Thanksgiving praise

Sing to the Lord of harvest,
Sing songs of love and praise;
With joyful hearts and voices
Your alleluias raise.
By Him the rolling seasons
In fruitful order move;
Sing to the Lord of harvest
A joyous song of love.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House

When possession isn't 9/10 of the law

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.
1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)

It's spring, which means it's time to wash windows. As I sat on the ledge, gripping the frame of a first floor window with one hand and washing an outside pane with the other, I thought about the gyrations and machinations my husband and I went through to buy this house.

Beginning with loan pre-approval, the process quickly moved to determining the needs and wants we had of a house and finding a real estate agent we believed we could trust. We spent hours attending open houses and private showings, not to mention negotiating a fair and equitable contract. The final deal involved real estate agents, title companies, lending agents and attorneys. Out-of-pocket costs included title insurance and homeowner's insurance; as well as fees for radon testing and well, septic, termite, and general and structural inspections. What an exhilarating, exhausting process. The ironic thing is that when our agent handed us the keys to the house and congratulated us as "new homeowners," we don't own it! The bank does.

Chapter 29 of the Old Testament book of First Chronicles records the collection of gifts for building the temple in Jerusalem. After donating his personal fortune to the construction project, David appeals to the people for their voluntary gifts. He is deeply moved by their joyful response. Interestingly, however, David thanks God and not the people that such giving is possible from people who apart from God's goodness have nothing.

Standing before the Israelite people, David praises God's power and proclaims His ownership over all creation. He adores God and ascribes glory to Him as the God of Israel, blessed forever and ever. With thankfulness David acknowledges that everything comes from God, including the grace of God that enables the people to contribute so cheerfully towards the building of the temple.

David speaks humbly of himself, and his people, and the offerings they presented to God. He appeals to God about his own sincerity in what he did. Finally, David prays to God for both the people and his son Solomon that both might hold on just as they began.

Through the gifts of His people, God provided the resources necessary for building the temple, the symbol of His presence among His people. Though these resources were in the possession of the people, in David's eyes they had never ceased to be the full property of the Creator Himself.

Rev. Dennis J. DeHaan wrote, "We as Christians must recognize that God is the rightful owner of our possessions, or they will be a cause of frustration. Our attitude will be reflected in what happens to them. A dent in the fender of our new car, for instance, can bend us out of shape. A coffee spill on the furniture can stain our attitude. A theft can easily rob us of peace."

When we transfer ownership of our goods to God in our hearts, only then can we learn to use things wisely, hold them lightly, and enjoy them fully.

Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

P.S. If you happen to be in the area, grab a bucket and stop on in. There are more windows to wash. ;-)

A prayer for thanksgiving

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts."
Psalm 105:1-2

As we pause this Thanksgiving Day, will you join me remembering in songs of praise and words of thanksgiving the unconditional love and gracious bounty that our Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of life, so richly gives us?

Now thank we all our God,
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms
Has blest us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

(Source: Now Thank We All Our God, Lutheran Worship, Concordia Publishing House)

LORD, as I sit down to a Thanksgiving table, I want to thank You for Your goodness to me. Thank You for meeting my needs every day--for food and shelter and clothing. And for the many extras You provide that I so often take for granted.

Thank You for family and friends who make my life complete. Thank You that even when we are miles apart, we are bound by the cords of Your love.

And I thank You that I live in a country where I am free to worship You and to read Your Word.

Most of all, I thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that He not only died for my sins, but that He is alive today and at Your side hearing my prayers and preparing a home for me in Heaven.

Thank You that I can face tomorrow with hope because Jesus is living for me.

O, Lord, how truly rich I am! Thank You for all You mean to me. Amen.

Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

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