Thanksgiving

I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to recognize something that the early founders of the nation knew - you have to be grateful for the blessings in life. Unlike those who would spend this national holiday celebrating football, excess, and a day off of work, let's take a step above all of that. What is "thanksgiving" if you don't have anyone to actually thank?

The God who created you also provides every single thing that you have in your life, from your beautiful (and sometimes odd) family to the food in your mouth and the roof over your head. And while it would be appropriate to thank God everyday for your blessings, join the nation and take a few moments to recognize that He alone is the source of every good thing that you have. I know that this seems a little simplistic. That's because "thanks" are simplistic. But they are important because the acknowledge that we need Someone outside of ourselves to help us out. Contrary to popular opinion, we are not self-sustaining. Each of us, no matter how talented or endowed needs help and support. And our God is there to do just that.

Take a few moments between downs (veiled football reference) or between conversations with friends and family to have a time with God thanking Him for your rich life. Try not to let the day go by without Him at the center.

Thursday through Sunday, the blog will go silent. I will be celebrating all that God has done with my family and friends. On Monday, November 28, the written devotions will begin again but with a twist. As we will be in the season of Advent, I will be giving David and 2 Samuel a brief break. The devotions will be centered around the Christmas story and in line with the texts that will be at the center of our worship services at Holy Cross in Flushing. So there will still be daily devotions but the emphasis will be different. In January we will take up the story of David once again.

Dear Lord, please pour out Your peace and presence on my friends and family during this holiday season. Help us to remember that You are the Author of every good gift and that we need to look to You when we are doling out the thanks. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

יהוה שָׁמַר--Yahweh Shamar (God Watches)

Image
Psalm 121 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. There are numerous passages I cling to when stress takes over my life. I would be hard pressed to declare a favorite, but this psalm would come close. So this morning I listened to Psalm 121 about 20 times as I meditated through the verses. First, I want to point out that the word or idea of shamar appears in every verse expect 6. The NIV uses the word "watch" while the ESV uses "keep". The...
Read more

Excusez-moi

Image
2 Kings 23:31-37 31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 And Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 34 And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there. 35 And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the command of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco. 36 Jehoiakim was twenty-fiv...
Read more

Narrow Door

Image
Luke 13:22-30 22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them , 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at tabl...
Read more