Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

The Joy of Giving Thanks

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Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving
Psalm 100:4

Picture a little girl sitting all alone on an enbankment near her home, dutifully pouring over the words from her Bible, taking time to memorize Psalm 100. A favorite elementary teacher had given the assignment to complete during the Thanksiving Holiday. 

Today, I’m surprised my first memory of Thanksgiving isn’t about the feast and fellowship our family enjoyed that day. No, it isn’t about the food.

It’s all about Psalm 100.

Those words penned on paper, thousands of years ago by a shepherd boy named David, took root in my heart that day and started me on the pathway of knowing God.

Now in the winter season of my life, I still love to quote the psalm.  

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness.
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God. 
It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 
Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. 
For the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting
and His truth endures to all generations (Psalm 100 KJV).

What special memories of Thanksgivings past come to your mind today?

May your time with family and friends be especially blessed as you gather around the table to thank the Lord for His many blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enter With Thanks-giving

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I remember my first Thanksgiving. Surprisingly
it wasn’t about our family gathering around the table
for a sumptious feast, though I know we did. What I do remember is sitting on an enbankment close to our house, memorizing Psalm 100.

My teacher gave this assignment to our class. I guess she wanted us to learn the art of thanksgiving. So because I wanted to please my teacher, I took the time to learn this psalm written thousands of years ago by a shepherd boy named David.

I’m so glad I did. Memorizing that Psalm was one of the early disciplines that set my heart on the pathway of knowing God. I am grateful I can still quote that psalm by heart today. And grateful for the teacher who encouraged me to do it.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness.
Come before his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord he is God. 
It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.
We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. 
Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.
Be thankful unto him and bless his name. 
For the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting
and His truth endures to all generations (Psalm 100 KJV).

What special memories of Thanksgiving past come to your mind today?

May your time with family and friends be especially blessed as you gather around the table to thank the Lord for His many blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Bonus Years

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Whitest snow dusting trees like
powdered sugar frosting the earth. 
My gift to you this day.
These are the bonus years.
Trust me, let go of
your grip of lesser things.
Take my hand and
walk with me…one step at a time.
You need not fear life’s changing seasons.
I’m already there, waiting for you.
Are you coming?
There are many things
I’ve yet to show you.
Many miles you’ve yet to travel,
Many roads to walk with me,
Many joys yet to know.
These are the bonus years.
The best lies just beyond the open door,
where hearts respond to Spirit’s call,
and Jesus bids us follow.
Lay your head on my shoulder,
and lean hard on me. Rejoice. Let Go. Let God.
Take my hand, I’ll lead you home.

You make known to me the path of life;  you will fill me with joy 
in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11 

Praise Him!

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The little rough brown package came late that day. I eagerly tore into the box and found the little plastic solar gadget my friend had promised to send. Along with the gift was a card explaining it would take the morning sun to make it work. Smiling, I placed the gift on my kitchen windowsill.

When I awoke the next morning, the sun was just starting to rise and the gadget had already begun to respond to its rays.

Praise Him I stood there smiling as I watched the dancing flower and reread the sweet message God had spoken into Nancy’s heart. And now mine!

“As the sun’s rays poured through my window, this little mechanism gradually moved its petals and flower more and more, until it looked like it was worshipping the Lord!

What a picture of what happens to us, when we allow the rays of His precious Holy Spirit to permeate us with His Presence. The more I invite Him to ‘shine’ in me, the more I want to raise my hands and shout: 

Praise Him! Praise Him!”—Nancy Heaney

Nancy is a survivor of breast cancer and a picture of perfect health with the glow of Jesus on her face. She has learned to praise God in all circumstances.

I want to add my praise: When my husband Dave and I received the news we would never be able to have children, we were devastated. Yet within six weeks, the Lord blessed us with a baby girl through adoption. Four and a half years later, our miracle son was born. Years later, God blessed us with seven grandchildren!

Praise Him…Praise Him!

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me. (Psalm 50:23 NASB)