of thanks giving.

Next week it's Thanksgiving. My husband always makes fun of me because I tend to put the emphasis on the first part of Thanksgiving. Like, thanksgiving instead of thanksgiving. You know. But, I always reply with "it's because the thanks is the most important part." Don't read into that too much- there isn't a lot of deep thought put into that- I think giving could be equally important in that word. Anyway...

My point of telling you all of that is simply, I think it is good to give thanks. Why?
Because Psalm 100 starts by saying this: "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his..."

And Psalm 107 says this: "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

And 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 says: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." 

And Philippians 4:6 says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God"

"Thanks" can mean grateful, gratitude, praise, recognition, acknowledgment, bless, appreciate, oblige, overwhelmed, content, pleased, satisfied...

And we have much to give thanks for! If I think back to my family's Thanksgiving meals, we would often reflect on what we were thankful for. Even in elementary school I remember art projects and journal entries around this time of year showcasing what we were thankful for-- and I always came up with something. Lots to be thankful for. God is good and I praise him- his love endures forever!

But truthfully, it sometimes feels hard to give thanks. Even at Thanksgiving. Sometimes it feels difficult to be thankful when you look around the turkey and cranberry on the table and see a dear family member is missing. In recent years I have watched friends mourn the death of a husband, a mom, a dad, a friend. I know friends who won't sit around a big table with all of their children this Thanksgiving but instead by a hospital bedside to be with their child. It was one Thanksgiving many years ago that I lost my mom. It's hard. Giving thanks feels really hard sometimes. 
So what is there to be thankful for, really? We do have reason to give thanks: 

Matthew 11:28-30 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."  


Sometimes, I admit, I have felt like there was no way up. The sadness/stress/tragedy/difficulty was just too much to bear. But I believe in the promises of God. And I have seen him meet my needs. I have felt him (though sometimes it feels like it takes a while) lift the heavy, awful burdens I've carried. When I've lost loved ones I have felt his love so so strongly through friends and family in my life and seen his grace upon me through others. 

And so, there is thanksgiving.



posted by: Tara

living things both small and great.

Today I was just noticing the beauty that is fall. I love the way the sun hits the trees as they wear so many colors- their changing leaves in golds, oranges, reds, browns, even purples. So, today I want to share Psalm 104-- I think it speaks for itself (with a little "bold" and "italic" emphasis added by me)... 

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
   O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
 covering yourself with light as with a garment,

stretching out the heavens like a tent. 

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;

he makes the clouds his chariot

he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds,
   his ministers a flaming fire.

 He set the earth on its foundations,
   so that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
   the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled;
   at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down

  to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
   so that they might not again cover the earth.

 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
   they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field;
   the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
   they sing among the branches.
  From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
   the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
   and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
 and wine to gladden the heart of man,
 oil to make his face shine
   and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
   the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
   the stork has her home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
   the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

 He made the moon to mark the seasons;
   the sun knows its time for setting.
  You make darkness, and it is night,
   when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
The young lions roar for their prey,
   seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they steal away
   and lie down in their dens.
  Man goes out to his work
   and to his labor until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
   In wisdom have you made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures.
Here is the sea, great and wide,
 which teems with creatures innumerable,
   living things both small and great.
There go the ships,
   and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

 These all look to you,
   to give them their food in due season.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;
   when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
   when you take away their breath, they die
   and return to their dust.
When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
   and you renew the face of the ground.

 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
   may the LORD rejoice in his works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
   who touches the mountains and they smoke!
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
   I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
   for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
   and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

posted by: Tara