Tag Archives: thanksgiving

O God my God!

Psalm 107–Give Thanks unto the Lord 

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bible

copyright  Jeanne E Webster
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“Oh, that mankind would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

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Even though . . .

We rebelled against the words of God.
We were bound in affliction and sins.
We despised the counsel of the Most High.
We hated all manner of His sustenance.
We drew near to the gates of death.
We were at our wits end.
We were brought low through affliction, oppression and sorrow.
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Despite all this . . .

His mercy endures for ever.
He redeemed us from the enemy.
He delivered us from hunger, thirst, and despair.
He leads us in the right path.
He satisfies the longing soul.
He fills the hungry soul with goodness.
He brings us out of darkness.
He brought us from the shadow of death.
He broke our chains asunder.
He sent his word and healed us.
He calms the angry seas and storms.
He keeps affliction away.
He watches over us like a shepherd.

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Whoever is wise and will see these things, they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord!
peace
Shalom

Night and Day

© Jeanne E Webster

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“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,

But to Your name give glory.

Because of Your mercy,

Because of Your truth.”

Ps. 115:1

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Though I obey your commandments,

live a godly life and speak of You to others,

the glory belongs to You, O Lord.

Because of Your mercy and truth,

I am who I am.

Thank You for saving my soul.

Amen.

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WOMAN REAPING

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“It is good to give thanks to the Lord.

And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning,

And Your faithfulness every night.”

Ps. 92:1, 2

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I will praise You in the morning for keeping me safe during the night;

I will praise You in the evening for another day of blessings.

Because of Your mercy, all things are possible.

Amen.

Barns and More Barns

 

© Jeanne E Webster

 

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your increase.  So shall your barns be filled with plenty and your presses shall burst out with new wine. 

As we study Proverbs, we realize this book is a guide to living a fulfilling life, a user manual!  God created us, breathed life into us and through His words written by His chosen agents, we have an instruction manual on how to invest this life.

Solomon reminds us to honor God by consecrating our first fruits to Him.  Why?  Because He is God, our Creator, the Maker of all things, the Sustainer of life.  We are called to be stewards of this sustenance and He desires our esteem.

Along with stewardship goes respect to this Giver of life.  Remember your children when they were innocent and demanding and selfish?  You gave them all they could ask for, and they merely wanted more.  Exasperating, wasn’t it?  Aren’t we as little children at times?  Wanting the latest fads, hungering for more possessions, building bigger barns? But we’re not innocent.  We know who holds the key to our lives.  God.  Our Creator.

The old adage goes, “What did you do for me today?”  I think God gets tired of hearing this.   Instead of offering praise and thanksgiving for our health, wealth, and lives, we murmur.  We grump because Bob at work has a newer pickup truck with all the bells and whistles.  We lose weight through a nutritional TV program, and then highlight the do-over with a skimpy bathing suit and dancing the side-to-side cutesy shuffle.  We pray for that latest job opening, hoping we get it so we can pay off the bills.  We get it and what do we do?  Buy more stuff.

You know, I really believe we disrespect God without knowing it.  A sin of omission, perhaps?  We did not think to thank God for being healthy enough to work and buy all that stuff.  We take great pride in losing those ugly pounds and fitting into that woo woo bikini.  We just lov lov our new car.

I think pride is showing through, don’t you?  What happened to adoring the Giver of everything?  He’s got the whole world in His hands, including ALL our stuff.  Who needs worldly bells and whistles?

 

Fears are a Bear!

 

© Jeanne E Webster

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Is your spiritual life having a nap? Is it on an extended vacation from spiritual habits and nourishment? Yes, it happens to everyone. The world distracts our spiritual focus away from nurturing food and strengthening exercises, pleading instead to our physical nature with many urgent voices.  Fears are as abundant as television commercials during a two-hour movie.

“Help me!” demands a loved one coming down off a drug habit.

“You have 30 days to pay your rent or you’re out of here!” threatens an irate landlord.

A red-faced supervisor yells in your ear, “Close the deal by Friday or you’re fired!”

Everywhere we look there is turmoil, anxiety, fear, tension, and dread. What are we to do? Is this what life is all about? To put it succinctly, NO!

Jesus warns us to quit worrying about things that hinder our walk in the spirit. As Christians, we have precious encouragement, “Don’t worry about what tomorrow will bring you, for it will take care of itself.” (Matt. 6:34) What’s He saying here? Do not worry or become over-anxious.  Life is about living in the physical body while focusing on the spiritual body.

Ok, but why does He say this when all about us are fearful distractions? Could it be because we’re looking in all the wrong places for help?

He follows up with Matt. 6:33, “Don’t worry about what you will eat, what you will drink, or if you will be clothed.” Non-believers worry about those things! “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness…and all your needs will be provided to you.”

To sum it up, Jesus tells us that God is still in charge of our lives; He knows our every need. “For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things.” (Matt. 6:32b) What assurance! What Reassurance! Our heavenly Father knows. Think about it. God is the creator of all things, even us, and planned the world’s itinerary from the beginning to its end. And here we are, worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow. “O ye of little faith!” (Matt. 6:30)

Phil. 4:6-7 May I be anxious for nothing, and in all things by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, may I make my needs known to You; and I know that Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Amen

Soul Shine

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Soul Shine

© Jeanne E Webster

Thank you for the memories,

The joys and wonders of life,

The blessing of divine glories…

What peace abundantly rife!

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You birthed me as a baby girl,

Swaddled up in my mother’s arms;

Tenderly kissed my golden curls

As I snuggled in her charms.

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Thanks for all my family and friends,

Thanks for pretty flowers and weeds.

Sunshine and rain brought amends

As You sought to establish Your seeds.

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Oh God, my sins no longer sting

They’re hung on the cross of Jesus.

He entered into my life to bring

A life so much more prestigious.

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Your truth appeased my doubting heart

I was healed by Your living waters.

Eternal life You did truly impart

To my lost spirit and many others.

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I peered inside my very soul;

Faithfully, You are present there.

See that loving spirit glow…

A sweet heavenly flare!  Amen

(jew)

Many Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

I hope you all have a joyful, heartwarming day of thanksgiving.  Let us give thanks always, not merely on this holiday. 

Thank you, Father, for your wonderful gifts of life and love.  Help us to appreciate what we do have and hold everything dear to our hearts.  We praise You and adore You.  Grant us peace.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

It is such a wonder to log in to my blog and see the smiling new friends God has provided me with this year.  You are such a welcome sight, my friends.  You encourage and challenge me in so many ways.  I thank the Lord for each one of you.

Shalom!

Jeanne

Thanks

©Jeanne E Webster

The airways spit out ads for Black Friday shopping, layaway shopping for Christmas toys, jewelry shopping and perfume shopping.  We must have this, we can’t miss that.   Shop, shop, shop til you drop.  Buy now, spend, spend, spend before it’s too late.  The merchants are offering  their Christmas sales earlier than last year, some even opening at midnight on Thanksgiving Day to entice shoppers ahead of the competition’s hours.  It’s a mad rush out there, folks!  Only 31 more days to Christmas.  Thanksgiving Day is sort of the John the Baptist of Christmas.  It heralds the advent of the birth of our Lord and Savior.

I think I will focus on the quietest major holiday our country celebrates, Thanksgiving Day.  No mad rushes– no hustle and bustle– and no nonsense.  I’ll shop for my turkey, sweet potatoes, salads, vegetables, and rolls then calmly drive home at a leisurely pace.  Family will get together, lots of hugs to go around, sometimes a smirky hello or two but overall, a lovely time will be had by all. 

The greatest part of Thanksgiving Day is the thanksgiving part!  Who gets all the credit?  Who do we laud over all—our heavenly Father.  We don’t need a special day to give thanks.  Each and every day we can and should have an attitude of gratitude to almighty God.  Thanks for all our provisions, our strength, our hopes, our dreams, our lives…and all that we hope to be.  Most of all, thanks for our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.   Thank you, Father.  We love You.  Amen!

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Humble Thanks

 

Rose bud in the rain

 © Jeanne E Webster

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Thank you for the memories,

The joys and wonders of life,

The blessing of divine glories…

What peace abundantly rife!

~

You birthed me as a baby girl,

Swaddled up in my mother’s arms;

Tenderly kissed my golden curls

As I snuggled in her charms.

~

Thanks for all my family and friends,

Thanks for pretty flowers and weeds.

Sunshine and rain brought amends

As You sought to establish Your seeds.

~

Oh God, my sins no longer sting

They’re hung on the cross of Jesus.

He entered into my life to bring

A life so much more prestigious.

~

Your truth appeased my doubting heart

I was healed by Your living waters.

Eternal life You did truly impart

To my lost spirit and many others.

~

I peered inside my very soul;

Faithfully, You are present there.

See that loving spirit glow…

A sweet heavenly flare! Amen

(jew)

[This is a repeat.  Having trouble posting.  Please bear with me.  Thank you!]

O Sole Mio

©Jeanne E Webster

Satan has an assortment of seeds all ready to be sown into the human heart.  Learning that seeds of discouragement would grow anywhere, he build a barn to keep them in, knowing full well the only place they would never grow was in the heart of a grateful person.  Gratitude has an attitude about it.  Within the heart, it removes external darkness.   The nights seem long; the days drag by.  But gratitude brings the dawn and the days fly by. 

Are you aching with pain and all bent up?

Try a little singing and praying.

Are you lonesome and feeling blue?

Try a little confessing of sins.

Are you getting older and not able to work?

Try some reading and writing.

Are you addled in heart and spirit?

Remember who you are, child of God.

Are you bitter and grieving inside?

Reach out and touch someone today.

How can we modify our attitude of gratitude?  Well…

Sing, read and write, believe

Praise, forgive, confess or think

Love, meditate, care and call

Speak, hug, caress and feel

Embrace, touch, adore and delight

Adore, agree, bear and

Ask, balance, bless, and pray

 

An old spiritual song has helped me out of many a doldrums, His Eye is on the Sparrow.  Why should we be discouraged?  Why should the shadows fly?  Why does my heart feel weary?  Satan has been sowing those seeds of discouragement.  Gratitude is the best and quickest remedy to brighten your outlook and spirit.  Try it; you might like it!

Philippians 4:4-9 

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Oh God!

 

© Jeanne E. Webster

 

Deut. 10:21
“You are my praise, and You are my God, who have done for me these great and awesome things which my eyes have seen.”

Thank you, Lord, for all of these blessings:

 

 

–A loving and devoted mother and father

–Growing up in a safe environment

–Always having enough to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof over my head

–An angelic grandmother who protected me in my early years

–A good mind and healthy body so I could attend school and learn

–A good husband who loved me and our four children

–My children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

–My brothers and sisters

–Learning about Jesus and loving Him as a very young child

–The vast amount of wisdom in the Bible

–A loving heart to be used for all God’s creation

–A forgiving heart to be used for all wrongs done against me

–A rejoicing heart and spirit to lift my praises and thanks to You

–A thankful heart and spirit to appreciate each and every blessing

–The many friends that have encouraged and prayed for me

–Today, for the tools You have provided me to use in Your name

–Tomorrow; though it is not here yet, I know it awaits me…somewhere.

Amen and amen!