Our scripture this morning is Psalm 95:1-7.
Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
In the United States today is designated as Thanksgiving Day. In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation designating November 26 of that year as a national day of thanksgiving to recognize the role of providence in creating the new United States and the new federal Constitution. Later, President Abraham Lincoln took steps towards designating it a permanent federal holiday. (mountainvernon.org). It is important now as then that we recognize the role of God in our lives and in our world.
We give God thanks and praise for His love in creating us at all. Through His will and His word everything that exists was made. God gave us free will to be able to choose for ourselves. Sadly, human history records the number of times we have failed each other, not loving and caring for one another as He intended.
Today let us each examine ourselves and find ways to be more thankful for God’s blessings. Let us share His love with everyone, actively caring in an often cold and unfeeling world. May we be the face of Jesus to those who desperately need the help we can provide through the gifts God has given us. Happy Thanksgiving!
Loving Lord, You call us to give thanks through our praise and our action. May we go in Your name to make a difference as Jesus taught. Amen.