My Journey: Happy Thanksgiving (Canadian Style)

One of the many perks as an American living in Canada is that we get to celebrate 2 Thanksgivings. Now, aside from the obvious enjoyment of gouging on the groceries, we get to sit down and contemplate and give thanks for the many blessings in our lives.

Image by babasteve via Flickr

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (KJV)
"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."

The first step in having a thankful spirit is to acknowledge our place in the universe and that we are not “entitled” to the blessings that GOD has given us. We must continually remind ourselves that our purpose in life is to give glory and honor God not honoring ourselves. When we realize that it is NOT “all bout ME”, we open up the door to blessings and thanksgiving beyond our wildest dreams. By acknowledging our weaknesses, we can appreciate the awesome power of a Living God. Like a child being made aware of the vastness of the universe, we begin to see just a little of the possiblilities that God has at HIS command waiting for us. All too often, even when we give lip service to God in thanksgiving, we try to take some of the credit for the good things in our life and quickly give the blame to God or other entities for the distasteful situations we meet. We must learn and know that ALL things work together for the glory of Our Father, THE CREATOR OF E V E R Y T H I N G !!!

Romans 8:28/29: And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (NET)

I Thank Thee

O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
The bitter and the sweet.

I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.

I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
And for the gain and loss;
I praise Thee for the future crown
And for the present cross.

I thank Thee for both wings of love
Which stirred my worldly nest;
And for the stormy clouds which drove
Me, trembling, to Thy breast.

I bless Thee for the glad increase,
And for the waning joy;
And for this strange, this settled peace
Which nothing can destroy.

--Jane Crewdson (1860)

And In Conclusion:

Thanksgiving Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.

--Mary Fairchild