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Listen while you read: "Gentle Jesus Meek And Mild"1 (Lyrics) |
Colossians 3:15b-17 – Be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (NIV)
One of the greatest things about celebrating Thanksgiving is the singing of long-time favourite hymns that keep coming back to us, hymns with words like: "Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom His world rejoices." With thanks comes praise, praise for beauty and love: "For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, Lord of all to Thee we raise, this our sacrifice of praise." And more: "Now thank the Lord, we thank the Lord for all his love."
Thankfulness for God's love yields more praises like, "Come, let us all unite and sing, God is love; God is love. O tell to earth's remotest bound, in Christ is full redemption found; His blood can cleanse our sins away; His Spirit turns our night to day, and leads our soul with joy to say, 'God is love; God is love.' He will be with us all the way; God is love; God is love." "Come, let us sing of a wonderful love, tender and true, tender and true; out of the heart of the Father above, streaming to me and to you."
And for children too: "Can a little child like me thank the Father fittingly? Yes, oh yes, be good and true, patient, kind, in all you do; love the Lord, and do your part; learn to say with all your heart, 'Father, we thank Thee, Father, we thank Thee, Father in heaven, we thank Thee.'" Yes, how fitting and necessary are these words for us older folks too! So, "Sing them over again to me." "Come, ye thankful people, come."
Come with even more uplifting praise: "Morning has broken, like the first morning. Praise for the singing, praise for the morning; praise for them springing fresh from the Word. Praise every morning God's recreation of the new day."
On Thanksgiving Day, with reverence and awe, we can certainly say with the psalmist, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24 ESV)
Prayer: Dear God, You have given us so much to be thankful for: Your love in Your self-giving Son Jesus Christ, Your presence in Your Spirit, Your Word in the Bible, Your free salvation that requires of us only faith, and that, too, is a gift from You. So we give thanks to You for You are good; Your love endures forever" (from Psalm 107:1). Thanks for songwriters. Thank You for Your eternal promise of heaven. We dedicate to You a thankful heart. Use it, Lord, that others may know. May we be thankful day by day. Amen.
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Thanks Isabel for the good word for today.
May we be thankful day by day, may everyday be a day of thanksgiving in Him.
Amen and Amen, Isabel. Thanks for bringing to mind so many Thanksgiving hymns to make our hearts and voices sing. Blessings.
What an awesome banquet of singing praises to our Wonderful Lord. What a great way for me/is to start our day with hearts full is songs of praise and thanksgiving. Thank you Isobel for this. God bless.
One of the things I am thankful for are devotionals like this, Allison, and indeed for this wonderful site and the dedicated volunteers who make it happen.
Thank you all for enriching my life in this way.
Good morning Isabel! Thank you for your inspirational devotional. Be thankful – “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 ESV)
Thank God, you, Isabel, the other writers of devotionals and the staff at PresbyCan. All of you make my day!
Howdy, Isabel!
I sang my way through your Thanksgiving devotion today.
All the best to you!
(MB)
Oh Isabel, this is a most uplifting devotional you shared with us today. Yes, we certainly have so much to be thankful for!
Thank-you!
(Ontario)
Hello Isabel, I didn’t READ your devotional today, I sang it. Thanks so much. I expect you wrote this for Canadian Thanksgiving but we can share in their day and them in ours. Everyday should be Thanksgiving. Thanks to YOU for this devotional.
May God continue to bless you.
Dear Isabel
And…..thank you for your writing. Every morning I am thankful for another gift of a day. I’m thankful that I can still drive my car, I am thankful that I still am healthy to be able to look after my husband, I’m thankful for my loving families, etc. etc.
Thank you for reminding us of some of our wonderful hymns. I am now residing in a retirement home and the half hour devotion this morning was on “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. I did not know it was based on words
from Lamentations. Something new to learn every day and that indeed is good news. I hope you are keeping well. Blessings.