October 13, 2025 -- Philippians 4:5c-6 -- Happy Thanksgiving
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:5c-6 ESV
Happy Thanksgiving one and all! What a blessing to have a day to pause and reflect on the fantastic variety of ways in which our glorious God and Father has poured out His blessings on our lives. He blesses us individually, as families, as local churches, as associations of churches, as denominations, as workers, in circles of friends, in municipalities, wards, districts, cities, provinces and countries and in the world and all this moment by moment through-out history. He is at work on so many levels of our lives we can not comprehend His greatness, His goodness, His faithfulness, His love and we certainly can not ascertain His purposes except this: His glory will be made known. One day His glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.
Because the Lord is at hand—He is near to each of us and His return with all the saints and holy angels, signaling the end of time is also near—we do not need to be anxious. God is in charge especially when so much in our lives seems chaotic. Yet the scriptures promise life is not chaotic. All the strands of God’s work and mercy and love and purposes are being brought together and Jesus rules over it all. Give thanks to Him.
At my family’s thanksgiving table, the eye-rolling moment happens, inevitably, when I get everyone’s attention and say, “Okay, tell everyone what you are thankful for.” Each one will eventually name that for which he or she is thankful. There are beloved standards: family. health. life. friends. good food. nice weather. the harvest. I wonder sometimes, do we thank God for more complicated reasons? Here are some things to consider.
Thank God for the government you have. A good government leads you to praise God. A government that is against God is evidence of His discipline upon a nation. Either way, we are called to pray for our leaders and acknowledge God is fully in charge.
Thank God for the trials you are undergoing. The hardship, which now is so unpleasant, is used by the Father to shape you into the likeness of Christ and the Holy Spirit guards you through-out the process.
Thank God for the hardships you are enduring, these lead you to rely on God more than you ever did before. If you find yourself drifting from God, rather than moving closer to Him, the hardship is likely a great warning for to call out to God prayer. God is making you aware of this and inviting you to urgently, persistently, appeal to Him for help. Know that those who ask, receive. Those who seek, find. Those who knock at His throne room will find the door opened. If you hadn’t been drifting and you encounter hardships and trials, like the disciples in past ages, praise God that you are considered worthy to suffer for the glorious Name of Jesus!
Almighty and most merciful Father, in whom we live and move and have our being, to whose tender compassion we owe our safety in days past, together with all the comforts of this present life, and the hopes of that which is to come; we praise Thee, O God, our Creator; to Thee do we give thanks, O God our exceeding Joy, who daily pours Thy benefits upon us. Grant, we beseech Thee, that Jesus our Lord, the Hope of glory, may be formed in us, in all humility, meekness, patience, contentedness, and absolute surrender of our souls and bodies to Thy holy will and pleasure. Leave us not, nor forsake us, O Father, but conduct us safe through all changes of our condition here, in an unchangeable love to Thee, and in holy tranquility of mind in Thy love to us, till we come to dwell with Thee, and rejoice in Thee for ever. Amen.
Simon Patrick (1626-1707)
https://youtu.be/T9MPUJsEVEM?si=kSrxllfTmycvf1Hv Now Thank We All Our God
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