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Overwhelmed by all God has done to bless me personally and the ministry, I give thanks. You are a vital part of that blessing, and for that, I thank you!
However, not every aspect of the year can be described as an immediate blessing. At the time, they were burdens, challenges, or obstacles. Now, I can look back at them and be reminded that “His Love Endures Forever,” just as Psalm 136 repeats.
I invite you to add your own line or two to the following version of this psalm:
In the good and the bad, through the ups and the downs,
His Love Endures Forever.
When I see God’s hand at work,
His Love Endures Forever.
When I doubt His provision,
His Love Endures Forever.
During the exhausting road trips,
His Love Endures Forever.
Through the customs and immigration lines,
His Love Endures Forever.
When His Spirit speaks through me to touch the lives of women across the Americas,
His Love Endures Forever.
When a restless night of sleep leaves me anxious,
His Love Endures Forever.
Inspired to write, or frustrated that I can’t find the words,
His Love Endures Forever.
Given words to speak, or dependent on the Spirit to speak for me,
His Love Endures Forever.
Suffering through growing pains—personally and as a ministry,
His Love Endures Forever.
Trusting that God will reveal His answers, in His timing,
His Love Endures Forever.
Overwhelmed by the opportunities, unable to handle it all,
His Love Endures Forever.
God is faithful and I praise His name,
His Love Endures Forever.
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Today, I am grateful for my car that will carry me the four hundred miles down to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I am grateful for the road trip snacks and the hospitality of those who will receive me when I arrive. Thanksgiving abounds for the church family I called home as a child and where I worked as women’s campus minister for six years. And tomorrow, we will give thanks together during a Ladies’ Brunch. We will remember what it is to give thanks, especially at the start of the holiday season. Our topic: “And Be Thankful.”
“And be thankful,” is a phrase tucked into chapter 3 of Colossians by the apostle Paul. It can either be seen as an afterthought: “Oh yeah, don’t forget to give thanks!” Or, we can see it as a pivotal and integral part of his instructions to the early church in Colossae. I prefer to see it as the latter. Read through the selected excerpt from Colossians 3 (verses 12-17) and see if you can accomplish any of those things without giving thanks.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Thank you, Father, that I am one of your chosen people. Thank you for setting me apart as your beloved child. When I recognize that truth, I am better able to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Since you forgave me—an act for which I am eternally grateful, I am able to bear with others and forgive others. Your love transforms and unites. Thank you.
With an attitude of gratitude, I can dwell in your peace, you rule my heart and I am united with others. Without Christ’s message, my heart cannot teach, admonish or sing. The overflow of gratitude in my heart allows me to be filled with wisdom and Your Spirit. Yes, whatever I do, whether in word or deed, cannot be done if it is not in the name of the Lord Jesus, or without giving thanks to You through Him.
“And be thankful.”