“But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” – 1 Timothy 6:8

Well, here we are in the month of November, and our thoughts, of course, turn to Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is, for a host of reasons, my favorite holiday of the year. For one, it is less demanding than Christmas, which is my 2nd favorite holiday. With Thanksgiving, you only have to fix a meal. No gifts, no decorations, just a meal. Second, it is a great occasion for family to come together around the table. As families “mature” and the children disperse, those occasions for sharing a meal together become less and less frequent. Thanksgiving brings families together. Finally – and for Christians this is no insignificant matter – Thanksgiving compels us to do that which we certainly should do, give thanks! It is one of the clearest mandates of Scripture; God expects His people to be thankful. That is the primary reason He so often reminded the children of Israel of His acts that freed them from the bondage of their slavery in Egypt. In every recounting of the story, He was saying, “Consider where you were, and see where you are. Then, stop your grumbling and start giving thanks!”

In truth, Christians should, above all people on earth, be thankful. Psalm 106:1 reminds us, "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." The writer of Hebrews encourages us in Hebrews 13 with these words, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…” Gratitude and thankfulness for that which we have in the Lord Jesus Christ should be the clear and obvious characteristic of our life.

But the verse that heads this brief writing suggests to me that there is an important prerequisite to thankfulness. It is a distinctive “pre-condition”, without which thankfulness will never be expressed. It is the matter of contentment; that often-elusive state of being satisfied with not what I want, but with what I have. The two – thankfulness and contentment – may seem the same, but they most certainly are not. Thankfulness is often merely a passive acquiescence to the condition of my life (i.e., “I have so much, and for it I am thankful.”). Contentment, on the other hand, is a willful choice to find joy in less than fullness. For one who is thankful, their joy may have a “floor”, but for the one who has learned contentment, their joy has no “ceiling”. That’s why the Apostle Paul could say in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

I have known people who have a great deal, yet they yearn for more. On some level they are thankful, but they are not content. But content people are always thankful. They understand that whatever or how much they have is a matter of the kind providence of God. We at Daybreak pray that this November you and yours will be awestruck with God’s goodness, and as regards contentment and thankfulness, may you know and reflect both, to glory and honor of God.

Eddie Benton

Chairman of the Board

This time last year, we at Daybreak became aware of a unique Christian company – a company named EveryLife, whose principal product was baby diapers. EveryLife's “product” seemed to be very high quality, but what truly distinguished them from every other diaper manufacturer was their commitment to never include abortion as a covered medical procedure under their employee medical plan. When we heard that, we knew their diaper was the one we wanted to give our clients. We have always welcomed diaper donations because our clients need them, but we wanted to change our supply to that of a company whose values lined up with ours. And with that came the idea of the inaugural “Diaper Bowl”.

As we begin our “2nd Annual Daybreak Diaper Bowl” on November 1, our mission remains the same: We want to provide high-quality diapers for our clients, and we want to support EveryLife as a company. So, we are once again asking for your dollars, which will be used to fund our purchase of EveryLife diapers for our clients. We have been asked if we will accept diapers in lieu of dollars during the competition, and the answer is yes. But, in all honesty, it defeats the purpose if those diapers are produced by companies who do not share our value of the sanctity of every human life.

So, if you’re a Carolina or Clemson fan who likes a good, healthy competition, please send us your dollars and we’ll buy the diapers from a company who shares the values we hold so dear. There are two ways you support Daybreak clients, EveryLife and your team of choice:

1. You can click here, and the webpage will open to the “One-time” giving tab. Then go to the “Fund” dropdown box and choose either “Gamecock Diapers” or “Tiger Diapers” to make your donation.
2. You can simply write a check to Daybreak, and include your team of choice “Gamecock Diapers” or “Tiger Diapers” on the memo line of the check.

We will be providing statuses along the way on Facebook and Instagram to keep you in the loop, and we will announce the winner after November 30! Of course, the real winners will be our clients, who will have access to a fresh supply of diapers from a pro-life manufacturer whose creed is consistent with its product. Thank you for your continued support of Daybreak.

DAYBREAK DEVOTIONALS: Tuesdays from 12:30pm-1:30pm. Join us November 5, 12, 19, for a time of fellowship, Bible study, and prayer at Daybreak LifeCare Center. November's theme is "Living in the House". Each person who attends the Tuesday Daybreak Devotionals afternoon meetings in November will receive TWO packs of diapers for their 0-24 month-old child or grandchild. DOUBLE DIAPER DAY!

DAYBREAK'S 2ND ANNUAL DIAPER BOWL - USC VS CLEMSON - DOLLARS FOR DIAPERS: November 1 and November 30 (see above).

Daybreak Ministries has been blessed to have our own facility for several years now. Recently, through the continued generosity of our donors and strong financial management we were able to invest in an overdue facelift of our building.

It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can accomplish. Attention to aesthetics not only enhances the overall atmosphere but also signals to our clients and community that we prioritize quality and excellence in every aspect of our operation. This fosters trust and loyalty with our clients. Not to mention, a well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing facility boosts morale for staff.

Balancing responsible facility and financial management with a commitment to excellence in client service is what we strive to do, we hope you appreciate the fresh new look.

Tanesha, a Daybreak client since late 2022, participated in the Baby Bucks program while she was pregnant with her first child. With the "bucks" that she had earned while watching videos about Bible Stories, Pregnancy and Childbirth information, along with Parenting Courses, she was able to receive a brand new bassinette, new car seat, breast pump and baby outfits from Taylor's Boutique.

As her son has outgrown some of these items, she has returned them to Daybreak to bless other mothers who are having a difficult time purchasing much-needed supplies for their babies.

Whenever she stops by to pick up her monthly diapers, wipes and a bundle of gently used baby clothing for her sweet boy, she always has a bag (or two) of baby clothes to donate to Daybreak. In the video below, she states emphatically that she will "never stop giving!" Thank you, Tanesha, from everyone at Daybreak and our clients. We are thankful for you!