards, and cold stone walls. Instead, he chose to focus on God’s faithfulness, the prayers of the church, and the unstoppable power of the gospel. Gratitude gave him strength to endure and joy that couldn’t be stolen.
Gratitude Shifts Our Focus
others, on grace. Pride says, “I earned this. I deserve this.” Gratitude says, “This is a gift; I am blessed.” Ungratefulness frequently reveals pride; gratitude reveals a heart softened by grace.
Remember the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17? All ten were healed; only one returned to thank Jesus. The others received physical healing, but the thankful one received more: spiritual wholeness. Gratitude drew him back to the feet of Jesus. Gratitude not only blesses God—it keeps us close to Him.
Gratitude Fuels Generosity
Asurprisingtruthaboutgratitude:itdoesn’tmakeuscling tighter to our blessings; it makes us more generous. Recognizing that every good gift comes from God, we realizewearenotownersbutstewards.Gratitudefreesusto give, because we trust the Giver to continually supply what we need. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:11: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” Gratitude begets generosity; generosity begets more gratitude. A beautiful cycle.
Gratitude as a Witness
Inaworldofcomplaintandentitlement,gratitudeappears like a light in the darkness. When Christians express genuine thankfulness—not only when life is easy, but especially when it’s difficult, it becomes a powerful witness. People notice when our joy is not tethered to circumstances. Gratitude testifies: our hope is anchored in God, not in changing situations.
Practicing Gratitude
When practicing gratitude, our perspective changes. Left to ourselves, we focus on what we lack, what we fear, or whatfrustratesus.Gratitudeshiftsourgazefromscarcityto abundance, from anxiety to trust, from what’s missing to what’s present.
David models this beautifully in Psalm 103: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Then he lists them—God forgives sins, heals diseases, redeems lives, crowns us with love, and satisfies us with good things. Gratitude begins by remembering, by taking inventory of God’sblessings.Themorewecount,themorewerealizeHis mercies truly are new every morning.
Gratitude and Humility
Gratitude is also deeply tied to humility. At its core, saying “thank you” is an admission: “I couldn’t have done this alone.” Gratitude acknowledges dependence—on God, on
Perhaps one of our greatest evangelistic tools is not a clever argument, but a thankful spirit. A grateful person is attractive, approachable, and often contagious. Gratitude spreads.
How do we cultivate gratitude? It doesn’t usually happen automatically; it takes intentional practice. Here are three simple steps:
Count your blessings daily. Keep a gratitude journal or simply pause each evening to name three things you are thankful for. Over time, this discipline reshapes how you see life.
Express thanks often. Say it to God in prayer. Say it to others in conversation. Write it down in notes, texts, or cards. Gratitude grows stronger when it is spoken or written.
Choosethanksintrials.Whenhardshipcomes,makethe deliberate choice to look for signs of God’s presence and provision. Even small mercies become treasures when discovered in the dark.
Continued on page 5…
ATourGuideina MuslimCountry
By James (pseudonym)
“I
am inviting you all to my place this Friday night for vespers,” Marsha said with a foreign accent. She was standinginfrontoftheBiblicalGreekclassattheseminary. Therewereabout30ofusintheclass,mostover30yearsof age. This was a remedial class for M. Div. students who had come from different walks of life to enter pastoral ministry later in life. Many of the students were married with children.
When I went to Marsha’s apartment that Friday night, I could not pronounce the last name written on the door. A 10yearoldgirlopenedthedoorandlookedupatme.Then, Marsha came and invited me in. The little girl disappeared toherbedroomwithoutaword.Thatlittlegirlsoonbecame the only person in the world who calls me, “Dad.”
Marsha had 17 places to sit in her university apartment. That night 17 people came. Those vespers meetings continued until we graduated. The faces changed from time to time, but the vespers were always well attended. Two couples married from those Friday night get-togethers. Marsha and I and another couple.
Marsha had been a tour guide in a Muslim country. An Adventist tour group shared their faith with her. Later,theyinvitedhertotheircountry. She went, studied with them for 3 weeks and was baptized. On her way home, she thought, “How can I share these wonderful truths with my people? Surely, they will gladly accept something so logical and true.”
After we married, we tried to find a way to serve in Marsha’s home country, but each time the door was closed. We couldn’t understand why. So, we settled into pastoral ministry in the United States.
One day a seminary classmate called Marsha. “I am with Adventist Frontier Missions (AFM). We want to set up a church-planting project in your home country. Could you tell me whom to see and where to go?” When the classmate reported to AFM, their office called Marsha. “Would you and your husband like to go to your homeland to do church-planting among your people?” Normally, AFM did not take missionary candidates our age because language learning becomes more difficult over thirty years old. But Marsha was a native.
Ihesitatedononepoint:AFMmissionariesraisetheirown funds. Does God work that way? I knew that Paul was a tent-maker. I searched the Ellen White data base to find help. Nothing. We continued praying about the call.
About that time, we were switching internet providers. I neededMarshatotransferheremailsfromoneservertothe next. Procrastination. I asked again. Marsha looked at her emails and noticed a letter from a former tour member whosemotherhaddied.“Sheleftmewithsomemoneyand Iwantittogotoaministrytoyourpeople.Doyouknowof any ministry to which we can donate this money?” Yes we did. How much money? Nineteen thousand dollars! God answered myquestion.Yes,Godworksinthis way.
When she returned to her homeland, she was the only Adventist in the country from a Muslim background. Her entire Christian education was 3 weeks. How could she share a faith she still knew so little about? She was invited back to the country where she was baptized, this time with her daughter. At college there, she met a visiting professor fromAndrews.“Whatareyoudoinghere?”heasked.“Iwill go to work with Adventist World Radio” Marsha replied. The professor said, “They will not listen to you without a degree. You are a single mother.” So, God provided the way for Marsha to come to Andrews University.
We launched with another family. A few years later another family came. Then another. And a nonAFM family was instrumental in planting a church in that country. When I write that “we” did something,pleasenotethatallofus worked together by God’s grace and not Marsha and I working alone.
Except for Marsha, we spent time learning the language and culture. We wrote Bible studies appropriate for the culture and world-view of thepeople.Weopenedapublishing company. We printed books and made videos. For worship, we met inhomesatfirst,alternatingbetweeneachother’shomesso as not to draw attention from the neighbors. In time we grew to need a public place of worship. We opened a nonprofit and have a “church” in an office building. The new frontier is social media. We praise God that while Marsha was the first a few decades ago, now there are many more Adventists who know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
In certain countries AFM workers use a pseudonym. These missionarieswillspeakattheArdenSDAChurchNov.22.Youcanview various AFM projects at afmonline.org/missionaries.
WhyIAmThankful
by Grace Notes Staff
LastNovemberGraceNotesaskedourreadershiptotellus what they were thankful for. This year we turned the spotlight on our writers and asked them to tell us “Why I Am Thankful.” These were their responses.
SaraMcCord–MoeandIjoinedtheSeventh-dayAdventist Churchin1999whenwewerebaptizedandbecamemembers atArden.Wehadbothbeenraisedwithin20milesofIndiana Academy located in Cicero, IN, but we knew very little of the churchorAdventistbeliefs.WhenwemovedtoAsheville,NC in 1998 we found that one of the three channels available on our TV was 3ABN. Soon we decided to start visiting the surrounding churches, and the rest is history.
Fast forward to 2016. Moe and I have now been in the church for 17 years. One Sabbath, early in the morning, I received a phone call from a neighbor of my parents up in Indiana. She had grown up next door to me all those years ago. She informed me that there had been an ambulance at my parent’s house. With heart racing I called my dad andsoonlearnedthatmymomhad passed away during the night. We were all devastated. I had just spoken with my mom that Friday night on the phone at length. A fun conversation filled with our regular weekly update and many laughs. With broken heartswebeganplanningandtakingcareofallthethingsthat come with the death of a loved one.
As the days neared the date for the memorial service, our family traveled to Indiana to be with family and take care of the remaining tasks. I reached out to the Cicero Adventist Church for help. Although they knew nothing of me or anyone in my family, there began to be a daily visit from one of the church members delivering homemade meals to my parents’ home.
I learned that week what a powerful ministry a simple meal really is. Their kindness touched me in an unforgettable way, and I’m certain my non-Christian family members were positively affected as well.
So, our church family is not confined to our local congregation. Anywhere
we go in the world we have faithful, dependable family membersreadytoserveatamoment’snotice.Let’sallstriveto betheextendedchurchfamilyofeverybelieverweencounter. Nancy McMillan – Among the endless blessings our Lord has provided me this year, there is one blessing recently that still boggles my mind. I was headed down a path where I knew I shouldn’t be going. Satan was having a field day with me. I kept spiraling down this dangerous path, my selfcentered human mind and heart wanted something I knew wasn’t conducive to my relationship with Jesus.
I kept praying His will be done…yet, I didn’t like His answer. At the point of no return, Jesus grabbed me from the abyss. Now…I am in total understanding how and why He left the ninety-nine to find the one. And that “…He happily put [me] on His shoulders…” (Luke 15:3-7). What immense love and concern our precious Lord has for us. More than thankful for our merciful Lord, I am thankfully His!
Max and Cari Hammonds – The two activities most conducive to heath – more than stopping smoking, weight control, vaccinations, cancer screenings, carefully controlled eating – are regular, moderate cardio-exercise and social connectedness. This spring we benefited from both.
On April 7, 2025, Cari Jo zipped through the garage toward the garbage can – on a wet floor. She slipped and fell, fracturing her left thigh bone just below the hip joint. She says, “We always think our walking, weight-lifting, and yoga exercising will help us live a longer, healthier life. When I had to drag myself through the garage, over the door sill, around the corner, into the kitchen, and hoist myself up to reach the emergency call device in the top drawer, I discovered that good body conditioning allowed me to do the necessary physical activity to call someone to my aide.”
Over the next five days, I (Max) was consumed with monitoringCari’spre-opandpost-opcareinthehospital.My dietary requirements were minimal and Cari was in no condition for visitors. But once Cari was stabilized, our church family and our FPI family began to send meal packages on a regular basis, including entrees, fruits, and salads.
Cari was transferred to The Laurels Rehabilitation Facility onSabbathmorning,April12.Oncesettled,wesentoutword that Cari was ready for visitors. Sabbath afternoon was a steady rotation of one visitation group after another. Couples – and some family groups – shared the minimal seating accommodations in Cari’s room. The enfolding of sincere prayers and the wall of get-well cards reassured us of the supporting, warm fellowship and abiding love from both our family groups – the Arden Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church and the Fletcher Park Inn (FPI) community. Over the next two weeks, the flow of foodkepttherefrigeratorstocked.And thecontinuedprayersandvisitsheldus up for the blessings of God.
And – when Cari needed to move up in her bed, her good leg was strong enough to plant solidly and push her
up.Whensheneededtohoistheroperativeleginoroutofthe bed,herexcellentphysicalarmstrengthliftedherleginorout as needed.
We are thankful for our SDA Christian lifestyle promoting totalhealth–physical,mental,andspiritual.Andweoverflow with thanksgiving for our loving, caring families – at church and at FPI. Following God’s wise counsel in physical conditioning and community connectedness, we were blessed and are thankful on both accounts.
Whitney Barron – The things that I am feeling most thankful for this year are: God's creation, family, and healing.
OurCreatorissoamazing!Magnificenttrees,colorfulbirds, cooperative ants, and tiny baby animals are just a few of the things that bring me to my knees in awe of His gifts for me.
My spouse, children, parents, siblings, extended family, and churchfamilyaresoimportanttome,andIamsogratefulfor them. I delight in seeing God's love shining through the eyes and acts of my brothers and sisters in Christ and feeling the love we share towards one another, our community, and our Savior.
Thehealingofmind,body,andspirithasplayedasignificant role in my life recently. From COVID and cancer to healing, from past traumas to re-marriage, from addictions to freedom, my gratitude to my Jesus, counselors, pastors, physicians, friends, and family overwhelms my heart and fills me with joy.
There were several times in particular that I recall so clearly. The first time Steven attended church after his amputation, I pulled the truck to the front door. Before I could hardly get out of the car, I could hear people saying, “Steven’s back!” So many people came over to welcome him, surrounding him (and me) with such love and true joy of seeing him again. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
Another time that I’ll never forget was while Steven was at Care Partners Rehab facility. We were meeting with his physical therapist, when we heard someone very quietly coming in the room. Well, it was Pastor Eric dropping off some delicious food that Ann Marie made! It sure warmed our hearts.
On October 14, 2021, Steven died. It was the darkest day of my life. Pastor Eric and my church family really showed their love for Steven and for me in the way they reached out to me with such love. Whether it was a phone call, a text, a visit, books on grief, coming to his memorial service, showing me so much love, getting hugs, and just sitting with me while I criedwasthebestgiftIcouldimagine.Theyletmegrieveand they showed me love and kindness. I am so grateful that now, 4 years later, I am doing better. I will always miss my sweetheart, but one day, Jesus is returning. Oh yes, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” Psalm 30:5. Come, Lord Jesus.
We at GN are thankful for our family community at the Arden SDA Church. We pray that you are also experiencing the same love that we have felt. And we pray that this family fellowshipwillcontinueuntiltheLordcomestotakeustothe BIG family and home.
JeanDavey–OnDecember27th,2005,myhusbandSteven was diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disease called granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis). Thankfully, his doctor listened to his symptoms and ran the correct tests to accurately diagnose this disease which needed immediate treatment. During the sixteen years he had this disease, he bravely endured many hospital stays, infusions, specialists, labs, and medicines. In 2016 due to the many years of prednisone resulting in a bone dying in his foot which led to reconstructive surgery, a bone infection was found and Steven had an amputationofhisrightleg. It saved his life.
Steven and I joined the Arden SDA church in 2010, five years after his diagnosis. We knew early on that we had made a great decision joining this church. The friendliness of everyone, making new friends, and having so many people praying for Steven’s health was such a blessing. He had thankfully gone through periods of time when he was better and felt like working in different Arden ministries which he enjoyed. During the tougher times though, when a lot of prayer was needed, our church family came through. We received phone calls, visits, cards, and offers of help. What a blessing it was to truly know our church family really cared.
Continued from page 2….
A Call to Thanksgiving
As we enter this season, remember: gratitude is not just a holiday in November—but a daily habit of the redeemed. We have much to be thankful for—most of all, the gift of Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, we have forgiveness of sins, hope for tomorrow, and the promise of eternallife.IfGodnevergaveusanotherblessing,thecrossand theemptytombwouldbeenoughreasontogivethanksforever. Let’s be a church family marked by gratitude—quick to notice God’sblessings,eagertoexpressthanks,andfaithfultolivewith thankful hearts. Gratitude honors God, shapes us into Christ’s likeness, and shines His light in the world.
This week, when you pause to say “thank you,” remember those two small words carry eternal weight. They echo through heaven,gladdentheheartofGod,andremindusofwhoweare: beloved children, living each day by grace.
28Fundamentals: #19
TheLawofGod
“Pawpaw.” Mark and Matthew (his younger brother) marched quickly down the garden path toward the small greenhouse at the back of their mother’s property. “Pawpaw!”
“I’m in here, boys.” Albert Groot (aka Pawpaw, grandfathertotheboys),trowelinhand,pokedhisheadout of the greenhouse. “Come on in.” He moved back into the darkened interior as the two young men entered. “I’m repotting some houseplants for your mother.” Matthew immediatelypickedupapottoexaminethetransplantings. Pawpaw smiled at his younger grandson’s interest in all things green.
Pawpaw backed up and sat on his stool. “You boys sounded like you’re in a hurry.”
“Well, we were.” Mark poked his brother to get his attention. “We’ve been discussing a situation developing at Matthew’s school.”
“Oh, yeah.” Matthew set the African violet back on the counter. “Hmm. Do you remember that verse from Lamentations you quoted – about how the Law is no more and the prophets have no vision?” Pawpaw nodded. “Well, it suddenly came to me while we were talking. So, I wanted to ask you about this.”
“So, what’s happening at school?” Pawpaw laid his trowel on the counter.
“Agroupofkidsaretalkingaboutallweneedis to believe in Jesus. We don’t have to keep all the commandments in the Bible. Just love one another.” Mark shifted his feet. “That doesn’t feel right to me.”
“I told him this was serious, Pawpaw.” Mark leaned against the counter, his arms folded over his chest, his brow furrowed.
“It is serious, Mark. It’s called antinomianism –againstlaw.”Pawpawlaidhisforearmnexttothe trowel, drumming his fingers on the counter for a moment. “The Apostle John had this same problem in his day and wrote the letter of 1 John to address it.”
may choose to do right, but they won’t be able to do it by themselves. Unless . . . they just don’t want to follow any rules at all.” Then Pawpaw held up his hand. “Okay. Stop.” The boys watched Pawpaw touch his index finger to his chin. “We’re arguing negatively against their thinking. Let’s startwithourownpositivelineofreasoning.Helpme,boys. What do we know about the Law?”
Matthew spoke first. “Romans 7:12 – ‘the Law is holy, righteous, and good.’ That’s NASB.”
Mark added, “Psalm 119:142 – ‘Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. And Thy law is truth.’ That’s NASB also, using old English pronouns for God.”
“Yes, it does.” Pawpaw flashed a smile. “Okay, put those two Scriptures together. Where does a holy, righteous Law come from? Who is it describing?”
“The Law is not a thing, Pawpaw,” Mark said almost reverently. “It’s a Person.”
“Yes, it is.” Pawpaw nodded. “The Law describes the motivation, will, and actions of God – it is the character of God.”
“WhoGodis–andwhatHewantsustobelike.”Markwas thoughtful. “To be like Jesus.”
“But we know we can’t do this on our own,” Pawpaw said. “I think that’s what your friends are up against at school, Matt. They’ve tried, and they can’t. How can we do this, Matt?” Pawpaw asked. “Think carefully. Reason it out.”
“My life, Pawpaw, revolves around my relationship with Jesus – to be His disciple: to abide with Him, to learn from Him, to be like Him.” Matthew was almost in tears. “Because He loved me and I love Him.”
Pawpaw was on his feet and hugging Matthew. “Well said, my son, well said.” Pawpaw looked over Matthew’s shoulder at Mark. “What about obedience, Mark? Do we have to obey, or not?”
Mark was becoming agitated. “Well, they’re quoting John’s letter saying that Jesus came to take away sin and quoting Paul in Colossians saying the Law was nailed to the cross. We just believe in Jesus and love one another.”
Pawpaw shook his head. “They are misquoting John. 1 John 3:10 says we must practice righteousness, as well as love our brother. Unless they are stronger than Paul, they
“Jesus said, ‘If you love Me, keep my commandments.’ Tough call, Pawpaw.” Mark shrugged his shoulders. Then he smiled. “And this is where Romans12:2saysthattheHoly Spirit orchestrates the transformation of our minds, that is, our hearts. And our transformed behavior will provethatthewillofGod–the Law – is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Pawpaw reflected for a moment. “The Law shows us whenweneedhelp–andtheLawisvindicatedwhenweare transformed.”
“Pawpaw, if the Law is the character of God,” Matthew pondered, “when we reject the Law, aren’t we rejecting God?”
“That’s the pitfall of lawlessness, Matthew. Takes us to someverydangerousplaces.”Pawpawpaused.“Let’sgotalk with your mother. She needs to check with the school leaders.”
TwoThankful Lepers
Naamanflingsoffhisouterrobesandplungesdownthe bank to the Jordan. One can barely call it a river, he thinks to himself; it’s not very wide, neither is it very clean. But, as his servants say, what has he got to lose?
The military commander’s head bobs out of the water again,ashismenwatch,andhisarmcomesuptosweephis wet hair out of his eyes. Suddenly Naaman freezes in midmotion, staring at his arm. He scrambles out of the water anduppastthescrubbybushesonthebankuntilhecansee clearly. Naaman looks at his legs and chest, and turns his back, calling for a soldier to tell him what he sees. It’s gone. Completely gone. All the infected white areas are clean. All the damaged, bleeding areas are replaced with fresh, healthy skin. His life is rescued! Somehow, somewhere, in taking that final seventh plunge into the water, in a muddled, half angry, half crazily hopeful action, the God of Israel accepted his desperate doings as faith and made him whole again!
Now Naaman is standing outside the house of Prophet Elisha, a foreign general loudly proclaiming, “There is no God in all the world” except this One who has healed him. Naamanissothankful,hehascomebacktodeclarehisnew allegiance and bestow great riches upon the prophet. No, despite Naaman’s urgings, Elisha won’t take any money or gifts; this miracle is not for anyone’s enrichment, but to show God’s power and love . . . to anyone, from any land, who will reach out with just a mustard seed of faith. Well,then,canNaamantakesomesacksofsoilbackhome to remember his place of healing? He vows never to sacrifice to any god again, except Yahweh Himself. And if theSyriankingleansheavilyuponNaamaninthetempleof Rimmon back home, will Yahweh grant Naaman peace? After being healed, Naaman knows Rimmon is not real; is not actually bowing down; is just paying honor to his king. Go in shalom, peace and wholeness, Elisha tells this thankful foreigner, now a worshipper of the one true God. It’s 860 years later—ten men are shouting, calling out, trying to get the attention of another group passing by: “Jesus, Authority, show mercy to us!” The rabbi is traveling south from the Galilee region toward Samaria and Jerusalem. They know his reputation and are convinced thathecandowondersnotseensincethedaysofElijahand Elisha.
For one of the ten, the story of Naaman is particularly poignant,forthoughhecomesfromthelandofElisha,heis nowaforeignertotheJewishfaith.Willtherabbicursehim
as a hated Samaritan, or accept him as Elisha accepted Naaman? Leprosy is a great leveler and he has blended in with these Jewish sufferers here at the border, the liminality between Galilee and Samaria. Accepted in fellow misery, once healed, will his companions turn on him when wholeness reveals him an outsider, same in sickness, but foreign in health?
The rabbi-prophet, Jesus, sees the men. He sees their condition, sees their pain, sees their loss, sees their hope, sees their solution. But they, like Naaman, must act in faith. Not until then will healing come. “Go,” He says, “show yourselvestothepriests.”Nopromises,justtheimplicitidea that their lives are about to change. And now they are running flinging off their outer robes and plunging down theroadtofindachildofLeviwhocanconfirmtheirhopes. And as they run, they feel! Nerves are regenerated, claw hands unclench, paralysis releases, deformities straighten, erosions and amputations reform, and ulcers drop off, all leaving fresh new delightfully itchy epidermis.
And what does the foreigner feel? Along with all the sensations of his reignited peripheral nerves, he feels a strange emotion. One he has not felt for many a hopeless year. Thankfulness.Overwhelming gratitude. He cannot keep going, but shouting, runs back to the Servant of God.He collapses before his Benefactor, face to His feet. Like Naaman, he proclaims the greatness of God, thanksgiving pouring from his heart through his glad exclamations. Thank you, Rabbi; thank you, God!
“Werenottencleansed?Wherearetheothernine?Didno oneturnbackandgivepraisetoGodexceptthisforeigner?” wonders Jesus pointedly to the Jewish disciples and hangers-on around Him. No doubt he lifts the thankful Samaritan to his feet: “Get up and go your way. Your faith has saved you.”
What about me, today? Am I an insider who feels entitled to God’s healing, or am I an extra-thankful outsider who knows what it means to be rescued by Jesus, by a gracious Yahweh?
(This story is based on 2 Kings 5:1-19 and Luke 17:1-19)
Who’sStealingMy Teeth?
It’s a habit we were taught to do as small children – to brush our teeth. The old song about “The Old Family Toothbrush” was the reality for those in our greatgrandfather’s generation (birth 1900-1930) – when toothbrushingoccurredastheneedarose,nothabitually.It was also their reality that almost all of them lost all their teeth. They wore dentures, or for some in their elder years, theygummedtheirwaythrougheating.Thisoutcomeisno longer the norm and certainly not desirable. Like all other areas of life in the last 125 years, dental health has made rapid progress because of habit patterns of prevention and advances in dental science.
The cause of tooth loss is dental decay (cavities) and gum disease (periodontitis). Both these problems are caused by bacterial infections. The bacteria of the mouth stick to the surface of the teeth with the assistance of food particles and saliva, forming a sticky, colorless film called dental plaque. Within the plaque,thebacteriaproduceacidsthat dissolve the major component of the tooth enamel (exposing the softer, underlying dentine layer to destruction). This process is called demineralization. The higher the presence of simple carbohydrates (sugars) in the mouth, the more rapidlythisprocesscontinuesassugar feedsthebacteria.Whenthehighcarbohydratepresenceis removed,thesalivaandtheenamelcanreversetheprocess, repairingtheenamel(remineralization),agoodreasonnot to eat continually.
painful swelling, inflammation, and bleeding of the gums (gingivitis). This process leads to destruction of the covering (cementum) of the roots of the teeth (which are less hard than the enamel above), destruction of the bone holding the teeth in place, and destruction of the small filaments attaching the gums to the roots of the teeth (called periodontitis).
This infectious process and inflammation can lead to an increase in multiple systemic problems or an increase in theseverityofproblemsalreadypresent:increasedclogged arteries (heart attack and stroke), high blood pressure, diabetes, dementia, irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune flair-ups, and oral cancers. As someone has said: “Many diseases get their start in the mouth.” In the reverse, the presence of these diseases make the mouth more vulnerable to dental problems and tooth loss.
Practically speaking, dental decay and tooth loss impacts daily life in causing pain and discomfort, difficulty speaking, chewing and swallowing, limiting foods we can eat (leading to nutritional deficits), facial appearance, halitosis, and social acceptance.
Dental hygiene is the prime intervention for these difficulties. Brushing teeth at least twice day and flossing the teeth with some form of surface scrubbing device. Electric tooth brushes and water flossing machines can add power to the brushing and scrubbing needed.
Additionally, stop using nicotine. The decrease in blood flow from nicotine (smoking, chewing, or vaping) increases tooth loss by three times.
This process in the tooth above the gum line is tooth decay, producing a cavity in the teeth, usually at the gum line or in the grooves on the crown of the teeth. Of the children world-wide, 60-90% of them have cavities when the developing mouth is forming what will become the adult alignment of teeth. The decaying or absence of “baby” teeth will likely cause adult teeth to emerge in incorrect positions, sometimes painfully so.
Tooth decay is not just a childhood disease. With poor oral hygiene, adults are also prone to the same process, especially older adults who may have decreased immune and white cell responses to infection.
Below the gum line, the same infectious process leads to
Pay attention to the sink. Blood after brushing is the first sign of gum disease that needs attention. Also loose teeth, pain on chewing, persistent bad breath are indications that something is amiss. Increase the fluoride intake. Many civic water systems are providing fluoridated water. Fluoridated tooth paste, mouth washes, or dental applications of fluoride are equally effective. Bypass the moral, religious, or resistance questions and in some way personally take advantage of the proven effects of fluoridation in preventing tooth decay.
One further intervention is to address dry mouth symptoms. Saliva helps neutralize the bacterial acids and remineralize tooth enamel. Check out your medications for causes of dry mouth as they are the frequent culprits. If the dryness persists, use frequent sips of water to keep the mouth hydrated. If using hard candies or cough drops to relieve dryness, use the ones with xylitol, a natural sugar substitute that won’t promote cavities.
As in many health situations, preventing tooth decay and gumdiseaseispreferabletodealingwiththeconsequences of these problems. Choose to take the cure. Brush, floss, hydrate, and fluoridate. Your health and life probably depend on it.
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Servings per recipe: 4
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 lbs- Sweet potatoes, peeled if desired and sliced into 1/2-inch sticks
1 Cup- Small red onion, sliced
4 Tbsp- Olive oil, divided
3 Tbsp- Honey
3 Tbsp- Fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp- Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 1/2 Tsp- Garlic, minced
1 Tsp- Cumin
DIRECTIONS
Servings per recipe: 4
1 Tsp- Paprika, smoked
1/2 Tsp- Ground coriander
1/2 Tsp- Chili powder
Salt to taste
Warm Corn or flour tortillas
Green and purple cabbage, cotija (monterrey or manchego would also be good), diced avocados, fresh salsa or pico de gallo and hot sauce (optional)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Use a baking mat or line a baking sheet.
Drizzle sweet potato sticks with 3 Tbsp olive oil and toss to evenly coat. Sprinkle evenly with cumin, paprika, coriander, chili powder and season lightly with salt to taste then toss to evenly coat. Bake in preheated oven for 15 - 20 minutes until tender, removing from oven and tossing once halfway through baking.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onion and sauté until caramelized (golden brown on edges and tender), about 5 - 6 minutes, adding in garlic during the last 30 seconds of sautéing. Reduce heat to medium-low, add in honey and lime juice. Heat until warmed through. Toss in roasted sweet potatoes and cilantro. Serve over warm tortillas with desired toppings.
OurPrayerof Thanksgiving
by the Arden Church membership
Our Father and Our God, Out of Your creativity, You imagined and brought forth the universe of light, energy, and matter in which we live – and struggle to understand. In the vastness of space, Your wisdom placed a small planet orbiting a third-rate star which became the theater in which to demonstrate Your unfathomable love.
On a tiny plot of earth on that planet, You inspired our churchpioneerstoplanta“lightonahill”toilluminatethe Arden area of North Carolina with Your story of love. Those who have been members for the longest time have watched this church grow under Your guidance from a company renting someone else’s extra space to a full-fledged church with a prominent impact on our neighbors. Desiring to reflect Your grace, we have rejoiced together in the sweet fellowship of Your saints and have struggledwiththemthroughtheirseveresttrials. By Your counsel and corrections, we have matured into a tight-knit, supportive family. And we have been blessed by Your grace. Thank you.
We have appreciated the pastoral leadership you sent us, some to be trained by us and some to gently and carefully train us. We thrived under some; we stuttered under others. But always we learned to love each other. And by Your wisdom of matching pastoral skills with our needs, we were blessed. Thank you.
fifty plus years old and we have not stood still. We have added to the sanctuary lighting, pews (and need to again), expanded platform design, and a magnificent window that inspires those who worship inside and illustrates the ultimate goal of Your church to those on the outside. We continue to improve our foyer, our electronics, our greeters, and our fellowship spaces to more clearly and effectively share Your story with those who come through our doors.
Even more importantly, we have thrived under our current pastoral, elder, and deacon (male and female) leadership. As those who age out are stepping aside for mental or physical reasons, You have trained and sent us younger, effective replacements. Young couples with growing families have filled our pews and our children’s story times to overflowing, sometimes forty or more. Astounding! These younger adults have grasped the reins of leadership and are now serving us with love and grace.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our spiritual gifts gradually matured. Our ministries grew, some even thrived. You taught us how to discern the needs of our surroundingcommunityandhowtoworkwitheachother. Someofustaughtothersofushowtosew,howtobuildup and how to cut down, how to sing, how to paint, how to build a backdrop, how to lead a group. We learned lessons from how you taught Your disciples and adapted them to teach our disciples how to apply the principles of Your Word to the tasks at hand. And You blessed us as we tried to follow Your pattern. Thank you.
Nowweareamature–andstillthriving–church.Weare
And these young people – from grade school age and up – have played the piano, delivered the scripture reading and offering calls, told the children’s story, and offered special music during our worship times. They have effectively taken up the reins in leading and executing our ministries and in leading and helping in our recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene – for our members and for many others in the community. You keep sending them to our church and we continue to be blessed by their presence. Thank you. As all of us serve together in important ministries, Your Holy Spirit touches and changes our hearts and welds us into loving small group families – in the Men’s Ministry, the Women’s Ministry, the Bags of Love, the Arden Street Ministry, the potluck teams, the Zoom Prayer Meeting group, the yearly Arden Church mission trips, the Pathfinder and Adventurer teams, the FLAG Camp staff, and the Grace Notes editors and writers. And especially the Sabbath School classes, our basic small group families. In all these Small Groups, we have learned to overlookindividualhumanweaknessesandlearnedtolove eachother.Wearebeyondgratefultobepartofthegreatest miracle of all – the change of the human heart. We are beyond blessed. O, Father God, how we thank you.
We eagerly await what You have in mind for our further growth. We are learning Your methods of loving service. Now we need the Holy Spirit to lead us into the next stage ofourprogress.Inspireourleadership.Speaktoourwilling hearts. As you blessed us when we followed Your plans in the past, even so, bless us with willing hearts to follow You into our future.
We pray our prayer of thanksgiving in the precious name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Our family focus this month features new member Natasha Clabern. Natasha was baptized on August 9th and joined the Arden Seventh-day AdventistChurch.
Natasha was born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. When Natasha was young, her mother and father divorced and she and her mother moved to St. Croix, VirginIslands,butin1985theymovedtotheAshevilleareawherehermotherwas raised. Her mother remarried when Natasha was three years old. She is close to her step-dad and also her dad, which is a blessing to her. She has one half sister, Anna who lives in Summerville, South Carolina.
She attended Ira B. Jones Elementary school in Asheville, and A.C. Reynolds MiddleandHighSchoolinFairview. SheattendedUNCAshevilleforthreeyears majoring in Art History and Life drawing. She also went to Western Carolina for two years majoring in graphic design and photography. She graduated in 2023 with an Associates Degree as an X-ray Technician from Southwestern Community College in Sylva, North Carolina.
Natasha has worked for twelve years as an X-ray Technician at UNC Pardee Orthopedic Sports Medicine in Asheville. She really enjoys helping people and sees many people who are in a lot of physical pain, and she tries to show them compassion and lift their spirits.
She has lived in Cashiers, Sylva, and Cullowee, North Carolina as well as South CarolinaandSt.Croix. Herfavoritehobby is hiking. She particularly enjoys long hikes and hiked on Cold Mountain for twentymiles. ShealsohikedatHumphries Peak in Arizona which was 12,658 feet in elevation. Her other hobbies include crafts. She is learning to crochet and also learning to sew and is helping with Bags of Love. Natashahasonedog,Tannerwhois twelve years old. Tanner is an Australian Shepherd and she is a real blessing to her.
Natasha also enjoys traveling. She served as a Nanny for a family when she was in hertwentiesandwenttoRomeandalsoSardiniaIslandintheMediterraneanSea. She also went with a friend for a month to Australia and next year is planning a trip to Scotland with another friend. She has been to Alaska and learned how to flyfishandcaughtasalmon,althoughitgotawaybeforeshewasabletocaptureit!
ArdenSeventh-dayAdventistChurch IsaSafePlacetoGrow.
Our Purpose is, by God’s Grace, to reflect His character in our community, to demonstrate a quality of life that will attract all to be reconciled to Jesus Christ, and to encourage people to become His loving, maturing disciples.
GraceNotesEditorialStaff:
Max Hammonds...............................................Editor
Chris Small.................................................Columnist
Jean Davey..................................................Columnist
Max Hammonds..................Reporter & Columnist
Pen Braister-Sturgis.....................................Reporter
Sara McCord.................................................Reporter
Dan Reynolds...............................................Reporter
Arizona McCord...............Reporter & Proofreader
Chris Small .....................................Special Graphics
Jim & Carolyn Sullenberger................Proofreaders
Nolan Darnell........................Mailing Management
Shirley Wallstrom...................Circulation Manager
Whitney Barron.................................Layout Design
Comments, suggestions and praises are always welcome. Please email or contact the church office.
Natasha grew up attending a Presbyterian and also a Baptist church. As a young adult, she had some turmoil in her life and found she only attended church for special occasions like Easter and Christmas. She began dating a man who grew upasanAdventistandwasamemberattheArdenchurch. Shewassoimpressed withtheArdenChurch,anditwasthebestfeelingforher.So,shedecidedtoreach out to Pastor Eric and Ann Marie and began Bible Studies. Her relationship endedwithherboyfriendbutshecontinuedcomingtochurch. Asshesaid,“God knows the big plan!” She visited for a year and a half and was baptized in August. She looks forward to visiting Sabbath School classes and new ministries.
We are so happy to welcome Natasha Clabern to the Arden church family!
Services each Saturday morning: Sabbath School Bible Study, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service, 10:45 a.m.
Location: 35 Airport Road, Arden, NC 28704
Located on Highway 280, (Airport Road), 1.5 miles east of I-26 exit 40, and a quarter mile west of Highway 25.
Church Office:
Office Manager: Sharline Bliven Office Secretary: Summer Cronin Telephone: (828) 684-6700
Email: office@ardenadventist.org
Website: www.ardenadventist.com
Office Hours: Mon., Wed., Thurs.,9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Arden Adventist Pastoral Staff:
Senior Pastor: Eric Bates, D. Min. Email: ebates@carolinasda.org
Associate/Youth Pastor: Rich Maskelony, M .Div. Email: rmaskelony@carolinasda.org
GraceNotesis published monthly by the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church. Subscription is free by calling or emailing the office.†Doyou have questions about what Adventists believe? Would you like to become a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Would you like to study the Bible? You are invited to attend a Pastor’s Bible Study Class. Please call for location and time. All are always welcome.
† Disclaimer—The contents of Grace Notes, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained in this magazine of the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider, who is knowledgeable and experienced in the use of specific medical or Lifestyle Medicine interventions, or about questions you may haveregardingamedicalcondition.Neverdisregardprofessional medical advice, or delay in seeking it, because of information published in this magazine. Neither Grace Notes nor the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church recommend or endorse any specific tests, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in published articles. Relianceonanyinformationprovidedissolelyatyourownrisk. If you have a medical emergency, call your healthcare provider or911immediately.
GRACE N TES
Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church 35 Airport Road Arden, North Carolina 28704 (828) 684-6700 A Magazine for Sharing God’s Love In Our Community
If you no longer wish to receive Grace Notes, or if your address has changed, please contact us.
What: Bags of Love* Fundraiser
When: November 16, 2025 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Arden SDA Church Community Life Center 35 Airport Road, Arden, NC Why: To Support Children in Need *Bags of Love is a faith-based ministry to meet immediate needs of children taken from their homes in Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, Polk and Rutherford counties. A “bag” of essential needs & goodies is provided to bring comfort and security to displaced children in their time of feeling lost and confused. Your support of foster children and other children in crisis, is greatly appreciated!
BiBle Cryptograms in proverBs
Each of these cryptograms is a proverb in substitution code. THE QUICK. BROWN FOX might become GRP FLCHY, SXUKV MUN if G is substituted for T, R for H, P for E, F for Q, L for U, C for I, H for C, etc. One way to break the code is to look for repeated letters. E, T,A, O, N, R and I are the most often used letters.Asingle letter is usuallyAor I; OF, IS, and IT are common 2-letter words; try THE orAND for a 3-letter group.All six of these proverbs are from Proverbs 14.And all six proverbs have the same code. The letter substituted for all E’s is the same in all proverbs; another letter is the same substitution for all T’s in all proverbs, etc. Solving all proverbs simultaneously will help find the solutions more quickly.
HEALED ON THE WAY
July 2, 2025
Learninggraceisslowand hardthewayrecoveryofany kindisusuallyslowandhard.
Whenaboneisbrokenoramuscletorn,nosupplyofgodlywishingcanspeedthepaceat whichthehealinghappens.Thismoment’snotforoptics,notforshow:nothinglessthan patient,cellularrecoverycanmakeuswholeagain.
Andsonoprojectthatcontemplatesthecompleteoverhaulofourpersonaltheology,the transformationofourheartsandminds,andthemendingofourwoundedrelationshipsshould bedescribedaseasyorexpectedinlessthanyearsorevendecades.Hearthepresent,active tenseoftheseamazingverbs:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:2-5)
Wemaysometimesbeprivilegedtodiscernthedayonwhichgracefirstbegantohealus.Butit willtakemillenniaatleasttohelpuscomprehendthelengthandbreadthandheightanddepth ofgracebeyonddegree.
Sostayingrace.
BillKnott