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.

And now let the sick say, “I am whole,”

Let the bound say, “I am free,”

Because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give Thanks

(Give Thanks, Don Moen, 1986)

Because of what he’s done for us.

For you

Spend some time this morning considering all he has done for you.

I think you’ll find it’s really quite a bit.

You can start with the big ones–the Cross, the Resurrection, Eternal Life.

That’ll keep you chewing for a while.

Then, may I suggest that you scale it down to the little things that have seemed so giant to you over the years…

How has he strengthened you?

How has he provided for you?

How has he healed you?

How has he freed you?

You might want to set aside a goodly chunk of time. You have a lot to think about.

Happy Monday, Beloved

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.

And now let the sick say, “I am whole,”

Let the bound say, “I am free,”

(Give Thanks, Don Moen, 1986)

Do you feel free?

Sometimes I feel rather bound, actually.

I’m bound by time.

I’m bound by finances.

I’m bound by what others expect of me.

I’m bound by what I expect of myself.

I’m bound by my failures

and my successes

and my fear of failure

or success.

And yet, I know the Truth.

I know Truth  personally…and he has set me free.

Beloved, when will I finally get it through my thick head that my feelings are a very poor gauge of reality?

Maybe today?

Happy Friday, Beloved.

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.

And now let the sick say, “I am whole…”

(Give Thanks, Don Moen, 1986)

God is not bound by time.

Stay with me here.

God created time.  He exists outside of it.  He is simultaneously present at all moments of eternity.

So…..?

So, my body may ache, my soul may weep, my society may be wracked with sin and pain and loss.

but

God sees more.  He sees me as I am, but also as I will be.  He sees the aching, but also the relief.  He hears the weeping, but also the rejoicing.  He knows the sin, but also the redemption.

Singing this line is not a denial or what is.  

It is a celebration of what also is.

Not just someday, but right now.  Because for God, it’s all right now.

When God looks at you…what does he see?

Wow

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

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, Don Moen, 1986)

Yes you are.

Rich

Oh, your car may be falling apart and your dishwasher may be dying and you may be checking the sofa for enough change for a Del Taco run, but you are rich.

First, in this world you are rich. Beloved, there are people out there who pray for shoes so they won’t have to walk barefoot

who pray for clean water to wash the dishes with

who pray for dishes…and food to put on them.

And in the spiritual world…are you kidding?  You’re the beloved child of the King of, you know, Everything.

You are in possession of the greatest treasure the universe has ever known:

the love of God.

Baby, you are rolling in it.

Bask in your wealth today, Beloved.

Happy Wednesday.

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…”

 Context is really important.

This line from Don Moen’s song is found in the Bible in Joel 3:10.  Of course, those of you who look it up will find that the Lord is actually speaking to the enemies of Israel, the nations who have plundered and destroyed his people.  God is essentially telling them to “Bring it on,” to prepare to fight, because God is going to turn them to powder.

Not exactly the same feeling Mr. Moen was looking to engender in his song.

Why am I telling you this?  Well, for one thing, I want you to be Biblically literate.  If we’re going to use Scripture, we should at least know what it really says.  

Also, even with the contextual confusion, this remains one of my all-time favorite worship songs.  And the message is true, even if the reference is a bit askew.  The Bible is full of the truth that God gives strength to the weak.  He offers–may I be so bold as to say that he longs–to show his strength in our feebleosity.

Do you feel weak?  

Well, you are…you know… in and of yourself.

But in Christ…oh, baby!

In Christ you are mighty.  In Christ, you have the power to do battle with whatever comes against you today.  In Christ, your weakness is transformed into his great strength.

So now, though you are weak, say, “I am strong!”

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Before we say goodbye to Thanksgiving, I’m going to take a look at one of my favorite worship songs.  It’s written by Don Moen.  Part of it is Scripture; all of it is scriptural.  Feel free to sing along!

Give thanks with a grateful heart.                                                      

Give thanks to the Holy One. 

Give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

Are you thankful today, Beloved?  Do you even have time to stop and think of all you have to be thankful for? Or are you so busy preparing your house or your travel plans that preparing your heart has slipped down the list? Even worse–has your Christmas to-do list leapfrogged Thanksgiving entirely?  Look, I’m not judging; I know you’ve got a lot to do.  Myself, I’m looking at a garage that needs to be cleaned–I’ve been putting it off for eighteen months now–just so I can get to the Christmas lights, most of which are broken, if I remember correctly.  I have a vague memory of an entire string of lights falling from the roof last January, resulting in a string of mini-explosions and a decision that I would replace all the lights “Next year,” when finances would undoubtedly be better, except they’re not.  So I’ve probably gotta buy lights, and garland, and maybe a lawn elf–but no inflatables, I’m passionately against inflatables–before I can even start decorating, and some of the neighbors are done already…

Yeah, so I get it.

But, for those of us in Christ, the One we gave thanks for last Thursday is the same One we celebrate at Christmas.  It’s pretty much the same holiday; you just have to swap funny hats.

Of course, you know that already…you’re a bright one.

So, hey, take time this week–like today, like right now–to stop and breathe and give thanks.  

For him

For you and him

Happy Monday, Beloved.

…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20).

Are you still thankful today, Beloved?  Or has the Christmas to-do list already kicked aside your “Things I am thankful for” list?  Look, I’m not judging; I know you’ve got a lot to do.  Myself, I’m looking at a garage that needs to be cleaned–I’ve been putting it off until next Saturday for eighteen months now–just so I can get to the Christmas lights, most of which are broken, if I remember correctly.  I have a vague memory of an entire string of lights falling from the roof last January, resulting in a string of mini-explosions and a decision that I would replace all the lights “Next year,” when finances would undoubtedly be better, except they’re not.  So I’ve probably gotta buy lights, and garland, and maybe a lawn elf–but no inflatables, I’m passionately against inflatables–before I can even start decorating, and the neighbors are pretty much done already…

Yeah, so I get it.

But, for those of us in Christ, the One we were thankful for yesterday is the same One we celebrate at Christmas.  It’s pretty much the same holiday; you just have to swap funny hats.

Of course, you know that already…you’re a bright one.

So, take time during the craziness–like today, like right now–to stop and breathe and give thanks.  

For him

For you and him

Happy Friday, Beloved.