A Psalm of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather and hopefully enjoy good food, good conservation, and a good atmosphere in whatever home they have assembled. It’s a time we set aside our busy schedule to build precious memories of being in one another’s company. It would be a shame to allow old hurts and grudges to hinder time together. GRUDGES are a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury; and to be resentfully unwilling to give, grant, or allow forgiveness to flow from breast to breast that each party may be healed. I once heard someone say that a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die!
"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You cannot get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part” (Matthew 6:14-15 Message Bible).
A Psalmist suffered a severe illness and had been in the very jaws of death; yet he prayed with faith, even against all odds. And, because of his deliverance, he thanked God and gave Him all praise. “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2 NIV).
One of the greatest Christian virtues is thanksgiving, our expressions of gratitude as we acknowledge God as the source of all blessings that are bestowed in grace. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created” (James 1:17-18 NIV).
"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You cannot get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part” (Matthew 6:14-15 Message Bible).
A Psalmist suffered a severe illness and had been in the very jaws of death; yet he prayed with faith, even against all odds. And, because of his deliverance, he thanked God and gave Him all praise. “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2 NIV).
One of the greatest Christian virtues is thanksgiving, our expressions of gratitude as we acknowledge God as the source of all blessings that are bestowed in grace. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created” (James 1:17-18 NIV).