Thanksgiving is next Thursday. That's a time for us to slow down our normal activities and stop to count our blessings. Isn't it a shame though, that we have to be reminded? Maybe we've lost something in our busy world by not stopping to express gratitude.
Starting in Leviticus 7, with the rules for an offering of thanksgiving, there are over 150 instances in scripture of the importance of giving thanks to God. When Solomon's temple was built, singers were hired for daily songs of praise and thanksgiving. Over 50 times in the Psalms alone, thanks to God is mentioned (see especially Psa. 107 and Psa. 136). So God's word reminds us frequently that we owe our lives and all we have to the graciousness of our Creator.
I can't give you a magic formula for remembering to be thankful, and I don't want to make you feel guilty for not being thankful enough. Just let me suggest that, at different times of the day, you stop to look around and consider all the things you didn't create, cause to grow, or that love you; and thank the Lord for those.
This Sunday at our worship service, we'll have a small "thankful tree," and write a note or list of thanksgiving to hang on the tree. Do you think we can fill it up? I hope and pray you can find many items for your list!
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