Psalm 138
Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”
Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
and say it again: “Thank you!”
Thank you for your love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
you made my life large with strength.
When they hear what you have to say, God,
all earth’s kings will say “Thank you.”
They’ll sing of what you’ve done:
“How great the glory of God!”
And here’s why: God, high above, sees far below;
no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.
When I walk into the thick of trouble,
keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand
strike my foes,
With your other hand
save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
“Life is short…and sugar is cheap!” – Jay Grelen, former “Sweet Tea” columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
I think of this phrase on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas… when we have a family dinner, and I make big pitchers of sweet tea. There is so much wisdom in this phrase. Life IS short…as many of us know all too well. We don’t stop to take stock of the blessings we have in our lives…or to truly appreciate the presence of those around us. We look up, and half the people in the room have their noses buried in a smart phone…or they are glued to a television. Or perhaps we don’t even bother to get together at all.
I shared a poignant video* on Facebook last week of an elderly man who was sitting at a holiday table, dining alone. His children all made excuses for why they couldn’t come for a Christmas visit this year…how maybe next time, they would make it. Then the video cuts to a scene of the children receiving devastating news. By their reactions, you conclude that the “poppa” has died. The children are shown arriving outside this man’s home. They are distraught…it seems their beloved father/grandfather has died. But when they enter the home, a holiday meal is on the table. Candles are lit, and everything is perfect…and the father/grandpa emerges from the kitchen, and asks, “How else could I have brought you all together?”
I don’t know your situation and circumstances today. My own family has spent holidays together – and apart - for various reasons. We’ve postponed holiday get-togethers because someone was ill or hospitalized…and we’ve buried loved ones on Christmas Eve. And yes, we’ve made our share of excuses why we couldn’t make it to one or more events when there was nothing catastrophic to prevent such a gathering. Sometimes, this couldn’t be helped…but other times, we just didn’t try hard enough.
The point is that we do this with God, too. We often make excuses or postpone our time with Him. At best, we give God limited attention and a lot of “lip service.” Sometimes, He has to shake up our world just to bring us together with Him for some intimate time! We forget that life is short…and sugar is cheap. It doesn’t cost us anything to spend time with God…and yet, that time is some of the most precious we will ever have.
So this Thanksgiving, thank God with everything in you. Set aside everything and spend quality time with God and let Him know just how grateful you are that He makes your life large with strength…that no matter the distance, He knows everything about you - and keeps you alive in the thick of turmoil and trouble. Thank God that His love is eternal and everlasting.
While you’re at it…thank God for the people that He has placed in your life. Reach out to some of them and spend some quality time in conversation, if not personal contact. Soak in the moments spent together, and relish in them. Life is short, and sugar is cheap…so maybe drink a glass of sweet tea while you’re at it! Remember how blessed you are to be loved by such a great and mighty God…and make the most of each blessing that He has given you – this week, and always.
©2016 Debbie Robus
* http://www.3lstories.com/people-are-calling-this-the-most-powerful-christmas-commercial-ever
Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”
Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
and say it again: “Thank you!”
Thank you for your love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
you made my life large with strength.
When they hear what you have to say, God,
all earth’s kings will say “Thank you.”
They’ll sing of what you’ve done:
“How great the glory of God!”
And here’s why: God, high above, sees far below;
no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.
When I walk into the thick of trouble,
keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand
strike my foes,
With your other hand
save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
“Life is short…and sugar is cheap!” – Jay Grelen, former “Sweet Tea” columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
I think of this phrase on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas… when we have a family dinner, and I make big pitchers of sweet tea. There is so much wisdom in this phrase. Life IS short…as many of us know all too well. We don’t stop to take stock of the blessings we have in our lives…or to truly appreciate the presence of those around us. We look up, and half the people in the room have their noses buried in a smart phone…or they are glued to a television. Or perhaps we don’t even bother to get together at all.
I shared a poignant video* on Facebook last week of an elderly man who was sitting at a holiday table, dining alone. His children all made excuses for why they couldn’t come for a Christmas visit this year…how maybe next time, they would make it. Then the video cuts to a scene of the children receiving devastating news. By their reactions, you conclude that the “poppa” has died. The children are shown arriving outside this man’s home. They are distraught…it seems their beloved father/grandfather has died. But when they enter the home, a holiday meal is on the table. Candles are lit, and everything is perfect…and the father/grandpa emerges from the kitchen, and asks, “How else could I have brought you all together?”
I don’t know your situation and circumstances today. My own family has spent holidays together – and apart - for various reasons. We’ve postponed holiday get-togethers because someone was ill or hospitalized…and we’ve buried loved ones on Christmas Eve. And yes, we’ve made our share of excuses why we couldn’t make it to one or more events when there was nothing catastrophic to prevent such a gathering. Sometimes, this couldn’t be helped…but other times, we just didn’t try hard enough.
The point is that we do this with God, too. We often make excuses or postpone our time with Him. At best, we give God limited attention and a lot of “lip service.” Sometimes, He has to shake up our world just to bring us together with Him for some intimate time! We forget that life is short…and sugar is cheap. It doesn’t cost us anything to spend time with God…and yet, that time is some of the most precious we will ever have.
So this Thanksgiving, thank God with everything in you. Set aside everything and spend quality time with God and let Him know just how grateful you are that He makes your life large with strength…that no matter the distance, He knows everything about you - and keeps you alive in the thick of turmoil and trouble. Thank God that His love is eternal and everlasting.
While you’re at it…thank God for the people that He has placed in your life. Reach out to some of them and spend some quality time in conversation, if not personal contact. Soak in the moments spent together, and relish in them. Life is short, and sugar is cheap…so maybe drink a glass of sweet tea while you’re at it! Remember how blessed you are to be loved by such a great and mighty God…and make the most of each blessing that He has given you – this week, and always.
©2016 Debbie Robus
* http://www.3lstories.com/people-are-calling-this-the-most-powerful-christmas-commercial-ever
