Thanksgiving

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” -Psalm 95:2. Psalms has to do with singing, music, or words set to music; here it is associated with thanksgiving, and while true thanksgiving incorporates the use of words and music, this rhythm must spring out of adoration and praise directly to God from our heart. In Psalm 138:1, the Psalmist vows, “I will praise You with my whole heart…” But then thanksgiving takes another turn, that of speaking to others about all His wondrous works, as David’s prayer in Psalm 26:7 reflects, “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.” Malachi 3:16 reveals that God has a book of remembrance written for those who fear Him and speak to one another (King James says often). I fear that too many of our thanksgiving gatherings, while including feasting and fellowship, not only on the fourth Thursday of November, but throughout the year, have “forgotten” the real meaning of thanksgiving, passing it off to a mere “table blessing”, if that. “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth…” -Psalm 149:6.

I Am Thankful

-By Rose Hill

For the sky up above and for the Father’s love,

I am thankful.

For eyes to see the beauty around me,

I am thankful.

For friends so dear and nothing to fear,

I am thankful.

For home so sweet and good food to eat,

I am thankful.

For health today and no pain I say,

I am thankful.

For the joy of salvation and a free nation,

I am thankful.

For God’s word to read and from sin I’m freed,

I am thankful.

For the prayer of the just and in God I can trust,

 I am thankful.

 I will give thanks in everything,

And about God’s blessings I will sing.

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright by Thomas Nelson Co. and are used by permission.