GIVING THANKS

I Was Just Thinking About – GIVING THANKS.

Tomorrow, people throughout the nation will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Foundational to Christian Faith and Practice is the application and implementation in our homes and with our families – First Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give Thanks in all circumstances – and – for everything.” As and when you PRAY at your Thanksgiving feast, will you pray generally or particularly? In 1891, August L. Storm prepared a list of items for which one should Give Thanks. The words appeared in the Swedish Salvation Army Paper, STRIDS-ROPET. Perhaps you can make use of it at your Thanksgiving Dinner.

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity!

These stanzas introduce one to the possibilities and potential for Giving Thanks as an individual and family. Perhaps you could also read together Psalm 103:1-5, 20-22,

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 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 so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s…Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!”

Then – a good way to conclude this Thanksgiving Worship as you gather around the dinner table would be to sing enthusiastically and with conviction – The Doxology –

Praise God from whom ALL BLESSINGS flow;

Praise Him ALL CREATURES here below.

Praise Him above YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;

PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. Amen!

Prayerfully - Consider these things with me!

Have A Joy-Filled Thanksgiving.