By Jim Boesch
Thanksgiving, a day that has been celebrated since 1863, is on life support.
You may be been among the thousands of hurried-, bargain-hunting shoppers who were swept up into the increasingly earlier Black Friday sales barrage this year.
If you missed the thankfulness side of turkey day, the reading of God’s Word may remind you of why you should give thanks:
Psalm 100 –– A psalm of thanksgiving
“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
Philippians 4:6-7
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 2:6-7-
“ . . .be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught.
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, let your roots grow down to him. Then your faith will grow strong and your life will overflow with thankfulness.
A Thanksgiving prayer
Gracious God, in the busy-ness of our days, we sometimes forget to thank you for all that is good in our lives.
We are grateful for the gift of life––for the ability to love and be loved––for the opportunity to see the everyday wonders of your creation––for a mind that thinks––and for a heart that feels.
When our hearts feel stretched and empty, we rejoice that you are as near to us as our next breath and that amid turbulence, we can receive your forgiveness and grace.
We thank you for your unconditional and eternal love. Amen
Jim Boesch, a certified men’s ministry specialist and deployed staff member
General Commission on UM Men
jimboesch68@gmail.com