Miscellaneous – Be Still…

Thanksgiving 2025 – Giving Thanks

What are you thankful for? Thank God right now for the top three things that came to your mind.

Perhaps you live in the United States, and you’re off work today because you’re celebrating Thanksgiving. Perhaps you’re surrounded by family and friends. Perhaps you’re looking forward to new beginnings. Perhaps you’re remembering what Jesus did for you on the cross.

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know we have been reading through the New Testament, starting in the book of Mark. We’re taking a break today to focus on gratitude and giving thanks. We’ll pick up Mark soon.

Let’s start by reflecting on Psalm 100:4-5, which says:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

When we come before God, we should gladly bring our praises and offerings of thanksgiving. Look around at the bounty God has given. The LORD loves it when we give him the honor and glory he deserves.

Did you know that when you are busy focusing on your gratefulness, your sadness, loneliness, or despair just floats away. The two emotions can’t co-exist. I think God knew that, and so did the psalmist when he encourages us to remember God’s goodness and unfailing love that lasts forever.

I’d like to share a few more Bible verses that speak to our thankfulness using the acronym THANKS. I am thankful for all of these things, especially God’s Word.

T – for Truth, for God’s Word, alive and life-changing, the sword that protects us is part of the armor of God. Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17

H – for Heroes of faith, like Moses and Daniel and Paul, together with those gathering in the great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 12:1.

A – for Angels that protect us and bear messages from God. Hebrews 2:1-4 speaks of the message the angels brought to us to heed.

N – for being No longer slaves to our sins. We have a Redeemer who has taken away our sin. 1 John 1:9 reminds us to confess those sins and not keep them inside.

K – for Kindness and the ability to be kind. When we let the Holy Spirit work in our lives, kindness is one of the great benefits we can be given. Galatians 5:22-23

S – for Songs that praise the name of God. The book of Psalms is a great place to find lyrics you’ll recognize in many contemporary praise songs, as well as hymns we sing. Our opening Psalm 100 above speaks to that privilege we have to show God our gratitude.

My Thanksgiving prayer includes you as you read these verses, allowing the gratitude to sweep over you. May you feel God’s loving touch on your life in exactly the right place, where you need it most. He knows–I don’t have to.

Have a happy Thanksgiving, and if you’re reading this from outside the USA or on a day other than the 4th Thursday of November, then remembering to be thankful is an exercise we should do daily. God deserves our giving thanks in every prayer.

Let’s pray. Father God, my heart overflows with gratitude as I look at my life and what you have done with it, and are continuing to do with it. Help me get out of my own way when I need to, and show me what that looks like. I want to represent you well in this world in all I say and do. Thank you for walking with me through each new challenge, helping me to lean in to your help more often. Thank you for being my all in all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Everyday Should Be Thanksgiving!

Did you know that many countries around the world celebrate a holiday called Thanksgiving? It may not be exactly the same or even on the same date, but according to a quick Google search there were at least seventeen countries listed. Generally the celebration centers around the fall harvest season in some way. I’m sure originally the farmers were thanking God for a good crop, the right amount of rainfall, good market prices, etc.

That’s the right idea. Thanking God, that is. Isn’t honoring God with our gratitude something we do every day? Maybe even countless moments in a day? So whether you’re celebrating a holiday of Thanksgiving as you read this reflection or not, remember it’s a daily thing to give thanks to God. We should include thanksgiving in all our prayers. Continue reading “Everyday Should Be Thanksgiving!”

Hope for Tomorrow: A New Year’s Reflection

person standing with arm reaching up facing the sun and sun beams

Hope. It’s what we all need a little more of these days. With the dawning of a new year comes an opportunity for new beginnings. If you haven’t done so yet, take some time over the next couple of days to dream of what the coming year could be like. You’ll want to start by taking a look back to learn from what worked and didn’t last year.

Remember that a new year beginning marks time for everyone in the same way. Nearly everyone is talking about their new year’s resolutions or goal setting strategies. Our faith journeys, on the other hand, are all on a different schedule. Here’s a Bible verse to reflect on: 2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” When we belong to Christ, we get a fresh start at life. We are forgiven and free!

He is Risen!

Read Luke 24:1-12

Surprise! Well, it shouldn’t have really been a surprise, but it was. It was early in the morning. The women had prepared the spices a day ago. Jesus’ body would be starting to smell already, so they had no time to waste. But when they arrived, Jesus body was not where it was supposed to be. What happened? The confusion, the fear, the anger, the surprise. What would you have been feeling if it had been you to happen upon the tomb that morning with a purpose in mind only to have your world turned upside down?

Then it happens: the a-ha moment. While they were cowering in fear because of these strange, dazzling looking men that appeared, they heard the message of reassurance. “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” It may have taken a moment or two to really sink in. What had they just heard? Talk about a pivot!

Holy Week 2020 – Saturday

Read Luke 23:50-56

Jesus had died. There was an emptiness to the world that was hard to describe. A loneliness that seemed to have no end. How could life go on as usual? Imagine the despair that was coupled with fear. I imagine the disciples thought they might be next because of their associations with Jesus. Did any of Jesus’ friends remember his words that he would rise on the third day? For today, let’s also put that knowledge aside. Like Jesus’ followers then, let us be lost in our grief.

Then there was Joseph. A secret follower of Jesus. He had a position on the high council of all things. What would the others think of him now? He boldly came forward and asked for Jesus’ body. He took great care to place Jesus in a fresh tomb. His respect was evident. He had put his reputation on the line here. What would the fallout for that be? Joseph didn’t care. He had been waiting for the Kingdom of God. He had found Jesus, the King himself.