In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thes. 5:18 NASB)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Ps. 28:7 NIV)
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Ps. 118:1 NIV)
I was looking through some old blog posts and found this note from over ten years ago:
“Over the weekend several things got me thinking about being grateful. I won’t go into all the details, but here are a few things I came up with in no particular order:
- To live in an era when I’m not responsible for raising and storing food for me and my family
- The means, intelligence, and equipment to have access to email and Internet
- The Truth of the Gospel
- Kind nurses named Laura
- A child born a bit early and quite tiny that, two years later, is starting to recognize his letters
- Roasted pecan crackers
- A home for our family
- Pleasant weather & beautiful sunshine
- Children’s bodies that function correctly to cry, smile, eat, and, yes, fill diapers
- The Hope of Eternity where there will be no more evil
“It may seem strange to be talking about Thankfulness when Thanksgiving is three months away. But our modern Thanksgiving has largely lost the depth and humility of the first one – when a group of settlers had lived through a horrendous winter and death took so many of their group, and then the natives helped to save them from sure starvation that next year. We don’t “get” that kind of thankfulness when our Thanksgiving is about family, overeating, traveling, football, Black Friday, or a day off.”
Some years later, on this Thanksgiving Day, we still have much to be thankful for.
- God has provided for our family a new home and other resources to live life.
- Our children are healthy, growing, maturing, and beginning to launch into their own lives.
- Our extended families are basically doing well.
- After a relocation and three long years of searching, we landed in a wonderful Spirit-filled church where we are all growing and serving God.
- Even in the midst of the societal turmoil of the last twenty years, God has sustained us and continues to work things out for our good.
- And “everyday” things make life more pleasant, meaningful, and joyful – like pets, beautiful snowfalls, gorgeous sunsets, and chocolate chip cookies.
All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude?
I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah
I’ve got one response
I’ve got just one move
With my arm stretched wide
I will worship You
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah
So come on, my soul
Oh, don’t you get shy on me
Lift up your song
‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord*
Providing, Saving, Loving God, we thank you for…..