26Nov 09
A Thanksgiving Devotional
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Have you taken the time this week to really think about where you have come from and how much you have 
been given?
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, our morning Bible reading came from two different chapters: 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 and Psalm 105. Written on the occasion of Israel moving the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, they are beautiful reminders of how much we have been given and to not take what we have for granted.
1 Chronicles 16:15 says,
“Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he 
commanded to a thousand generations; Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;”
What was that covenant which was given to us through Abraham?
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).
The Lord has truly blessed and given us so much. He has 
given salvation, health, family, homes, hope and the list could go on and on….. But as 1Chronicles 16:15 says we must be mindful and not forget what we have been given. For when we forget, we loose our heavenly perspective on life.
See things from God’s perspective because He works all things together for good! We serve a Lord who brings peace and comfort to one’s heart. He is one who gives hope to the faint hearted. He strengthens the weak then enables them to press on in this faith walk.
May you have a blessed Thanksgiving! May it be a season of rejoicing over what God has so graciously given to you as well as a time of remembrance of where you have come from!
[...] Happy Thanksgiving from the Wilkes Team! We pray the Lord’s richest blessings on each one of you. Today, as you gather together as families with friends and relatives from near and far may all eyes be upon the abundant goodness of our Lord. [...]
Hmmm, I have been thinking along these lines some recently. Two chapters that really stood out to me today were Psalms 30 and 103 (especially 103:2 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benifits.”) And like someone reminded me earlier, “Every good and perfect gift is from above…” May we not miss the good gifts disguised as problems; after all, it is not our duty in life to escape “problems”, but to see them as part of a bigger drama that humbles us before the wonderful and dreadful Almighty God; a drama of mourning and comfort, of bondage and deliverance, of contest and struggle and the giving of our lives for something greater than our lives; an opportunity that exists only for human beings living in a tiny moment called time in the middle of an eternity past and an eternity future that holds nothing but bliss. Consider it!
Amen Michael – and to think that for some reason I, who do not deserve it, have even a dim understanding of this is truly something to be grateful for.
Thank you Jennifer for the summary! 1Chron. 16:12 stood out this morning, “Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.” Oh that I would remember both His wonders and His loving rebukes.
In giving thanks, we remember. So let us then maintain an ‘attitude of gratitude!’
Thank you, Jenny, for this reminder! I am getting off of the web encouraged once again to focus on God’s goodness! I especially liked how you said that we will lose our eternal perspecive on life if we forget our Father’s manifold blessings to us every day. Thank you! Miss you all!
I like what you said, …”when we forget, we loose our heavenly perspective on life”. It is too easy and dangerous to forget.
BTW, the waterfall pictures are beautiful.