The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Tis the day before the National Day of Thanksgiving.

I’m sure that you are busy today, so I will be unusually brief. Here’s our verse for today. “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms” (Psalm 95:2).

In all your busyness, don’t lose the giving of thanks to the Lord. In all your busyness, don’t lose the joyful noise! This will be the kind of thanksgiving that will bless your life and others around you as well.

I have a wonderful verse and a thought or two for you about thanksgiving. We are getting ready for the National Day of Thanksgiving. However! This is not just for one day out of the year for those of us who belong to the Lord. This is good for every day in our lives.

“I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30).

I love the writings of King David. He is so transparent as he writes of his own weariness and weaknesses (69:1-5). He is so honest in evaluating the seriousness of the enemies that surround him (69:7-12). He is so dependent on the Lord and is not embarrassed to admit this (69:13-29). He is ever mindful of the many ways that the Lord has blessed him, and he gives thanks (69:30).

If these things were good for the king, surely they are good for us living in the blessings of the age of grace. What a wonderful reminder, and what a wonderful blessing that will be ours when we praise the Lord with a song and magnify Him with our thankfulness.

That will keep me busy today! How about you?

Thanks for allowing me the privilege of sharing with you today.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Colossians 3:16-17).

There you have it, my friends. Within these verses, the Lord gives us several wonderful principles that will serve as confidence builders, anxiety calmers, loneliness helpers, Godly and gracious instructors, and faith assurers. While not being a quick fix formula, these principles are really wonderful.

1. Let God’s Word get into our thoughts and minds.
2. Sing spiritual truth to the Lord and ourselves.
3. Give careful thought as to what the Lord Jesus would do, how He would act.
4. Give thanks in a consistent joyful manner.

When these four principles are part of our daily lives, it will be amazing how our lives will be blessed and we will be an encouragement to others. That’s what I want for my personal life, and I am sure this is just exactly what you want as well.

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12).

It was just one of those afternoons when Marsha and her teenage daughter, Lucinda, were at odds. Marsha was trying to be patient with her teenager. She knew it was a hard time for her, and she truly cared. But it just seemed like everything that Marsha said, Lucy opposed.

The discussion soon focused on Lucy’s lack of appreciation for the blessings she had. Marsha felt herself growing less and less patient. Then Lucinda Margaret pushed the buttons one too many times when she said, “You don’t understand, Mom. I have absolutely nothing to be thankful for.”

Mom turned and quietly spoke, “I am sorry, Honey, that you have nothing for which to give thanks. I know that this is not true, and I know that you know this is not true. But even if it were, King David said, ‘Give thanks at remembering the holiness of God according to Psalm 30:4. As a believer you can be thankful for the wonderful future that lies ahead according to Colossians 1. I suggest you just go to your room and give me a little time to calm down. NOW!”

Tears ran down Marsha’s cheeks as she whispered, “My heart is hurt at the way Lucy has treated You and me today. But, Lord, I know there have been times I’ve acted the same way toward You. In spite of all this, I thank you, LORD, for Your awesome, awesome holiness and the glorious inheritance that is mine right now.”

Right now today: Aren’t you glad that you belong to such an amazing Lord? Oh, by the way, it wasn’t long before Lucy was back and apologizing, having had much to think about because Mom spoke of the holiness of God and her position as a believer.

He was so gifted.
He was so motivated.
He was so driven.
And yet he was such a “team player” kind of servant.

I am speaking of the Apostle Paul who wrote to the Ephesian believers saying, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16).

As our national holiday of Thanksgiving approaches, be sure to give thanks to the Lord for the dear people that He has brought into your life. While you are thanking the Lord, what a wonderful time it would be to say “thank you” to them as well.

I am thankful to the Apostle Paul for his example. Someday I want to thank him in person. I have many others for whom I am thankful. It’s a blessing to let them know. How about you? How will this play out in your life today?