by Barbara Rainey
It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. PSALM 92:1
As Psalm 92
tells us, "It is good to give thanks to the LORD . . . to declare Your
lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night." With a
little effort, you can make Thanksgiving a cherished family time devoted
to thanking God for what He has done in your lives.
One tradition we've kept for years is to have each family member write
five things for which he or she is thankful. On our plates are five
kernels of corn—a reminder of the Pilgrims' daily ration during one of
their first difficult winters. Before we eat, we pass a basket around
the table five times, and each person places one kernel of corn at a
time into the basket and tells one thing he or she is thankful for.
Here are some of the things our children wrote one year:
•"I'm thankful for being able to have a family."
•"I'm thankful Ashley got to come home from college for Thanksgiving."
•"I'm thankful for God in my life."
•"I'm thankful for my ministry at my high school."
•"I'm thankful for my sisters and all they've taught me about relationships."
•"I'm thankful I got to shoot a deer!"
•"I'm thankful for a great brother."
•"I'm thankful Ashley got to come home from college for Thanksgiving."
•"I'm thankful for God in my life."
•"I'm thankful for my ministry at my high school."
•"I'm thankful for my sisters and all they've taught me about relationships."
•"I'm thankful I got to shoot a deer!"
•"I'm thankful for a great brother."
Dennis and I were thrilled to hear the kids actually thank God for each other!
After so many years of sibling rivalry, they were finally beginning to
show each other the affection we hoped would continue throughout their
lives.
That year we also were touched by something our son Samuel wrote: "I'm
thankful for my muscular dystrophy." He had been diagnosed with the
disease earlier in the year, and we had been through some wrenching
months.
Thanking God was a big step of faith
for him. And it provided another sign that our children were learning
the true spirit of Thanksgiving—a heart of gratitude that gives thanks
in all things.
Today's Bible Verse...
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.—Psalm 97:12
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Joy! Rejoicing! When we think about the glory of God and the grace that he has shared with us to make us righteous, how can we not rejoice? God is gloriously holy and majestic. He is eternal and just. We, on the other hand, are flawed, mortal, limited, and sinful. Yet in his rich mercy, he has made us righteous by the sacrifice of Jesus so that we could share an eternal home with him. Our response must be praise!
My Prayer...
Holy and righteous Father, I praise your name and give thanks for your grace. You are indeed more marvelous than my mind can comprehend and more generous than I can understand. So I offer you my praise, hoping that my life reflects my deep appreciation for all that you are and all that you have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
Today's Verse Illustrated...
Joy! Rejoicing! When we think about the glory of God and the grace that he has shared with us to make us righteous, how can we not rejoice? God is gloriously holy and majestic. He is eternal and just. We, on the other hand, are flawed, mortal, limited, and sinful. Yet in his rich mercy, he has made us righteous by the sacrifice of Jesus so that we could share an eternal home with him. Our response must be praise!
My Prayer...
Holy and righteous Father, I praise your name and give thanks for your grace. You are indeed more marvelous than my mind can comprehend and more generous than I can understand. So I offer you my praise, hoping that my life reflects my deep appreciation for all that you are and all that you have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
Today's Verse Illustrated...
Bad Youth Activity Idea
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