“All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above. We thank you, God, we thank you, God, for all your love.”
This week affords me the opportunity to encourage and to call upon my brothers and sisters around the world to give thanks. We take so much for granted; many of us have become hoarders, forgetting that all that we have are gifts from God that he intends for us to share, and to use, to bring him honor and glory. Many of us have overflowing pantries that God has been gracious to fill, but we tightly close the doors, instead of sharing the blessing. My brothers and sisters in Christ, know that a blessing shared is a blessing multiplied.
“We plow the fields and scatter, the good seed on the land, but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand. God sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes, and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain. All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above. We thank you, God, we thank you, God, for all your love.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, as Christians all over the world, we are celebrating Harvest Thanksgiving; and as we sing the hymns of harvest, this song always resonates with me; it gives me pause for thought. “We plow the fields and scatter the good seeds on the land, but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand. Are we sowing enough in God’s field? Where are we scattering our seeds? My brothers and sisters in Christ, when we sow and scatter good seeds, God, feeds, and waters, and brings about a bountiful harvest. If our harvest, therefore, is not plentiful, it simply means that we are not sowing and scattering enough good seeds, or we are not being thankful enough to God who gives us everything. Let us now give thanks to God, our creator, and the giver of all the gifts we receive. Lord, “We thank you for all things bright and good, the seedtime, and the harvest, our life, our health, our food. Accept the gifts we offer for all your love imparts, but what you most desire, is our humble, thankful hearts. We thank you, Lord!
I will sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things. With His right hand, He has won for Himself the victory. Psalm 98
The Lord has made known His victory, His righteousness has He openly shown in the sight of the nations. He remembers His mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; lift up your voice, rejoice and sing. Give God some praise!
“Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul, and old home scenes, of my childhood, in fond memory appears.”
“Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul. In the stillness, of the midnight, precious sacred scenes unfold. Precious memories, unseen angels, sent from somewhere to my soul, how they linger, ever near me, and the sacred past unfolds.”
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Matthew 18:9
Memories really don’t live as people do. This morning as I was reading this passage from Matthew chapter eighteen, I just burst out laughing as my sister came to mind fondly. When she started having difficulty seeing we would joke about this very passage when I would tell her, if her right eye offend her to cut it out, as it would be better to go to heaven with one good eye that to go to hell with two good ones. She was in such good spirits. Lord, may my sister rest in sweet peace. I miss her so much!
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. Psalm 89:15
“The people that know the joyful sound rejoice in the name of the Lord all the day long and in His righteousness shall they be exalted. For the Lord is their defense and the Holy One of Israel is their king. Blessed be the Lord forevermore. Amen, and Amen.”
Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25
“Lord, send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”
Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You. Psalm 63:3
“O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes. You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes continually. Through Jesus, I will continually offer to You, O God, a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that openly profess Your name.” All glory be to God!
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
“In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice. In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Hear me, O Lord; for Thy lovingkindness is good; turn unto me according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies.” Lord, we fully understand and are grateful, that You who makes promises to us, is faithful, and that You will never treat us as we deserve. Thank You, Lord!
Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22-23
“O Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in times of trouble. Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reaches into the clouds.” Thank You, Lord, for your new mercies every morning. Great is Your faithfulness!