Psalms 103: 1-5
Bless the Lord,
O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it has always been the most low-key of all the others. In recent years, we have gone away and gathered family for outdoor fun and gigantic cooking scenarios (30+ people assigned meals in rotation). Other times it has been a small family gathering, quiet conversations and football on TV (and outside) with some “hauling up to the house” some firewood.
I love the non-pageantry of Thanksgiving. I love the non-gift giving of Thanksgiving. For some reason, it seems to hold at bay the emotional stress that can stalk the best of us at Christmas. I can remember going and cutting a Christmas tree from the woods after Thanksgiving Day. I can remember watching football with my Dad and talking about “nothing” and falling asleep on the couch.
Eucharist is the centerpiece meaning of Thanksgiving for Christians. From the Greek, Eucharist means gratitude or, eucharistos, meaning grateful. An expanded Greek meaning is charizesthai which means to show favor. And, to enlarge the meaning even further, we find from charis, the Thanksgiving meaning of showing favor, grace and gratitude. Shouldn’t we worship our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ with the full meaning of Thanksgiving this season? Can we do this and stay relaxed and uncomplicated? I’m hoping so! We can give Him gratitude, favor, grace and thanks for the payment for our sin on the Cross.
I’m going to try again to make Thanksgiving uncomplicated. The convergence of all He has done, is doing, and going to do in and through us at First Priority of America is worth thanking Him for! I am already thanking Him for 10,000 professions of faith by the end of school this year. Join me in praying for that and believing He’ll use you to spread the Gospel message. Be the encourager that our volunteers, team members and students need. Give thanks with a grateful heart. Sing this with me:
10,000 Reasons
Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes
You’re rich in love
And You’re slow to anger
Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find
Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Yes, I’ll worship Your Holy name
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Jesus I will worship Your
Holy name
Worship Your Holy name
Songwriters: JONAS MYRIN, MATT REDMAN
© CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Nancy and I are honored to serve with you,
Rick Forbus, PhD
President – CEO
FIRST PRIORITY OF AMERICA
