'There is someone greater than you who loves you more than you are made to love yourself' said Dr. Nathl L. Mo

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Samantha Cano speaks to the chapel audience about what she is thankful for. (CU Photo by Emily Barth)

CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY (11/20/2018) (readMedia)-- "Be thankful because you can make it," Dr. Nathl L. Moore, pastor of First African Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky. and the vice moderator of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, said as he opened Campbellsville University's Thanksgiving chapel.

"1 Peter is an epistle to persecuted Christians. Chapter 1, verses 3-6 tell us that in spite of all the trials you are going through you can make it with Jesus," Moore said.

"These verses tell us that the first thing we should do is bless the Lord, because we can make it. We should praise the one who enables us to get through trials."

Moore said, "The literary construction used in these verses is used in other places in the Bible, reminding us that all praise goes to God.

"God is bigger and stronger than all your trouble, and He is the one who makes making it possible."

He referenced 1 Peter and said "The persecuted Christians Peter is writing to are able to endure the persecution with a power that is greater than them which comes from God."

Moore said "The ability to do make it through trials is there but you have to put forth the effort, and trust in God. When you don't think you can make it, God is right there with you."

"People should have comfort in knowing, 'God has done for you what you cannot do for yourself.'"

Moore said people go through trials so that, "He might reach others through you because of what you're going through. You are being empowered by the power of God, and He has given you a purpose. There is joy in the fact that God is working on you to work through you."

Dr. Bethany Stiles, assistant professor of voice, directed the University Chorale in a special worship service.

Four CU students participated in the Thanksgiving testimony explaining why they were thankful.

Samantha Cano, a junior from Chicago, Ill., said she was thankful for her parents, because, "without the love, patience and support [from them] I wouldn't be the women I am today. Therefore, they have set the example of the person I want to be: selfless confident, and hard working."

The other three students who spoke were Edwin Ford, a sophomore from Powder Springs, Ga.; Grace Ortega, a freshman from Louisville, Ky.; and Trey Binder, a junior from Georgetown, Ky.

Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 13,000 students offering more than 90 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The university has off-campus centers in Kentucky cities Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset, Hodgenville and Liberty with Kentucky instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville, and nationally in Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, Jacksonville, Fla. and Chicago. The university also has a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.