Pastoral Prophesies from Joel
“Give Thanks!!”
As I write this month’s column we find ourselves at the beginning of the month of November. The year 2011 is almost over. Where has the year gone? I don’t know about you, but it has gone quickly for me! The month of November brings us our annual celebration of Thanksgiving Day. A day when we can all stop to remember, and be thankful for, the blessings that God has given us this past year.
One of the favorite hymns in our household is #2036 in The Faith We Sing hymnal: “Give Thanks”. It is really one of Franklin’s favorite hymns. Here are the words (without the repeats):
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ his Son.
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”;
let the poor say, “I am rich
because of what the Lord has done for us.”
Give thanks!
©1978 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Giving thanks is not just something we do one day a year on Thanksgiving Day. For the Christian, it is a constant way of life! These words from “The Prayer of Jebez” by Bruce Wilkinson (©2000 Multnomah Books) are indeed true!
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested.
I Chronicles 4:10 (New King James Version)
This month find ways to daily give thanks to God for all the blessings that you have received. If you are already doing this, that’s great! If not, try doing it every day for the month of November, and I think it will become a daily thing in your faith life!
Have a blessed Thanks Giving! And plan to join us on Sunday, November 20th at 11:30 a.m. for our annual All Church Thanksgiving Dinner. See you in church!
Peace,
Joel
(Some of the material in this column was adapted from “Why Multimedia in Worship”, by Don Wuebben, March 18, 2011:www.experienceingworship.com).
South Milwaukee United Methodist Church is involved in many missions, both locally and globally. Please visit www.wisconsinumc.org/missions2007 and www.gbgm-umc.org for more information about the mission programs we are involved in through the United Methodist Church.
