I know that Thanksgiving has come and gone, but this is something that has been running through my mind ever since.
Typically, when you hear a sermon at Thanksgiving it is about being thankful for our family, friends, homes, the pilgrims.... But our pastor shared a refreshing perspective - at least for me it was refreshing! He focused on who we, as Christians, are in Christ and what Christ has done for us. He wrote out scripture verses, mainly from Psalm 103, and stapled them inside the bulletins. Then during the sermon, he handed around a cordless mic and each of us read the verse inside our bulletin. It was so cool! That night I was feeling particularily exhausted and "done" with the day. As people read the scripture verses, I closed my eyes and really listened and concentrated on what was being read. It was so uplifting and encouraging. I wanted to share Psalm 103 with you, and hope that as you read it, you too, will be encouraged.
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
So many things to be thankful for! The Lord forgives all our sins, is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, doesn't treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our sins. He honors each generation of those who obey Him. PRAISE THE LORD O MY SOUL!
Then, today as I was looking on Facebook, I found a song on YouTube that made me pause and reflect on more things I am thankful for. The song is called "Who I Am" by Casting Crowns. I hope you enjoy it!
I'm thankful that I am a child of God, that He loves me and forgives me. Something to ponder on!
2 comments:
That's awesome! Thank you for sharing.
Pam
Cool! I missed that one... shucks! So many things to be thankful for!!!
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