Give Thanks for God’s Power
In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
– Isaiah 12:1-6
In this month of Thanksgiving, I am mindful of all God has given and done for us. On Friday we celebrate Veterans Day. I give thanks for all the men and women and families who sacrifice for our country. Sunday we will pack our Operation Christmas Child boxes. I give thanks for the opportunity to bring joy and the love of Jesus to children all over the world. Monday is our Trailseeker Thanksgiving dinner. I give thanks for the ability to sit around tables once again with these precious families and enjoy breaking bread together.
This life is full of difficult things; wars and the need for protection through our military. Children grow up in poverty without a Christmas gift. The global pandemic of Covid 19 forced us to shift and change how we shared God’s love with our Trailseeker families. As I read Isaiah 12, I remember how God has comforted me in times of crisis and fear. “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” – Isaiah 12:4-6
May we all give thanks and sing to the Lord for God has done glorious things! God continues to do glorious things. What a blessing that God uses our hands and hearts to accomplish glorious things!
God of all love and peace, we come to you in faith, offering you access into every area of our lives. We pray for this congregation: Keep us from idleness, that we may not be busybodies; enable us to do our work quietly in a manner that pleases you.
Grant us discernment to fulfill our vocations with industry and hard work; May we not grow weary in doing good. We look to you, Lord of all, mindful of our helplessness, glorify your name in the midst of our need. Amen.
