Thanksgiving Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day

We bow our hearts to You and pray.

We give You thanks for all You've done

Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.

For beauty in nature, Your glory we see

For joy and health, friends and family,

For daily provision, Your mercy and care

These are the blessings You graciously share.

So today we offer this response of praise

With a promise to follow You all of our days.

---Mary Fairchild

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don't Forget

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being , praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5 NIV)

The devotional below is from the book, Captivated by the Heart of God by David Good. It is a reminder for us to look through the lens of God's goodness.

As I was reading Psalm 103 the other day I was struck by the phrase in verse 2 that says, "...and forget not all his benefits." I like how the New Living Translation says, "...may I never forget the good things he does for me." Remembering God's acts of kindness to us is a critical part of worship. We don't forget. We just fail to allow the reality of what he has done shape how we understand and feel about life. I think of it as wearing prescription glasses. We can manage without them, but our vision is blurred and distorted and we miss important details. David is reminding us to put on our glasses so that we always view our lives through the lens of God's goodness.

I remember a conversation around the dinner table at our home not long ago with our teenage son. If you have a teenager in your home, I'm sure you have had the same conversation. As we were getting up from the table, my wife informed our son that he needed to rinse the dishes and load the dishwasher. He immediately complained about the unfair workload his mother and I burden him with. I think his exact words were, "Why do I have to do all the work around here?" I am thankful that my wife will not allow guns in our house because I believe she would have shot him right there in the kitchen. Before any violence could erupt, I simply asked him the following questions: Who made dinner? Who went to the grocery store and bought all the food we just ate? Who worked to earn the money to buy all the food? Of course his answer was you and mom. "So, what did you do?" I asked. "Nothing", he replied. He lowered his head and did the dishes and has never said that since. The simple fact was that he had forgotten the good things his parents do for him on a daily basis.

Sometimes we all act like that with God. We go through life with all of its demands, frustrations, trials and pressures and our vision gets distorted. We get tired and frustrated, angry and depressed. We see God as harsh, uncaring and distant. That is when we need to put on our glasses so that we can see clearly and be reminded that he is good and his mercy endures forever. If you ever find yourself forgetting what God has done for you, read Psalm 103. David lists them for us so we won't forget. Always remember that no matter how bad life gets, it will never overshadow the greatness of God's goodness towards you. You may need to take a moment and reflect on some of the great things he has done for you. Write them down. Say them out loud so you can hear them. As the sun rises and sets, recite them so that you will never forget them.

Majesty

The song "Majesty," written by well-known pastor Jack Hayford, celebrates Christ's triumphant victory over death. It calls Christians to come to the throne of God and offer unending praise, a scene reminiscent of the elders' worship of Christ in Revelation chapter 5.

This same worship of our Lord can be found as well in 1 Chronicles. Here King David leads his people in heart-felt worship of the King of kings. As David worships, he proclaims the wonderful works of God and extols his matchless character: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty" (1 Chron. 29:11).

As you read these words, reflect on the generations of faithful believers who will one day join us in a powerful chorus of praise to the Lord, proclaiming: "May you be praised forever and ever!" (1Chron. 29:10).

Majesty, worship His majesty;

Unto Jesus be all glory, power, and praise.

Majesty, kingdom authority

Flow from His throne unto His own,

His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus;

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.

Majesty, worship His majesty;

Jesus, who died, now glorified,

King of all kings.

Copyright 1981 Rocksmith Music

(this is an excerpt from the Praise and Worship Study Bible--Tyndale House)

James

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. (James 5:16)(NLT)

The worship profile below is taken from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House. This is a great study Bible for anyone who wants to learn more about biblical praise and worship.

James holds a significant place in early church tradition. This James about whom we speak was likely the half brother of Jesus. And although he had earlier rejected the claims of Christ (John 7:5), James later became an important leader in the church of Jerusalem. One of the more significant instances of his leadership can be found in Acts 15, where he spoke in defense of Gentile evangelism. While James was not one of the Twelve, in a broader sense he can be called an apostle due to his foundational role in the church. Tradition has also named James as the author of the Bible book bearing his name. This book has much to tell us about trials, morality, good works, impartiality, and prayer, and has been embraced by many for its practical wisdom.

James the Worshiper

To James, righteous living was the hallmark of faithful Christian service. Small wonder, then, that James emphasized confession and prayer as staples of Christian worship. Confession of sin is designed to remind us of our imperfections and our dependence on God's saving grace in Christ--a basic part of worship's progression toward spiritual renewal. Prayer keeps us in touch with the one whom we worship. Public prayer increases our awareness of the needs of the body to which we belong. And, as James writes, it has "great power and wonderful results" (James 5:16)(NLT).

Learning from James

Regarding our fellowship as believers, James gives us some important reminders that, if applied, can build a unified body. He reminds us to show impartiality: Don't have special seating for the rich and famous while neglecting those who are poor or those who may seem less important. Our worship should reflect the impartiality of God. Inclusion, not exclusion, must be a regulative principle in our worship.

James also reminds us that we should not be too quick to ascend God's throne of judgment. Too often fellowship or worship among Christians is hindered by those who stand in judgment over their brothers and sisters in Christ. James reminds us that we are to obey the law, not pronounce it (James 4:11-12). James also reminds us that corporate worship brings us encouragement as we suffer the trials of this world.

Following the Example

Reflect on the practical principles laid down by James. To what extent does your own fellowship heed James's wise advice? Does your worship reflect the inclusiveness for which James call? Are the important committees that plan the worship experience cliquish and exclusive? Do too many find themselves on the periphery of active church involvement?

Often judgmental attitudes can paralyze both our worship and our service. Christ calls us to show grace and forgiveness, especially toward those with whom we don't agree! How do you fare in this area? Is confession an integral part of your worship? Do your prayer sessions reflect the needs of the local congregation as well as the universal church?