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Category Archives: Thanksgiving

A Devotion of Praise and Thanksgiving

O MY GOD, prayer on rock silhouette

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,

my heart admires, adores, loves thee,

for my little vessel is as full as it can be,

and I would pour out all that fullness before thee

in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee

ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,

ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,

ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,

crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,

for adorning it, sanctifying it,

though it is fixed in barren soil;

for the body thou hast given me,

for preserving its strength and vigour,

for providing senses to enjoy delights,

for the ease and freedom of my limbs,

for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;

for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,

for a full table and overflowing cup,

for appetite, taste, sweetness,

for social joys of relatives and friends,

for ability to serve others,

for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,

for a mind to care for my fellow-men,

for opportunities of spreading happiness around,

for loved ones in the joys of heaven,

for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language

to express,

for what thou art to thy creatures.

 

Increase my love, O my God, through time

and eternity.

 

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Food, Fellowship, and Football: Redeeming Thanksgiving from our Traditions (Psalm 30)

Food, Fellowship, and Football: Redeeming Thanksgiving from our Traditions 
Psalm 30

Recognizing the goodness of God in our lives. A Christian should have a disposition of thankfulness.

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. (Psalm 30:1 ESV)

The context here is like The Lord drew David out of a dark pit or well.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. (Psalm 30:2 ESV)

David acknowledges his dependence on God, and his relationship with Him.

I. Praise God (vv. 1-3) This should be our life’s ambition.

II. Proclaim God’s goodness (vv. 4-10) When we experience goodness in our life, we naturally want tell everyone we know about it.

As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” (Psalm 30:6 ESV)

The pride of self-sufficiency.

For this sin, God hid his face.

By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. (Psalm 30:7 ESV)

David was undone.
In verses 8-10 David cries out for mercy.

III. Thanking God (vv. 11-12)

The context of parallelism:

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, (Psalm 30:11 ESV)

Mourning to dancing
Garments of sackcloth to clothes of gladness
God delivers us so we can praise Him. He saves us for Himself.

that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
I will give thanks to you forever! (Psalm 30:12b ESV)

We should turn (repent) our Thanksgiving traditions to a disposition of thankfulness and praise to God Forever!