Good day dear friends. May God's awesome peace and joy be yours today; may all you encounter today be blessed by that awesomeness in you; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 111: 1 Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got - Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. 2 God's works are so great, worth A lifetime of study - endless enjoyment! 3Splendor and beauty mark his craft; His generosity never gives out. 4 His miracles are his memorial - This God of Grace, this God of Love. 5 He gave food to those who fear him, He remembered to keep his ancient promise. 6 He proved to his people that he could do what he said: Hand them the nations on a platter - a gift! 7 He manufactures truth and justice; All his products are guaranteed to last - 8 Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof. All that he makes and does is honest and true: 9 He paid the ransom for his people, He ordered his Covenant kept forever. He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect. 10 The good life begins in the fear of God - Do that and you'll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever! (The Message)
Today is our daughter Caitlin's birthday. She is a nursing student who, along with her husband and our grandson, live with us. So, everyone is up early and we just followed our early morning ritual of birthdays in our family; the playing of "Birthday" by The Beatles, chosen years ago for its ability to wake up sleepy-heads, followed by the gift-giving (Liam, who is 3, asked where his gift was - we had bought one two days early for him) and a time of giving thanks for the life of the birthday person. I believe we are all wonderfully blessed, and like the Psalmist, we should give thanks to God for all that God has given to us. The Psalmist has summed up a partial list of all we should be thankful - God's grace, God's love, provision, kept promises, truth, justice, the promise of eternity in what God has shared with us, honesty, our redemption, and the unbroken Covenant. Every realm of our life is to be something on our Thank You, God list.
What are you thankful for? Have you stopped and made a mental list of all for which you are truly thankful? Pause now and give thanks. You'd be amazed at all that you have, thanks to God.
PRAYER: Loving Provider of all things; thank You! May I never stop giving You thanks as You never stop giving. Make me mindful that all things do indeed come from You; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
