Give thanks!
I’m praising the Lord for the opportunity to go to church in person for the first time in three months! Covid-19 stay-at-home orders are slowly being lifted! While we waited for the re-opening, we were thankful for people and technology that brought online forms of worship services and Bible studies. God gives us abilities and ways to carry the mission forward and draw people to Himself.
Rhubarb is in season in Minnesota! Thank God before a meal or after dessert. Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing.
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| “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV Bible verse sketch markers doodle hand-lettering. |
Thanksgiving is more than general gratitude
Thanking our Creator requires humility because we’d rather think
we’re entitled to things. Provisions of food and shelter, protection,
mercy, grace, healing and comfort are just a few gifts of God.
“From
a biblical perspective, if body and soul, house and home, wife and
children, and the like are to bring us any real satisfaction or joy we
must first reckon with the punishment that our sins deserve. Without
mercy, without forgiveness and grace, without Christ, there is nothing
much to give thanks for since it is all going to be destroyed or sent to
perdition.” —David H. Petersen (read more)
Our help is in the goodness of our Lord!
The Holy
Spirit works in us so we may listen and look at life’s situations from a full
perspective and know God deserves all the glory for everything good.
“But you,
God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take
it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of
the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14 NIV
His steadfast love endures forever!
Jesus is Lord. In Christ we receive the mercy and everlasting loving kindness of our
Creator.
Chronicles contains ancient genealogies, lessons learned from family history, and prophetic hopes for the future.
(watch an illustrated summary)
My church’s sanctuary is designed to optimize acoustics so voices—confessions, prayers, sermons, songs of thanks, praise and all types of musical instruments are beautiful there. Chronicles inspired J.S. Bach
(read more)
- Bach Violin Concertos | Classical Baroque Music
- Hymns by Johann Sebastian Bach in the Lutheran Service Book, CPH
- Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light, LSB 378
- Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here, LSB 414
- O Sacred Head Now Wounded, LSB 449
O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild,
LSB 546- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, LSB 657
- The Ancient Law Departs, LSB 898
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Father in heaven, to You alone do we owe thanks and praise.
read more
Pray: Lord, we cannot see the
possibilities of Your big picture of love that endures forever if we refuse to open our eyes. Take away our unhealthy assumptions that we know everything when, in truth, only You are all-knowing and have sacrificed all to save us. Forgive us when we forget and decline opportunities to listen well. Put Your genuine love to work within us to discern when to speak and when silence is effective in order to hear and empathize with others. Put helpful words in our mouths to give Your grace to others. Thank you for understanding and holding us while we endure hard things. Thank you for every gift of goodness. Amen.
