Pastor's Corner

A Season of Thanksgiving

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed, O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come. When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions. Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple. By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.  Psalm 65:1-5

Jesus once said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).” Certainly, we live in a world that’s filled with suffering, trouble, and violence that’s associated with hatred and war. Yet, we find hope in the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “I have overcome the world.” Jesus’ victory in the world and over the world compels us to re-evaluate our lives and discover that each us has a reason to be thankful about something.

As I reflect upon my life, I discover that each new day that God gives me creates a season of thanksgiving and praise. The psalm above reveals insight to a myriad of reasons why today, your day and my day, should be filled with offerings of praise and thanksgiving to the Living God as we approach Thanksgiving Day.

First, the psalm reminds us that God is worthy of the praise, that praise and thanksgiving is due simply because God is God. Moreover, God is due praise and thanksgiving because God is known as a God who answers prayer. If your God doesn’t answer prayer, try mine, because my God answers all of my prayers.

Second, the psalm reveals that God is worthy of our praise and thanks because God is merciful and forgives us of all our sins and transgressions. Have you been touched by God’s hand of mercy?

Third, in spite of ourselves, our faults and failures, God stills draws us to God‘s self. That is, God desires to be in fellowship with humanity. God wants a personal relationship with each of us through Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus for yourself?

Fourth, the text informs us that God is good and that God’s goodness permeates the air. Thus, God's goodness permeates the whole environment of the church where we are drawn to worship. Has God been good to you?

Finally, God wants to be known as a God of salvation, and God’s wants to nurture a reputation that would be known through mighty and miraculous acts of deliverance on behalf of people--you and me.

So, if God has been good to you, if God has delivered you from trouble, if God has forgiven you, if God has answered your prayers, if God has been with you in the midnight hour, then you have much for which to be thankful.

In your season of thanksgiving, praise God! Be thankful! Tell somebody about the goodness of the Lord. Tell somebody how good God has been to you! AMEN!

Pastor Satcher