Thanksgiving
A Thanksgiving Devotion for the long weekend. Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Regular devotions will return on Monday.
I hold and believe that I am God’s creature, that is, that God has given me and constantly sustains my body, soul, and life, my members great and small, all my senses, my reason and understanding, and the like; my food and drink, clothing, nourishment, spouse and children, servants, house and farm, etc. Besides, God makes all creation help provide the benefits and necessities of life—sun, moon, and stars in the heavens; day and night; air, fire, water, the earth and all that it yields and brings forth; birds, fish, animals, grain, and all sorts of produce. Moreover, God gives all physical and temporal blessings—good government, peace, security. ~ Martin Luther (Large Catechism - Explanation of the first article of the Apostles' Creed)
What will be on your table this Thanksgiving?
For some who live in food insecurity, there will not be enough.
And for some, because of generous hearts and hands, it will be a rare feast after a week or month or year of scarcity.
Who will be around your table?
Will it be family? Will it be missing someone who is gone and grieved? Will it be strangers who are grateful for your hospitality? Or perhaps it will be no one?
What will be at your table?
Will it be strife, anger, partisan debate, family dysfunction, or silence?
Thanksgiving is not a joyful day for all. It is a holiday sometimes surrounded by loneliness, hunger, grief, or anger.
And yet, we have a God who says "Fear not!" A God who gives hope even in the midst of despair. A God who says the devastation is not the last word.
The image of trees bearing fruit, silos full of grain, casks of wine, and barrels of olive oil tell us of a God of plenty. A God who desires us to be nourished, and fed.
Who desires our grateful hearts to be generous to those for whom this day is difficult.
Who desires strife to come to an end, and tears of grief to be wiped away.
Whatever joys or sorrows are at your table this year, reach out to the hand of one who sparks hope in your heart this Thanksgiving, and give praise to the One whose we are; the One who desires life and bounty for all of creation.
Prayer: Together at your table, sing the Doxology and give thanks for the goodness of God.
I hold and believe that I am God’s creature, that is, that God has given me and constantly sustains my body, soul, and life, my members great and small, all my senses, my reason and understanding, and the like; my food and drink, clothing, nourishment, spouse and children, servants, house and farm, etc. Besides, God makes all creation help provide the benefits and necessities of life—sun, moon, and stars in the heavens; day and night; air, fire, water, the earth and all that it yields and brings forth; birds, fish, animals, grain, and all sorts of produce. Moreover, God gives all physical and temporal blessings—good government, peace, security. ~ Martin Luther (Large Catechism - Explanation of the first article of the Apostles' Creed)
Fear not, Earth! Be glad and celebrate!
God has done great things.
Fear not, wild animals!
The fields and meadows are greening up.
The trees are bearing fruit again:
a bumper crop of fig trees and vines!
Children of Zion, celebrate!
Be glad in your God.
He’s giving you a teacher
to train you how to live right—
Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words
to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do.
And plenty of food for your body—silos full of grain,
casks of wine and barrels of olive oil.
God has done great things.
Fear not, wild animals!
The fields and meadows are greening up.
The trees are bearing fruit again:
a bumper crop of fig trees and vines!
Children of Zion, celebrate!
Be glad in your God.
He’s giving you a teacher
to train you how to live right—
Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words
to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do.
And plenty of food for your body—silos full of grain,
casks of wine and barrels of olive oil.
“I’ll make up for the years of the locust,
the great locust devastation—
Locusts savage, locusts deadly,
fierce locusts, locusts of doom,
That great locust invasion
I sent your way.
You’ll eat your fill of good food.
You’ll be full of praises to your God,
The God who has set you back on your heels in wonder.
Never again will my people be despised.
You’ll know without question
that I’m in the thick of life with Israel,
That I’m your God, yes, your God,
the one and only real God.
Never again will my people be despised. ~ Joel 2:21-27 (The Message)
the great locust devastation—
Locusts savage, locusts deadly,
fierce locusts, locusts of doom,
That great locust invasion
I sent your way.
You’ll eat your fill of good food.
You’ll be full of praises to your God,
The God who has set you back on your heels in wonder.
Never again will my people be despised.
You’ll know without question
that I’m in the thick of life with Israel,
That I’m your God, yes, your God,
the one and only real God.
Never again will my people be despised. ~ Joel 2:21-27 (The Message)
What will be on your table this Thanksgiving?
For some who live in food insecurity, there will not be enough.
And for some, because of generous hearts and hands, it will be a rare feast after a week or month or year of scarcity.
Who will be around your table?
Will it be family? Will it be missing someone who is gone and grieved? Will it be strangers who are grateful for your hospitality? Or perhaps it will be no one?
What will be at your table?
Will it be strife, anger, partisan debate, family dysfunction, or silence?
Thanksgiving is not a joyful day for all. It is a holiday sometimes surrounded by loneliness, hunger, grief, or anger.
And yet, we have a God who says "Fear not!" A God who gives hope even in the midst of despair. A God who says the devastation is not the last word.
The image of trees bearing fruit, silos full of grain, casks of wine, and barrels of olive oil tell us of a God of plenty. A God who desires us to be nourished, and fed.
Who desires our grateful hearts to be generous to those for whom this day is difficult.
Who desires strife to come to an end, and tears of grief to be wiped away.
Whatever joys or sorrows are at your table this year, reach out to the hand of one who sparks hope in your heart this Thanksgiving, and give praise to the One whose we are; the One who desires life and bounty for all of creation.
Prayer: Together at your table, sing the Doxology and give thanks for the goodness of God.