Gratitude

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thes. 5:18 NASB)

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Ps. 28:7 NIV)

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Ps. 118:1 NIV)

"I Give Thanks To You" *

For the first morning light

For the birds when they fly

For the clouds when they hang

Up so high in the sky

For Your glory I see in a sweet baby's smile

I give thanks

For those times when I've laughed

With my family and friends

For the times when I've cried

Sensed Your spirit again

For Your love that I find when Your praises I send

I give thanks I give thanks

For my clothes and my bed a roof over my head

And a piping hot meal when our table is set

For a walk on the beach

Where Your beauty is seen

I give thanks

For the sound of the saints

When they all join in

And proclaim You are God the forgiver of sin

For this hope in my heart

That forever I'm Yours

I give thanks I give thanks

I give thanks to You I give thanks oh Lord

For everything You give

For everything I have

I give thanks to You I give thanks oh Lord

For all these perfect gifts

They have come from You

So I give thanks

For this breath that I breath

For my eyes that can see

Beaming sunsets and stars

Mountains valleys and trees

For the years that You've shown

Only kindness to me

I give thanks

For the stripes that You bore

So that I could be healed

For the crown that You wore

So that I could be free

For Your blood that You shed

Given freely for me

I give thanks I give thanks

I give thanks I give thanks

I give thanks I give thanks

Over the weekend several things got me thinking about being grateful. I won't go into all the details, but here are a few things I came up with in no particular order:

• To live in an era when I'm not responsible for raising and storing food for me and my family
• The means, intelligence, and equipment to have access to email and Internet
• The Truth of the Gospel
• Kind nurses named Laura
• A child born a bit early and quite tiny that, two years later, is starting to recognize his letters
• Roasted pecan crackers
• A home for our family
• Pleasant weather & beautiful sunshine
• Children's bodies that function correctly to cry, smile, eat, and, yes, fill diapers
• The Hope of Eternity where there will be no more evil

You probably have some things - little or large - that you have on your mind.

It may seem strange to be talking about Thankfulness when Thanksgiving is three months away. But our modern Thanksgiving has largely lost the depth and humility of the first one - when a group of settlers had lived through a horrendous winter and death took so many of their group, and then the natives helped to save them from sure starvation that next year. We don't "get" that kind of thankfulness when our Thanksgiving is about family, overeating, traveling, football, Black Friday, or a day off. So, I propose that today - on a beautiful August 2010 day - we take a moment to express our thanks to God. Will you join me?

Providing, Saving, Loving God, we thank you for.....

* CCLI Song No. 5614390

© 2009 WeMobile Music by

Tommy Walker